­It figures that as soon as I leave London, many of my favorite American stores open up there. Now Londoners can enjoy Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic and the latest, Anthropologie, which is the grown up sister to Urban Outfitters. The new store, located on Regent Street, is housed in the former Wedgwood shop and the window displays features lots of tea bags in a nod to the store’s heritage. Like its States-side branches, the London Anthropologie (UK website here) sells quirky clothing, housewares and jewellery. A second branch is due to open on the King’s Road in Chelsea in 2010.

­If I weren’t living in a rental, I think I could go seriously nuts with wallpaper. I’m a huge fan of contemporary wallpaper from the likes of Timorous Beasties, Cole and Son (my favourite is their Jaipur paisley print) and Designer’s Guild. Yup, they are all British companies and the Brits have cornered the market on cool, contemporary prints – and they are about to get some stiff competition. One of the newest companies to enter the market is Barneby Gates. It was launched by former Vogue journalist Vanessa Barneby and her artist pal Alice Gates.

You know how some occasions call for a five-course meal with caviar, truffles and champagne, and other times you just want a really good, homemade macaroni and cheese for dinner? I see base2Stay’s budget-boutique style as the comforting mac ‘n’ cheese of the hotel world – not the fanciest thing around, perhaps, but it sure does the job, maybe even better than its upscale counterpart.

It was a cold, pouring-rain November evening the night I stayed at the “aparthotel” in London, so I may have been biased, but the comfy-factor seemed high from the moment I arrived.

Here’s a great idea to dress up your walls. Surfaceview sells bespoke murals, blinds and even curtains using prints and images sourced from various British museums. The company has exclusive deals to recreate iconic paintings and images sourced from the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Maritime Museum, The Land of Lost Content and many more. You can choose everything from Marvel comic images to butterflies and dragonflies (pictured) from the Natural History Museum, or close ups of textiles or ceramics. The innovative website lets you see your chosen print in a variety of room sets, from a living room to a bedroom. Although based in Britain, Surfaceview will ship worldwide.

­It figures that with only a few weeks left in London, I have only just discovered a truly fab hair salon. Last week I booked myself an appointment at the Covent Garden-based salon Windle, where many of the hairdressers have been trained at Bumble and bumble in New York, where I went religiously for almost 10 years (and made me think, why haven’t I discovered this salon before?) I absolutely loved Windle and it’s a shame I have only found it now. Unlike a lot of top London salons, they make no mention of any celebrity clientele, and the stylists focus on quietly delivering excellent haircuts and colour.

Anyone who has been to Italy falls in love with the idea of aperitivo bars – basically it means that when you rock up to a bar and order a cocktail, there is also a complimentary spread of nibbles like olives, prosciutto, bread and cheese. It’s such a simple and brilliant idea, and pretty shocking that the concept hasn’t been exported, until now. The team behind London hot spots like Mahiki and The Punchbowl have opened Tini, an Italian style aperitivo bar in Chelsea. The decor is very 1950's Italian glam, with plenty of lush fabrics, Pirelli prints and lacquer tables.

Interior designer Kelly Hoppen, also known as the Queen of Taupe and step mom to Sienna and Savannah Miller, is moving on up. She’s relocating her flagship store from Fulham Road to Notting Hill Gate. The new shop is called The Yard, and will be stocked with her products and yarns, as well as house Hoppen’s design studio. The Yard will have plenty of new products including shabby chic chairs, mirrors, bed linen and candles. Staff will be on hand to give advice on lighting and textiles. And if you aren’t based in London, pick up a copy of Hoppen’s coffee table book Kelly Hoppen Home: From Concept to Reality which is chock full of photos of her Battersea loft.

It’s not hard to imagine the Threadneedles in its former incarnation – a bank for London’s Victorian elite. Hushed, stately and just a minute from the actual Bank of England and London Stock Exchange, this stone walk-up is clearly a place that once saw money and the moneyed walk through its doors, under its ­ornate glass-domed entryway and off to discrete leather-bound quarters to talk important business.    

The same kind of people still wander by and frequent its bar for an after work drink, but today, the business conducted within this building is all about relaxing.

Opened in 2002 as the Square Mile’s first luxury boutique hotel, Threadneedles, part of the Eton Collection, has held on to many of the best elements from its 19th-century heritage. The old marble-columned main hall is now a cozy sitting area and lounge, still with bankish little lamps on each table, as though a financial advisor might stop by at any time to discuss how to diversify your portfolio.

There is a hint of a spring in the air, which means it’s a perfect time to indulge in a fruity, zingy cocktail. One of the newest bar/restaurant behemoths to open in London recently is the three level Aquum. Set in the heart of Clapham, Aquum’s cocktail list features drinks like Lazy Berries, a mix of Havana Especial rum with apple and strawberry and a hint of mint; a Lychee and Peach martini; or the Clover Club, which has fresh raspberries and gin with lemon juice, raspberry syrup and egg white. To soak up all the booze, there’s also an extensive bar menu. But there is more than just eating and drinking to be done at Aquum – there is plenty of dancing too, thanks to a rotating list of DJs. Aquum, 68-70 Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UL. Phone: 0207 627 2726.

Buying art for your walls is one of the biggest investments you can make – and also one of the most nerve wracking. If you don’t feel like splashing out thousands but still want something cool and original, check out the outstanding selection of prints available online from London’s Natural History Museum. You can order prints from the current Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, as well as from previous exhibits. Prints start at a mere £14.68. And if you’re feeling really lazy, you can even order the prints framed. My favourite is Snow Swans (pictured) by Yongkang Zhu.