Rosie Thomas, better known as The Londoner, has transformed from a London-centric blogger into a global lifestyle influencer with a strong focus on wellness and travel. Amid her 2021 relocation to Los Angeles, many fans have wondered what has happened to Rosie Londoner and how her perspective on her hometown’s culinary and hospitality scene has evolved through her journey.
Key Takeaways
- Rosie relocated to Los Angeles in 2021 due to her husband’s work but maintains strong connections to London
- She boasts an impressive social media following with 368K Instagram followers and 415K on Facebook
- Her restaurant recommendations include high-end spots like Scott’s in Mayfair and hidden gems like Prawn on the Lawn
- The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square, opened in 2021, represents her luxury accommodation picks starting at £450/night
- Rosie’s content has evolved to include wellness topics and mocktails while still highlighting her London expertise
The Evolution of Rosie Thomas: From London Blogger to Global Influencer
Rosie Thomas started her blog “The Londoner” as a love letter to her hometown, capturing the essence of London living through fashion, food, and travel content. Over the years, her online presence expanded significantly, currently commanding an audience of 368K Instagram followers, 415K Facebook fans, and 35.8K Twitter followers.
Her journey took an unexpected turn in 2021 when she relocated to Los Angeles due to her husband’s work commitments. This move sparked curiosity among her dedicated followers about how she would maintain her London-centric brand while living across the pond. Despite the distance, Rosie continues to showcase her London expertise through curated recommendations and partnerships, including a notable collaboration with Estée Lauder in 2025.
The personal side of Rosie’s life has also been shared with her audience, including the birth of her daughter Lily in 2019 via home water birth with midwife Cheryl Opinio-Fisher. This life event, along with her international relocation, has influenced the evolution of her content to include more family-focused and wellness-oriented themes.
Rosie’s Top Hidden London Restaurants
Despite her current LA residence, Rosie’s culinary recommendations for London remain highly sought after. Her selections range from upscale dining establishments to charming hidden gems, reflecting her diverse tastes and insider knowledge.
At the top of her list is Scott’s in Mayfair, which she highlighted during her Estée Lauder collaboration as the place for “the best fish and chips.” Located at 20 Mount Street, this restaurant combines British tradition with elegant surroundings that appeal to both tourists and locals seeking an elevated dining experience.
For breakfast enthusiasts, Rosie recommends The Wolseley in St. James’s for its “old-school charm” and impressive morning fare. The grand café-restaurant at 160 Piccadilly offers a taste of traditional European dining in a historic setting that dates back to 1921.
When it comes to London’s hidden restaurants, Prawn on the Lawn in Islington ranks high on her list. This seafood-focused eatery offers creative dishes like duck burgers and passionfruit scallop ceviche, providing a refreshing alternative to more conventional fish restaurants.
For those seeking a touch of glamour, Rosie suggests Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone. Not only does it offer excellent terrace lunches, but it’s also a prime spot for celebrity sightings in a beautifully restored former fire station.
Perhaps the most Instagram-worthy of her recommendations is Bob Bob Ricard in Soho, famous for its “Press for Champagne” buttons in private booths. This unique feature epitomizes the blend of fun and luxury that characterizes Rosie’s curated London experiences.
Luxury Stays: The Londoner’s Hotel Picks
Rosie’s hotel recommendations reflect her appreciation for both traditional luxury and innovative boutique properties. Her current top pick shares her namesake—The Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square, which opened in 2021 as the self-proclaimed “world’s first super boutique hotel.”
This striking property features rooms starting at £450 per night and boasts impressive amenities including a subterranean spa, rooftop bar, and an Odeon Luxe cinema. Its central location makes it ideal for travelers looking to explore London’s theatrical district and nearby attractions.
For classic elegance, Rosie highlights Claridge’s in Mayfair, describing it as a “home away from home” during her Estée Lauder partnership. This iconic hotel offers traditional afternoon tea at £90 per person and represents the timeless sophistication of London’s luxury hospitality scene.
Families and Harry Potter enthusiasts might prefer Rosie’s recommendation of the Georgian House Hotel in Pimlico, which features themed “Wizard Chambers” starting at £299 per night. These magical accommodations provide a whimsical alternative to standard hotel rooms and appeal to Rosie’s sense of adventure.
For tech-savvy travelers, The Guardsman in St. James’s offers cutting-edge amenities like TV-mirrors and Bluetooth bathrooms at £370 per night. This modern approach to luxury aligns with Rosie’s appreciation for both tradition and innovation in the hospitality sector.
Budget-conscious followers can still experience Rosie’s recommended style at unique boutique hotels like Mama Shelter Shoreditch, which offers rooms from £110 per night while still providing trendy amenities such as a rooftop pool and notable dining options.
The Estée Lauder Connection
In 2025, Rosie partnered with Estée Lauder to curate a London culinary tour, highlighting her continued connection to the city despite her LA residence. This collaboration showcased her expertise in London’s dining scene and further cemented her status as a trusted source for high-end recommendations.
During this partnership, she shared Scott’s as her pick for “the best fish and chips” and The Wolseley as an excellent breakfast spot that maintains London’s traditional elegance. She also highlighted Claridge’s as a “home away from home,” demonstrating how luxury accommodations enhance the overall London experience.
This collaboration represents a significant professional milestone for Rosie, blending her personal brand with an iconic beauty company while celebrating her London roots. It also signifies her continued relevance in the lifestyle influencer space despite her geographical distance from her namesake city.
Budget-Friendly Alternatives to Rosie’s Luxury Picks
While Rosie’s recommendations often lean toward the luxury end of the spectrum, there are affordable alternatives that capture similar experiences without the premium price tags. For seafood lovers who can’t splurge on Scott’s, hidden gem restaurants in less central neighborhoods offer comparable quality at a fraction of the cost.
Instead of The Wolseley’s upscale breakfast, numerous charming cafés throughout London serve excellent morning fare with similar old-world charm. Many of these establishments can be found in neighborhoods like Notting Hill, Hampstead, and Greenwich, offering authentic experiences away from the tourist crowds.
For those unable to afford The Londoner Hotel’s £450 starting rate, boutique properties in neighborhoods like Shoreditch and Bermondsey provide stylish accommodations with distinctive character at more accessible price points. Many of these hotels feature locally-inspired design elements and personalized service that rivals their more expensive counterparts.
Even luxury touches like Bob Bob Ricard’s “Press for Champagne” button can be replaced with visits to innovative cocktail bars offering interactive experiences and memorable drinks at more reasonable prices. London’s diverse drinking scene includes numerous hidden speakeasies and creative establishments that provide unique experiences without the high-end restaurant markup.
Life in Los Angeles: Rosie’s American Chapter
Rosie’s 2021 move to Los Angeles marked a significant shift in both her personal life and content direction. The relocation was prompted by her husband’s work commitments, creating an unexpected new chapter for the London-focused influencer.
In her blog post announcing the move, Rosie expressed mixed emotions about the transition, noting her excitement for new adventures alongside genuine homesickness for London. This vulnerability resonated with her audience, many of whom had come to associate her identity closely with her London expertise.
Since settling in LA, her content has evolved to include more wellness-focused topics, including mocktails, sobriety discussions, and California-inspired home décor. She’s embraced the West Coast lifestyle while maintaining her distinctly British perspective, creating a unique cross-cultural voice in the influencer landscape.
Despite the physical distance, London remains central to her brand identity. She frequently references her hometown in posts and continues to share updated recommendations based on return visits and insider knowledge maintained through her extensive network.
The LA chapter has also influenced her perspective on London’s hospitality scene, allowing her to view familiar establishments through a fresh lens informed by international comparison. This broader perspective has arguably enhanced her ability to identify what makes London’s offerings truly special and distinctive.
Family Life and Motherhood
In 2019, Rosie welcomed her daughter Lily through a home water birth, an experience she shared in detail on her blog and through a partnership with Private Midwives. Her midwife, Cheryl Opinio-Fisher, played a key role in this transformative life event.
Motherhood has influenced Rosie’s content approach, with more emphasis on family-friendly experiences and practical considerations for traveling with children. Her restaurant and hotel recommendations now often include notes on accessibility and appropriateness for families.
Even her luxury hotel picks reflect this evolution, with properties like the Georgian House Hotel’s themed rooms appealing to family travelers seeking memorable experiences for children and adults alike. This shift demonstrates how her personal journey continues to inform her professional recommendations.
Balancing her influencer career with motherhood has added another dimension to Rosie’s relatable content. She frequently shares the challenges and joys of maintaining her distinctive lifestyle while prioritizing family, creating content that resonates with her maturing audience.
What’s Next for The Londoner
Despite her current LA residence, Rosie has teased a potential return to more London-focused content in response to ongoing follower requests. Her enduring connection to the city suggests that future collaborations and recommendations will continue to showcase London’s evolving hospitality scene.
Her recent wellness