London is extraordinary, and completely overwhelming in equal measure. The options are endless, the recommendations conflict, and finding someone truly good at what they do can feel like a full-time job in itself.

That’s where Almost Essential comes in. Founded by Michelle, a former executive search consultant and mother of two, it grew out of a simple but hard-won skill: knowing how to find the right person for the job. After years of understanding people and what they genuinely have to offer, she turned that expertise towards something more personal. Curating the very best services London has to offer, tried and tested, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Whether you’re new to the city or simply time-poor, Almost Essential works like having a trusted friend who happens to know everyone worth knowing.

Wellbeing, in practice

It’s easy to let personal wellbeing slip. Work fills the gaps, life gets busy, and before long the things that restore you have dropped off the list entirely. These are three we return to.

Mindfulness with Terrence the Teacher combines mindfulness, NLP and clinical hypnotherapy into a genuinely science-based approach to personal change. Terrence trained under Dr. Richard Bandler, co-founder of NLP, and his method is focused on empowering people rather than creating dependency. Michelle has known him for years and rates him highly. Sessions are one-on-one, in person or via Zoom.

If getting to a gym isn’t happening, Michael’s home and outdoor personal training brings the session to you. He works around your body, your schedule and your goals, with a taster session available before you commit to anything.

MacLynn relationship coaching and matchmaking is a psychology-led service founded by Chartered Psychologist Rachel Vida MacLynn, with offices in London, New York and LA. They work with people who are dating, in relationships, or simply finding connection harder than it should be in a busy city. Almost Essential members receive £500 off a private membership.

Homes that feel right

A well-designed home rarely comes together by accident. Behind most beautiful, functioning spaces are people who understand both the technical and the personal. Here are three we trust entirely.

Joanna Wood is recognised as one of Britain’s leading interior designers, and Michelle has long admired her work. What sets her apart is a genuine commitment to creating homes rather than showcases. She combines traditional and contemporary elements with real attention to how people actually live, working closely with craftsmen and furniture makers to achieve interiors that are bespoke, practical and visually exciting. She is a Fellow of both the BIID and IIDA, and a member of RIBA.

For renovation and building projects, The Page is a bespoke service that matches London homeowners with the right contractors. Founded by Thomas Benyon, it handles everything from rear extensions and loft conversions to full refurbishments, offering a premium level of support at competitive prices. The kind of service that takes the stress out of what can otherwise be an overwhelming process.

Once the work is done, the details matter. Art hanger expert Matt and his team handle the hanging of pictures, mirrors and textiles across all surfaces with the precision you’d expect from someone who works for major galleries and auction houses. It really is a skill in its own right.

And if you want to add something beautiful to a finished room, the Casa by JJ-Delt Tulipiere Tall is a new addition to the Almost Essential shop we are genuinely delighted to feature. Inspired by 18th-century Dutch Delftware, this hand-painted porcelain tulipiere is sculptural enough to stand alone and striking enough to anchor a hallway, table or mantelpiece.

Entertaining without the effort

Hosting is a pleasure, until it isn’t. When everything depends on one person to organise, the experience can disappear beneath the logistics. The right team changes that entirely.

Bas-tronomy is a talented and versatile young chef based in London who designs entirely bespoke menus around the occasion and the guests. With experience across ski chalets, Tuscan villas, Scottish lodges and London houses, he brings creativity and genuine finesse to every setting. He is also immaculately organised and will leave your kitchen exactly as he found it, if not cleaner. Michelle recommends him without hesitation.

Flower arrangements by Chris Jones are, in Michelle’s words, magical. Chris works with seasonal flowers and always comes up with something different, producing designs that are larger than life and completely his own. He is a pleasure to have around and the results speak for themselves.

For the bigger picture, Tom, the Efficient Party Planner, is someone who knows how to have fun and how to make sure everyone else does too. He and his team handle every detail, from venue and decoration through to flowers and logistics, so that by the time guests arrive, the only thing left to do is enjoy the evening.

Time away

When the time comes to step away and recharge, where you stay shapes the whole experience. That’s why we have put together a curated collection of holiday properties we know you will love, places chosen for their character, exclusivity and the kind of atmosphere you simply cannot find on a mainstream booking site.

The Almost Essential holiday property listing brings together exceptional homes available to rent around the world. Current listings include a house on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, a finca in Menorca, a mas in Provence, villas in Biarritz and Argentario, and properties in Sri Lanka, Portugal and Comporta, among others.

If you own a property that belongs in this company, the listing service is also open to owners who want to reach an audience that understands and appreciates what makes a home truly special.

Whether you are planning your next escape or considering sharing your own place with the right guests, the collection is worth exploring.

Why this matters

When options are endless, knowing who to trust is one of the most useful things you can have. The people featured here aren’t included because they’re new. They’re here because they’ve earned it, through consistent work, genuine expertise and the simple reliability that makes life a little easier to manage.

That’s not the most glamorous thing to say. But it’s true.

And if you want something more personal, Michelle’s Inner Circle offers bespoke advice tailored to you, from gifting and lifestyle recommendations to sourcing the things you didn’t even know you were looking for.