Style Setter: Shopping in South Bank and Bermondsey

9am Wake up to a room with a real view at Shangri-La at The Shard, complete with Far East-inspired décor, floor-to-ceiling windows and Acqua di Parma products in the bathrooms. Book ahead for a private Yogasphere class, where morning sun salutations come with the best views London has to offer, before enjoying an indulgent lobster eggs Benedict breakfast at Aqua Shard on the 31st floor.  

11am A springtime stroll along the South Bank brings you to Oxo Tower Wharf, a haven for creative boutiques stocking unusual finds. Look to Bramwell Brown for stylish clocks, Philip Watts Design for award-winning furniture and the charming Wagumi for crafts and fashion accessories influenced by Japanese design. Nearby, D-Pod’s collaborative shop space curates pieces from 30 independent designers, including Sherene Melinda (statement handbags) and Lauriger (cool cubist homeware). 

1pm Head back towards London Bridge for lunch. Having gained a cult following from his popular Hackney pop-up, rising star Leandro Carreira has recently established a permanent restaurant-cum-wine-bar, Londrino (it’s Portuguese for “Londoner”) on Snowsfields Yard. Plates are made for sharing and the menu changes frequently, so prepare to be pleasantly surprised by playful dishes such as octopus red pepper miso and grilled brioche soaked in sour caramel.

3pm Suitably fuelled for an afternoon of retail therapy, stop in next door at Alex Monroe — you might recognise the designer’s name from collaborations with brands including Liberty and Penhaligon’s — for beautiful fine jewellery handmade in England. Often inspired by Monroe’s idyllic upbringing in the Suffolk countryside, the floral pieces are ideal for spring. Around the corner, concept store 167 Bermondsey offers design-led fashion and homeware, from shirting and smart leather bags to fragrant room diffusers.

5pm Stick to Bermondsey Street if you fancy gaining some stylistic inspiration. The Fashion and Textile Museum is currently staging the exhibition T-Shirt: Cult, Culture Subversion (until 6 May), which includes a private collection from Vivienne Westwood. Otherwise, head further west to Park Street to browse the Spring/Summer collections at Paul Smith — 2018 is all about vintage Hawaiian prints — before picking up a new perfume or aromatic body balm at Aesop.  

8pm An artsy new restaurant housed in the soaring St Thomas Church, with elegant décor inspired by the traditional Hong Kong teahouses of the 1960s, Duddell’s offers a rather special dinner destination for fans of Chinese cuisine. The first Duddell’s outpost to open outside its native Hong Kong, the restaurant specialises in delectable dim sum and authentic Cantonese fare. Be sure to order the feather-light battered squid or the half Peking duck, which comes with no fewer than eight accompaniments, and as many of the dumplings as you can manage. Save room for the coconut and lime panna cotta.

10pm Time for after-dark cocktails at Nine Lives on Holyrood Street. Launched last summer by top drinks agency Sweet&Chilli, this tropical basement bar is committed to sustainability in all things, from upcycling vintage furniture to repurposing waste ingredients in the on-site herb and vegetable garden. The Camber (gin, kombucha and dry vermouth) is a must. There is many a cosy nook for intimate conversation, although things get raucous at the weekly Saturday night party, so be sure to bring your dancing shoes.