A Family Day Trip.
Somerset House: The Spell or The Dream
Our first stop was Somerset House, home to The Spell or The Dream, a striking installation by Turner Prize-winning artist Tai Shani. The centerpiece is a 10 × 3 m luminous blue sculpture—a hand-painted, gently breathing figure suspended in a glass box, poised between sleep and awakening, embodying fairytale myths and our collective crises and hopes for renewal.
The installation is accompanied by The Dream, a continuous 24/7 radio broadcast—co-curated by Shani—that features contributions from visionary artists, thinkers, writers, and activists such as Cécile B. Evans, Moor Mother, Cecilia Vicuña, Brian Eno, and Yanis Varoufakis, who explore dreaming as an imaginative act of resilience and radical possibility.
Explore more: [Somerset House – The Spell or The Dream What’s On listing]Somerset House+1
Covent Garden & Ole & Steen
We strolled over to Covent Garden, a place eternally alive with performers, markets, and timeless charm. At Ole & Steen, we tucked into coffee and cake—and momentarily drifted back to our pre-lockdown time in Copenhagen.
Leake Street Arches: London’s Living Graffiti Gallery
Next, we wound our way to the Leake Street Arches beneath Waterloo Station—also known as the “Banksy Tunnel”—a 300-metre tunnel where street art is legally encouraged and constantly evolving. YouTube
Bourdon Street Chippy by Lucy Sparrow
Then I had a massive fan girl moment at the delightful Bourdon Street Chippy, a gallery installation by artist Lucy Sparrow, entirely crafted from felt. My lovely husband was most excited about her jeep, but he did get me a pin badge and felt chip fork that I will treasure forever! This immersive fish-and-chips shop in London’s Mayfair features over 65,000 individually hand-stitched felt pieces—from chips (15 shapes in 5 shades!) to batter, pies, sauces, condiments, and cozy banquette seating. The Independent Artsy
Sparrow’s intent, rooted in nostalgia and familiarity, is to transport viewers into a soft, theatrical world that feels like home—while also reflecting on personal themes. As she shared:
“My complicated relationship with food has always informed my art… My art practice had become a coping mechanism… It has sustained me…”
Inspiring City The Standard
More details: [DesignBoom’s feature on the Bourdon Street Chippy]Designboom
Liberty & the Christmas Shop
Finally, we ended our day wandering the whimsical corridors of Liberty, where I couldn’t resist stepping into the Christmas shop. Rows of glimmering ornaments and festive displays sparked new ideas—and gave me a bundle of inspiration for crafting seasonal items for my Folksy shop.
This was one of those days where every footstep—from the magical sculpture at Somerset House to the ever-changing graffiti tunnel, the awe inspiring felt chippy, and the twinkly joy of Liberty—reminded me why I love London and why my creative heart keeps beating for it. I came home brimming with ideas, photos, and that warm spark that fuels making new things.
Ena Green Designs 