Twiggy: 'I love Berlin – it's like London in the Sixties'
Twiggy, the fashion model and designer, reveals her favourite place in Britain, the surprise of Berlin and the saving grace of Bangkok.
I love going to Paris...
...for the fashion collections. It is one of the most beautiful architectural cities in the world and, of course, great for its food scene.
My first trip abroad...
...was to the French capital in 1966, just as my modelling career took off. It was both exciting and scary. I remember feeling very unsophisticated.
The next year, I flew to New York. It was mind-boggling arriving at an airport filled with screaming fans. One day, I happened to mention that I missed a nice cup of English tea and I was put in a limousine and driven with a police escort to a hotel that served it. That was slightly embarrassing.
My favourite place in Britain...
...is the Lake District. I first visited around 30 years ago because the director of The Boy Friend, Ken Russell, had a house there. We’d visit him and go for hikes in the hills. You can see why some of Britain’s greatest poets, such as Wordsworth, loved it so much. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.
Sunshine is important...
...for a family holiday. What we often do is to rent a gorgeous villa in the Mediterranean, in Majorca or Ibiza, then my extended family can come and go as they please.
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I was surprised by Berlin...
when I visited a few years ago to do a German TV show. It has such a buzz – the arts scene is enormous and amazing. It reminded me of London in the Sixties.
Bangkok was disappointing...
...when I visited while filming the television programme America’s Next Top Model. I thought it would be very oriental and quaint, but it just felt like a big city with only a few pockets of charm. That said, it was saved by the shopping malls, which I thought were pretty amazing.
New York City is magical...
...at Christmas, if it snows. Broadway has the best theatre in the world. I try to see at least three shows whenever I’m visiting.
The Carlyle Hotel...
...in the Big Apple is the height of luxury. I stayed there when I started working on the musical My One and Only. Everyone should see the autumn colours of upstate New York. It’s a bit like Peyton Place, with all the clapboard houses.
The Carlyle
New York, United States
8Telegraph expert rating
The Carlyle has been a favourite of everyone from Jackie O to Lady Di. A handsome, 35-storey 1930s Beaux Arts building with 188 Art Deco-styled rooms and suites, grab a cocktail at low-lit Bemelmans Bar off the lobby, or catch a show at supper club Café Carlyle, where Woody Allen plays clarinet every Monday night. Read expert review From ￡311per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
I love the lifestyle of...
...Los Angeles, where I lived for three years when I was filming a show called Princesses, but I was always a bit wary of the earthquake threat. I’d love to go to Las Vegas and see America’s National Parks, too.
I had the most sensational meal...
...while I was staying with a friend in Umbria, Italy. We ate in a place that seemed almost like someone’s house in a village in Tuscany. There was no menu, and we just ate whatever was brought out. It was all incredible.
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I go to pubs to...
...eat, rather than to drink. But Fortnum & Mason in London is always quite fun for a cup of tea.
I’m not very adventurous...
...when it comes to travel, so you won’t find me doing any trips with Bear Grylls.
To have a good flight...
...my suggestion is to eat very little, consume no alcohol, drink lots of water and sleep as much as you can.
Only pack a third...
...of what you need, though I must admit I’m not very good at following that myself. I can’t go anywhere without a novel. But my travel essentials, of course, are mostly from my own design collections.
Virgin Atlantic is...
...my favourite airline for its staff, who are always lovely. But I have had good experiences on easyJet flights, too, which have been fabulous. I can’t say I have a least favourite. To be honest, if it works, it works – low-cost or not.
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I want to go back to...
...Mauritius for its white sandy beaches, beautiful seas and sensational food. I’ve never been to South America and would really love to see Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Twiggy will be featured at the Emma Freud Meets…Twiggy talk event at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on October 14. For more information, see cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature.
Interview by Roz Lewis