The Family Plan 2 star Michelle Monaghan says there’s “not a prettier place in the world” than London during the holidays. She shares some of her favorite shooting locations in the city—and other spots she loves—that capture the spirit of the season.
Less“The perfect destination for ice skating. This was one of the locations where we shot, and when my children came to visit, I knew it was a place I wanted to take them back to. Our daughter Willow, for sure, is the best skater in the family. I’m not a great skater, but I do love all the things that go along with ice skating: warm drinks, a good pastry, all the winter vibes.”
“This particular spot really caught my eye because it was beautifully decorated from the outside and had all of these little delightful things inside. It’s jam-packed. I highly recommend it if you’re interested in bits and bobs and things like that. For the first time, I actually bought ribbon and tied bows onto my Christmas tree. It’s one of the most special and unique stores I’ve ever been to anywhere in the world. I would go back again and again.”
“And right across the street from V V Rouleaux is the Marylebone Hotel, which is fabulous. End your day at the bar, sit fireside, and enjoy the best espresso martini in town. Happy holidays!”
“We shot in so many actual locations, and Regent Street features one of the first scenes, when the Morgans arrive to London in a black cab. You can see the very famous angel light installations called ‘The Spirit of Christmas,’ and if you walk down the street at nighttime, it’s absolutely stunning. Decorated just to the nines with Christmas trees and all sorts of beautiful things.”
“For something more traditional, afternoon tea at Claridge’s is very special. It’s cozy and absolutely delicious. Order yourself some sticky toffee pudding…if you still have room for it.”
“Daunt is known for its stunning architecture, oak galleries, and skylights. It’s the perfect store to get lost in. I picked up several books there. I ended up biting off more than I could chew, because the bookstore is so beautiful, you just want to spend at least an hour perusing. They also have beautiful cards and gift wrapping.”
“I was researching where to do afternoon tea, which is very British. When I came across sketch, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Everything’s really bright and bold. They have performers, like this amazing string quartet that was playing just next to us. And they have these incredible bathrooms. Each individual toilet—it sounds so crazy—is, like, this pod. You go inside and it looks like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
“In true London form, this is a very tiny, quaint shop. They have a refrigerated section with huge wheels of cheese and you can sample just about anything you want. It also has something that’s very unique to London: the hampers that people give as host gifts. It’s like, ‘Yes, I’ll take these olives here. I’ll have that bottle of wine. I’ll have those crackers. I’ll have those three cheeses. And that dip. And those nuts look fabulous!’ Super delectable everything.”
“It’s a bit far, but it’s worth the trek! Walking through the illuminated Christmas light trail puts you right in the holiday spirit. It’s absolutely magical. Don’t forget to get the mulled wine.”
“Zoe Colletti—who plays my daughter—had gone here with her mom and told me all about it. She’s a really big baker, and I’m a really big baker, and my daughter loves The Great British Bake Off. And it’s just like the show. There are 12 baking stations, and you bake in pairs. You have 90 minutes to complete your cake, with one winning team. It was a very friendly competition. It’s fast, messy, and oh-so-much fun. We didn’t win, but we still thought our cake was pretty cute.”