Wish List: Gifts, Dining, Hotels & Lovers

I am currently in the process of buying my forever home (hello, stamp duty!), so generous cash gifts and surprise bank transfers are the most welcome of treats, whether for a special occasion or just to let me know you’re thinking of me before or after our date (maybe both?).

Currently I would also melt a little over John Lewis, Aman, AIRE and Nail’d It Belgravia gift cards as thoughtful tokens to buy new furniture for my new home and keep me beautiful and relaxed during the move, sent to misslillywatson@protonmail.com.

If you like to mark the occasion during dates and present me with something special to remember you by, I would thrill for a Van Cleef & Arples Vintage Alhambra bracelet in carnelian (red) and/ or mother-of-pearl (white), an Hermès Clic H bracelet in Marron Glacé, and gold Gucci Marmont earrings.

I also enjoy Dior’s J’Adore eau de parfum, quality lingerie in UK sizes 8/ small/ 34C, Cire Trudon candles, pink and red roses, and organic dairy-free dark chocolate (preferably raw).

Going shopping together is always a welcome option, too. I love to receive gifts, but I’m also a great personal shopper when it comes to men’s fashion and if you’d be interested in my styling suggestions for you when we’re exploring Harrods or Selfridge’s together, you need only ask once.

Personal favourites include Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (best scallops in the world), Canton Blue at the Peninsula, Hakkasan, Kioku by Endo at Raffles OWO, The Lecture Room & Library at sketch, Nobu Mayfair, Cloth, and The Ritz Dining Room.

For a delicious cocktail or mocktail in gorgeous, private surroundings with impeccable service, I recommend martinis or mocktails in the Fumoir at Claridge’s; the Ritz 110 cocktail in The Ritz Rivoli Bar; whiskey cocktails and dim sum at Park Chinois; and sake with caviar served on just-warm maki at Umu.

On my bucket list are A. Wong, Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royale, Amazónico, Bacchanalia, The Clove Club, Club Gascon, Endo at The Rotunda, Evelyn’s Table, Gaia, Ikoyi, The Ledbury, Marcus at The Berkeley, Rai, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and St Barts.

Most have some form of private dining option for an added layer of discretion, and as you can see, some excellent London restaurants are actually contained in 5* hotels. Very convenient, I’d say…

I adore high-end teas and coffees more than wine so if you prefer to grab a cup of something hot with a light bite instead of a full lunch or dinner, let’s go to The Coffee Bar at Harrods or stroll around Borough Market.

Depending on your personal style, aside from the London hotels mentioned above I also recommend 45 Park Lane, Brown’s Hotel, Bulgari Hotel, The Connaught, L’Oscar, Four Seasons Park Lane, the Mandarin Oriental, The Whiteley, and the suites at Batty Langley’s, The Mandrake, The Ned and The Rosewood.

I do not recommend using AirBnB. Cost-effective alternatives include The Hoxton, Leonardo Royal, Melia White House, Nobu Shoreditch, NYX, and the larger rooms at Mama Shelter.

For a countryside escape just outside of London, I would like to try Heckfield Place near Reading/ Hook, and Soho Farmhouse, which is about halfway between Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace.

If you are open to going a little deeper, Babington House is a slightly lesser-known Soho House propery in rural Somerset. All three have highly regarded spas.

Cliveden House is delightful if you want a quintessentially English experience with a rather naughty aristocratic history.

Some international hotels I have researched for discreet private getaways include Alila, Aman, Anantara, Banyan Tree, Bulgari, Cheval Blanc, One&Only, Six Senses and Soho House.

If you’re reading this then we probably already agree that good company is a special gift.

If you would like to arrange a duo (threesome) or an awesome “moresome”, I can recommend my beautiful friends and lovers who I share authentic connections with: Amelia Swann, Arabella Blair, Darla Blake, Elle Voss, Emilia Lang, Florence Wilde, Grace Gardiner, Lady Lola, Louisa Knight, Luke Hardy, Madame Caramel, Margot Alderton, Miss Harriet, Mistress Stone, Nikki Darling, Oz Bigdownunder, Sadie Scott, Scarlett May, Sienna Carlisle, Subby Katie, Valerie Mara and Victoria Rose.

In the interests of fairness, I kindly request rate-matching in all duo and moresome dates, i.e. that the highest quoted consideration is applied to all playmates involved equally.

I would love to have the pleasure of meeting Audrey Astor, Cassandra Gray and Sofia Miles, separately or all at once. You could say they are my bucket list ladies!