Olympic Studios — London, UK

Leafy Barnes may be an unlikely spot for a slice of rock’n’roll history, but it’s here, in this Richmond-Upon-Thames enclave, that you’ll find Olympic Studios. Once host to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, the former recording studio has been transformed into a contemporary venue comprising a café and dining room, private members’ club and cinema. The bones of the past remain; Simone McEwan Design has meticulously preserved original wood beams, and carpets and rugs that previously acted as sound-proofers for the studio and infuse the space with a sense of modern comfort. Buckle down at a leather banquette in the Café and Dining Room, where an all-day menu of seasonal British cuisine is served, before heading to the cinema: two intimate screening rooms showing both art house films and general releases, viewable from plush, reclining velvet chairs.