Welcome to Wednesday Wishes, my pick of what to see in London this week and a book to read on the way.
Fairies of the Week
Richard Dadd studied at the Royal Academy of Arts and was beginning to be noticed for his intricate fairy world paintings. Then things went badly wrong. His mental health took a devastating turn. He killed his father, thinking that he was a devil. The rest of his life was spent in mental institutions. First of all the Bedlam hospital and then Broadmoor. Throughout it all he continued to paint. Head to the Royal Academy for Richard Dadd: Beyond Bedlam to discover his incredibly detailed works.
Cities of the Week
Amazing photographs of America’s greatest cities taken by her some of her greatest photographers from the last 100 years. Incredible images. Some of them feel like paintings. With a really good selection of videos to watch too. Portrait of a City: A Century of American Photography at Dulwich Picture Gallery does what it says on the tin. Afterwards, you can see the excellent permanent collection before partaking of tea and cake in the café.
Gardens of the Week
The gardens at Cultural Wednesday Towers are looking pretty brown at the moment. Even the lavender has faded. Only the Californian poppies and evening primrose continue in siren yellow. For garden colour you need to head to Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing, where Clare Woods: Garden Without Seasons has just opened. Big, bold flowers. No crisp brown or wilting green here.
Book of the Week
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Mere by Danielle Giles was one of my favourite books of 2025, so it was with trepidation that I picked up her latest book Gentle Things, fearful that with such high expectations I would be disappointed. I need not have worried. Gentle Things by Danielle Giles is one of the best books I have read so far in 2026. We are in Restoration London. Our heroine is Lucy North, the tall daughter of a widowed innkeeper. She marries Thomas Ashwell, an apothecary and looks set for a fairytale ending. Then she has a fall at her wedding feast and things begin to get very dark. A page turning gothic horror in which you see a London with hedgerows full of herbs and learn of truly unfathomable medical procedures.
You can find all the books that I recommend each week in our very own Cultural Wednesday bookshop.
For inspiration for exhibitions to open now check out my guide to the Best London Exhibitions. If are venturing outside London take a look my exhibitions worth traveling for in the UK and Europe. Coffee and cake are an essential part of my jaunts here are some of favourite places London Museum Cafes and Church Cafes.
