Trading an English Palace for the Big Apple—Alice Naylor-Leyland’s New York City Travel Diary Inline

So happy to be back at my favorite hotel in NYC. Bowery Hotel, you are my home away from home. I totally adore its British feel and cozy vibe. Nothing sweeter than a teddy bear waiting on your bed. I named mine Boris. I love these hangings at The Bowery Hotel, they seem very charming and old school to me! In Vilshenko heading into the sunshine. Definitely looking like a tourist but loving this city. First stop? I got glitter nails at Spazio on Mott Street. My daughter would be proud! Obsessed with this graffiti wall outside the Little Cupcake Bakeshop on Prince Street. It makes my Charlotte Aluna bag pop too. There are such beautifully baked breads at the Lafayette cafe. And I love that they are made on-site—it smells so delicious. Myers of Keswick is filled with British goodies. From Marmite to Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup, there’s everything a Londoner could want to make her feel at home. While being shown around the beautiful Central Park, we found this Alice in Wonderland statue. Too Darling! I adore the architecture of some of these houses around Greenwich Village. A lot of them remind me of townhouses in London. Completely enchanting. First dinner in town? The Waverly Inn and Garden. Its pub-like charm suits me to a T. One really could be in England down here. The food is so cheerful and uncomplicated, and truffle macaroni a must! I’m a sucker for a candy shop; this cheered up my walk home from dinner. A Butterfinger is always my bar of choice. Best latte I tasted was at Gemma at The Bowery Hotel. And what got me is their beautiful English-looking china. I adore the attention to detail. (And Ben Stiller happened to be eating next to us, which heightened the experience.) This is probably my favorite door in the city. And it was only after I snapped it that I realized it’s 11 1/2! So whimsical and beautiful. I couldn’t visit New York without popping by the restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman. Its decor never ceases to impress. The Polo Bar, Ralph Lauren’s restaurant on East 55th Street, certainly oozes old-school glamour and magic. These mallets and polo hats are particularly enchanting. Only Ralph would design loos as chic as these. I love the framed polo photos. Well, I’ll admit . . . you don’t get this in London. I treated myself to a trip to Perry Street to see “Carrie’s apartment” from Sex and the City. I spent most of my teenage years obeying her every commandment. This could be in England! I tasted the chips with vinegar at A Salt & Battery, this tiny fish-and-chips shop I found in the West Village. They’re the real deal. Walking around the city in the heat calls for very bubbly baths. What a beautiful perfumery! Aedes Perfumery has every scent under the sun and fresh flowers in abundance. Well, this lady would love to live here. The almost stucco effect on the exterior makes me think of our family home in North Wales. Heaven. Seeing the One World Observatory from the sky for the fist time was certainly touching and mesmerizing. It’s a totally striking building; I was very grateful to see it from above. This window display caught my eye and quite rightly so. The Rising States, a little boutique store on Ludlow Street, has the dreamiest of pieces that are right up my alley. Dungarees with embroidery, ruffled skirts . . . divine. Isn’t the spire of the Jefferson Market Library wonderful? From the busyness of the streets below, there seems a calmness all the way up there among the trees. Jackson Square is one of my favorite spots in the city. This sweet park in Greenwich Village reminds me so much of home. The roses, the fountain—it’s a little slice of beauty.