Bethan Laura Wood's Guide to London

Portrait of Bethan Wood in her home by David Sierra. Image courtesy: Bethan Laura Wood.

Bethan Laura Wood is an internationally celebrated English designer, well known for her colourful geometric furniture and exquisite lighting designs.

Tutored by Dutch designer Jurgen Bey and the Italian Martino Gamper, Wood’s early works utilised vintage laminate, from which she created complex marquetry surfaces that have informed various designs. Titled Super Fake, referencing illusions of nature and natural materials, the series began with furniture and has since informed silk scarves, coverings for the iconic Superonda Sofa by Archizoom for Poltronova and award winning rugs for cc-tapis. 

While Wood is a London city-dweller, she is a self described maximalist and collector of objects from around the world. With a specific penchant for Mexico and Japan, her collection which quite literally fills her aptly colourful London apartment has been showcased in Apartamento Magazine amongst others.

Bethan Wood’s designs have been exhibited at the V&A Museum of Childhood, Swiss Institute Contemporary Art New York, and Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo and during Frieze Week one can see over 70 objects by Wood are on display at the London Design Museum until 25 January 2026, marking the first in a new series of annual displays titled PLATFORM, dedicated to showcasing contemporary design practice.

In London at the Design Museum, on Tuesday 28 October, Bethan Laura Wood will present her Travelling Bluestocking Salon with Libby Sellers and guests including Ron Arad and Rio Kobayashi – for an intimate conversation exploring joyfulness in design.

Image credits: (1) Portrait of Bethan Wood by Serena Eller Vainicher; (2) Fabric Pattern for the iconic Archizoom Superonda (1967) for Poltronova. Photo: Serena Eller Vainicher; (3) NGV KALEIDOSCOPE Bookcase detail. Photo: Emanuele Tortora; (4) Nilufar Criss Cross Lamps. Photo Filippo Piccolini; (5) Bethan Wood at her Bluestocking Salon. Photo Alejandro Ramirez; (6) Mecca grandkite. Photo Emanuele Tortora; (7) Mother Tounge. Photo Angus Mill; (8) SuperFake Roundrock for cc-tapis. (9) Guadalupe Daybed Sketchbook; (10) Portrait within Hypernature for Perrier Jouët. All images courtesy: Bethan Laura Wood.

Wood’s clients have included Moroso, Perrier Jouët, and Hermés and her numerous awards include the German Design Awards, EDIDA Design Awards, The ELLE Decoration British and Japan Design Awards, London Design Festival, London Design Medal and Designer of the Future at Design Miami. 

Her guide to London includes sites around her home in East London, and the London Design Museum on the other side of the city. Thank you so much dear Bethan!

☉ You often mention Spitalfields Market as a favorite place for inspiration in East London, can you share other locations in the area you frequent?

If I have a weekday off, on Thursday mornings I go to Spitalfields Market which is one of my favourite fleas. It’s quite mixed but I’ve always found lovely treasures and there are wonderful people there. Look out for Lawrence Prentice and his neighbour Pablo always has interesting things there’s also Lucian Myerscough. Go early before the lunchtime rush otherwise you’ll be overrun.

In this area I visit Kate MacGarry gallery, coming up very soon [opening 15th November] is Rio Kobayashi, a young designer whom I’m a big fan of. I also enjoy getting a coffee from Jolene on Redchurch Street, where there are lots of independent shops, and if one wants something more substantial to eat there is Leila’s – an institution of Arnold Circus – great for lunch and ice cream. While I’m in this area I might also pop by Troy Town just a little bit away into Hoxton and go and see Aaron Angell and his ceramics. En route is SCP – an independent design store that has shown work of contemporaries of mine and has also stocked my Rosenthal pieces in the past. I also enjoy going to visit the studio J Maybury, she will do an open Studio every so often and she has a great eye for textiles.

☉ There are special ‘Houses’ near the Design Museum in London’s Holland Park can you explain the appeal? 

When you go towards the Design Museum there’s some great historic and modern houses to visit. I would highly recommend going to Layton House, home to the Arab Hall where tiles collected by Lord Layton in the Middle East.  These were delicately repaired, having been damaged in transport, by William De Morgan, so it’s very interesting to imagine how he learnt his glaze techniques from this house. In the other direction is Japan House – a modern house with great exhibitions on Japanese craft and heritage. They also do a lovely Hojicha latte and if you wanna spend a bit more they have good sushi upstairs. I also love the Cosmic House, only a 22 minute walk away close to Holland Park Station, another historical house in London that is really worth getting in the queue to see.

 ☉ What’s a recommendation for escaping the city for the day?

Escaping the city for the day I think it’s worth checking what’s happening at Charleston House. They have a really interesting program of both celebrating works from the early 20th century and more contemporary design. They had a beautiful exhibition of Betty Woodman there so that’s a good road trip. 

There’s also Augustus Pugin’s family home The Grange in Ramsgate, Kent that I’ve never visited but that’s on my list as somewhere I want to go on an adventure when I have time for a road trip. You can also book to stay there overnight via the Landmark Trust. Margate is not far, where there’s the new Turner Contemporary, there is also Quench Gallery an independent gallery run by Lindsey Mendick who is represented by the local Carl Freedman Gallery. Also in Margate, go to the Shell Grotto as well, I’ve not been, but it’s also on my to do list! So that’s a whole day trip!