TRAVEL NOTES WITH LAURA BAILEY

The third instalment of our series with Laura Bailey takes us to the Spanish capital, Madrid, for a weekend in the city through the pages of her travel diary.  

Sprawling across the high plains of central Spain, Madrid is a vibrant city of grand architecture, sun-lit avenues, and rich culture. From its famous art museums housing masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Picasso, to the leafy tranquillity of the Real Jardín Botánico and the winding streets of historic neighbourhoods, it’s a destination best explored on foot. Brimming with character, centuries of historic heritage sit alongside quiet neighbourhood bakeries, bustling food markets, and tucked-away tapas bars. 

Leaving schedules behind for a rare getaway with her best friend, Laura’s time in the city became a spontaneous collage of art, culture, and quiet moments with no work, no agenda, and no one to see but each other. 

"I live across the Atlantic from my best friend, but we’re on a promise to each other à deux once a year," Laura tells us. "Our stolen three-night trip to Madrid was a joyous collage made up of notes from friends, random walks, and those in-between moments that are always the most magical."

Bound in our Soho Weekly Diary Laura’s pages form a record of their time away. On the left, her weekly schedule captures the scribbles of daily life and packing lists before transitioning into arrival plans and research notes for tapas spots, museum visits and hotels jotted across our Featherweight paper. 

"Madrid is a big-hitting art and food destination, but the trick is trying to live like a local," Laura explains. "I ran early every morning on a recce, logging vintage stores and secret gardens, ending up with an espresso at the SOLO kiosk at Mercado de la Paz, shooting the breeze and talking to strangers." 

Elsewhere on the pages, her notes expand into an eclectic list of discoveries, gallery stubs, postcards, photos, and literary picks for her holiday reading. From wandering through the Botanical Gardens amidst a haze of rainbow tulips to spotting a quiet Picasso sketch in a gallery back room, it captures a weekend devoted to art, food, and friendship. 

"It’s those unexpected details that make a trip unforgettable," Laura adds, "even if I’ve always got a list."