Buddhapadipa Temple - Wimbledon

Close your eyes and inhale.  Can you smell it?  

That heady, muskiness of incense, the sweet tang of lemongrass and elegant jasmine.  

Now listen.

Birdsong is the only sound punctuating the tranquil air with a light breeze occasionally rustling the trees.

Open your eyes again.

No, you’re not on a remote hilltop in Thailand, but at number 14 Calonne Road, Wimbledon.

  

The Buddhapadia Temple is a Buddhist Thai Temple a stone’s throw from Wimbledon Common.  It was the first of its kind in London, originally established in Richmond in 1965 and moved to its current site in 1976.  Visitors can wander freely in the grounds during the week and inside the temple itself on weekends.

We pottered down on Saturday and spent some time admiring the impressive statues and carvings surrounding the building as well as the beautifully adorned exterior…

before taking off our shoes…

and following this lovely gentleman inside.

Photography is not allowed inside the temple building, the walls of which are covered with the most incredible mural depicting the life of Buddha.  It was hand-painted by a group of 14 volunteers and is a colourful, spiritual journey that you could spend hours marvelling at.

The gardens are a serene enclave filled with words of wisdom & positivity, numerous shrines and areas for quiet meditation. 

They were awash with colour when we visited. 

The temple runs a number of events, talks and classes throughout the year and regular meditation sessions too, however, I happen to think that walking through the grounds can be just as relaxing and equally as good for the mind and soul. 

If all the recent tennis drama has got you a bit worked up, stop by for a wonderfully different Wimbledon experience. 

The Lawn Bakery

"Another local shop's closing down!" I wailed, having walked past the Wimbledon Village bakery on my way home.  

I'm a huge believer in supporting local independent businesses, so the thought of the bakery that has operated on the same site for over 100 years succumbing to the recession and, no doubt, being replaced by some average chain was rather distressing. 

I was promptly told that I needed glasses and that the sign on the door actually said that it was being renovated rather than closing down.  Phew! 

Relief soon turned into excitement when, a couple of weeks later, I saw the sign on the sunny, stripy awning: The Lawn Bakery.

If you've ever visited The Lawn Bistro, chef Ollie Couillard's exceptional restaurant at the other end of the high street, you'll understand why I was quite so delighted by this discovery.


Pressing my nose against the glass the day before the official opening, I felt (and probably looked) like a child outside a sweetshop on pocket money morning.  Here's what I saw:

After waiting patiently for a full 24 hours, when I finally stepped inside I was greeted by the tantalising smell of freshly baked bread and a multitude of sweet and savoury treats to tempt even the most die hard of dieters.

The bakery seems to work to the same philosophy as the restaurant; using quality, seasonal ingredients to create freshly made classics that deliver highly on flavour. 

You can grab a pastry on the go, or settle down at one of the tables to feast on any of the goodies on show or brunch classics  like scrambled eggs with smoked salmon.  Also on offer are charcuterie boards, my favourite being the chorizo with quince jelly. 

If you're in the mood for elevenses, I highly recommend Ollie's  fresh out the oven sausage rolls - the perfect meat-to-pastry ratio - get 'em early though, as they don't stick around for long!

I stop by most mornings for a creamy cappuccino...

...and one of these gooey gems often jumps into my hand too. 

It's open daily from 7am, so pop in for a feed to set you up for a day of serious tennis watching at Wimbledon and let me know what you think.

A local gem

Well, local to me, that is.  But I strongly recommend a visit if you're in or around SW19 - perhaps during a little-known tennis tournament hosted by the area in June?

Bayley & Sage is a neighbourhood food store that stocks an incredible array of fresh, seasonal produce, luxury artisan brands and products from independent local suppliers.  For those of you who know and love Wholefoods, it's a similar deal but, in my humble opinion, ten times better.

For starters, it's small but perfectly formed (this is coming from someone who has been lost in Wholefoods countless times, mind), thereby narrowing down choice and making the process of deciding what to have for supper a whole lot quicker and easier.  

Plus, there is only one store, so it feels like a true independent food-lover's paradise.  It's also within a stone's throw of Wimbledon common, so you can work up a real appetite with a brisk walk first and have even more of a reason to treat yourself once inside.

But that's enough talk from me - why don't I let some photos speak for themselves.  Happy salivating!

Fresh, fresh, fresh!

At last, somewhere I can buy handfuls upon handfuls of samphire as opposed to piddley little packets (this is obviously when I don't go foraging for it myself!)

Soooo many different breads and freshly made goodies.

Olives for every day of the week.

Breakfast cereals made by Bayley & Sage customer Kate Freestone - talk about supporting local producers.

At least 4 pigs' worth of gorgeous cured meat.

 One word, 'yum'.

 Say fromage.

Well, you can't have one without t'other!

A true local gem. 

Do let me know of any similar places near you that I can investigate (read: drool on the floor of) when around and about London town.