Seatmates: Lucy Williams
On the places that turned her heartbreak into healing, the product she always smuggles home from the U.S., and the islands that influenced her signature style
This interview is part of Seatmates, a Window Seat series where tastemakers, travelers, and creatives share how they move through the world—what they pack, where they stay, and the travel rituals that shape their lives.
If you’ve ever saved a dream destination to your camera roll, there’s a good chance
got there first. As one of my personal favorite creators for years now, she’s been a constant source of inspiration for everything from personal style to interiors, but it’s her travels that have truly earned my trust. When Lucy co-signs a destination or a hotel, I know it’s going to be good; she has an uncanny ability to discover places before they hit the mainstream, and I’ve come to rely on her discernment when planning my own getaways.Read on to learn what common practice she’ll never do on a plane, which hotel brand she dreams of making her default, and the surprisingly low-lift ritual that helps her reset after every long-haul flight.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a content creator, stylist, and brand consultant, and I live in London with my husband and our dog Finn. I’ve been based in London for 15 years now, but I grew up on a farm in a very rural part of England, and while so much of my childhood was incredibly privileged, travel wasn’t a big part of my life growing up. Our summers were spent in Wales, we spent a week skiing every other year, and we went to visit family in South Africa once.
When I was in Sixth Form, I had the opportunity to do a school trip to Ecuador to climb Cotapaxi and travel for three weeks, which I jumped at and loved every moment of, even the really tough bits. Altitude sickness, white water rafting, visiting an orphanage, horse-riding through the desert, and visiting markets—I’d never experienced anything like it. Once I’d finished school, I went volunteering and backpacking for close to a year, and it was definitely those first tastes of adventurous travel that gave me the bug for it.
Is there a destination that ended up shaping your worldview or marking a major turning point in your life?
I’m lucky enough to have done quite a few trips and extended stays in East Africa, and I always leave feeling expanded and renewed. Looking back, I seem to have been heartbroken in this part of sub-Saharan Africa many times over the years: 18 years old in Uganda, 27 in Kenya, and 29 in Botswana. I will say, there really is nothing like looking up at the stars in the African bush to get over him. I did a lot of much-needed growing up and had so many life-changing experiences (the good, the bad, and the stupid) when I spent 4 months in Uganda, none of which I would wish away now. I even remember the regular burns and subsequent scars on my legs from boda bodas fondly!
In a full-circle moment, we ended up honeymooning in Tanzania, so I’ve officially broken the heartbreak cycle. The Samburu in Kenya and the Okavango Delta in Botswana, in particular, are such special places for being reminded just how incredible the planet is. I’m still yet to properly see a rhino in the wild, so that’s on my ‘one day’ list, as is Namibia and Mozambique to stay at Susurro.
Your travels seem to weave into everything that you do, from your style to your collaborations. How has travel influenced your design sensibilities, and are there any destinations that have shaped your creative POV in a lasting way?
My love for the Greek islands is well documented, and they’ve definitely played a big role in terms of inspiration. Often, when people come round to our house, they say our kitchen feels like a holiday home and notice that we have painted all our window frames in that pale, Greek blue. We have lots of souvenirs like evil eyes and ceramics dotted around too. I can see lots of Greece in various collections I’ve designed, from the ceramic candleware I did with Feldspar to the soon-to-launch rugs with Pelica House that feature Greek keys and primitive fish motifs, like the ones you’ll see drawn on the cobbled streets in Choras.
Both New York and L.A. have played huge roles in shaping my aesthetic, too. I spent lots of time there throughout my 20s, as my boyfriend at the time was a photographer who worked there a lot. It still holds such a special place in my heart, and I feel like I really came of age there in so many ways.
You also have such a thoughtful eye for interiors. Have any places directly inspired the kinds of objects you collect, or how you style your home?
I remember the first time I went to Copenhagen, and I was like ‘yep, this is what I like’. The Danes do interiors exactly how I like them: cosy and chic with just enough colour and a bit of folksiness here and there. I’m always inspired by the homes and stores there, and can definitely see how I brought that into designing our home in London. I remember going to the founders of Ganni’s house for dinner for the first time, and it really confirmed my love of pale blue and how to use it in a grown-up way. There’s a store in Copenhagen called The Apartment too—it’s expensive but great inspiration for that colourful, bohemian Scandi aesthetic. Plus, no one does breakfast and buns like the Danes either.
What’s been your most memorable hotel stay?
We stayed at this beautiful Airbnb in Serifos after our wedding in Greece, and it really was magical. We started off at The Rooster on Antiparos, but then decided to stay longer (we weren’t ready to go home yet), so we found this beautifully simple house perched high up on a cliff with 360-degree views. You can see the sea from every window, and the afternoon breeze on the terrace was dreamy. We rented a scooter and just roamed around the island for three days.
In terms of hotels, places I still daydream about include Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, Amanwella in Sri Lanka (I’m a bit of an Aman junkie, or least I would be if I could be!), Deplar Farm in Iceland, and Cuixmala in Mexico—visually there really is nowhere quite like it.
Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?
I’ve still never been to Japan and would love to start by seeing Tokyo and Kyoto. It’s been on our bucket list for years, but we just haven’t made it there yet. I’d love to do Bhutan too: hiking, visiting temples, and staying at the various Aman properties along the route.
I’m hopefully ticking off two hotels I’ve been wanting to visit for ages this year: Forestis in the Dolomites for hiking and spa-ing in the Autumn, along with Villa Mabrouka in Tangier for some early Spring sunshine. I’ve done quite a bit of Morocco before, but never Tangier, so I’m excited to see a new corner of the country. I’m also really keen to go to Transylvania—I’ve been seeing some really nice accommodation options pop up from Bethelhen Estates, and the hiking and history around there is meant to be incredible.
What are your must-haves when it comes to luggage and items you travel with?
Maybe controversial, but I like a zip-up suitcase rather than a Rimowa-style buckle. I splurged on a Rimowa trunk a few years ago, and the first trip I did with it, the wheel snapped off!! Antler and Paravel are my current checked luggage of choice, mostly because they’re so lightweight (so I can maximise my weight allowance). I mix and match my hand luggage depending on where I’m going. I have a bad shoulder and neck so my osteo is constantly telling me not to carry heavy bags, but I always seem to end up carting around 10 kg wherever I go, no matter how hard I try. I have a big Metier leather tote bag I love, and I always take a Longchamp Le Pliage Tote with me for extra checked luggage if I’m planning on shopping on a trip—really helpful if you’re doing any connecting flights on smaller airlines where the maximum weight per bag is lower so you can decant stuff if needed.
I’m a high-maintenance sleeper, and I never go anywhere without a Drowsy Silk Eye Mask and my Snoozeband so I can go to sleep listening to audiobooks. My insomnia will often flare up in new places, so I always take Ross J Bar Sleep Patches and these gummies to help me drift off. You have to have a prescription in the U.K. to get melatonin, so any chance to get some when I’m in the U.S., I do. Those gummies have me in a chokehold! I also swear by the Leapfrog vitamin C pills to ward off catching coughs and colds on the plane. I normally take my pilates ball and some bands so I can do some basic pilates even in the teeniest of hotel rooms. I fear it’s a sign of nearing middle age when you start travelling with your own teabags, but that’s where I’m at these days (ed. note: right there with you girl) and I always take a bar of Hu cashew butter chocolate so I can get my nightly chocolate fix. I even took it to Sha in Mexico recently, but don’t tell them that.
What is your go-to airport outfit?
It often depends where I’m going as I try to dress in a way that works with where I’m going. I love the Nili Loton Shon Pants for travelling. They’re comfy enough for long-haul flights, but you don’t look totally disheveled when you get to your destination. Those pants with a white tee from Eterne, a cashmere jumper from Aiayu or James Perse and comfy trainers for speed-walking at the airport. I normally travel in my Salomon’s as I can walk and hike in them once we get there or my Nike Cortez if I want more summery sneakers. The Brit in me gets anxious if I don’t have a jacket even if I’m flying to the heat, so I normally take a leather biker jacket wherever I’m going and a big blanket/scarf—I have a couple of really cosy ones from Oyuna. I also love a Suzi Kondi tracksuit for travelling—the cashmere track pants are amazing for going somewhere like N.Y. in the winter (they helpfully look great with boots as they’re not too tracksuit-y) while the towelling sets are perfect for comfort without taking up lots of room in your case once you get there.
Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?
If I’m flying west from London, it’s eat and stay awake on the way out, don’t eat and straight to sleep on the way back. I never drink alcohol on planes and stick to lots of water and minimise salt as much as I can (I take my own snacks/food so I don’t have to rely on the plane food) to try and avoid that post-plane puffiness and help with jet lag.
My skin gets really affected by travel, so no makeup and loads of moisturiser on a flight—even the short ones. I like the Goop Restore Balm or Weleda Skin Food for really sealing in all the hydration as best I can. I wish I were that person who could do a sheet mask on a plane, but I’m always too self-conscious! If I double cleanse as soon as I get to my hotel and use some salicylic acid, followed by a hydrating mask (I love the 111Skin Cryo Depuffing Sheet Mask), I’m normally sorted and can avoid a post-plane breakout. I’m always so impatient to see where I’ve arrived, so I try to get outside and go for a walk as soon as I arrive if it’s still light out, as it helps get my body clock in sync and stretch my legs after the flight, too.
Last question: aisle or window seat?
Window every time. I have a strong bladder lol and find it much more peaceful having the window to lean against to sleep and see my destination coming into view.
To keep up with Lucy’s travels, subscribe to her newsletter,
, and follow her on Instagram. Interested in being featured in Seatmates or know someone who should be? Drop me a line here.Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.
Thanks so much for having me chat about my favourite subjects Tori! Always a self-indulgent treat to go down the memory lane of favourite places and special trips. Xx
Lucy is THAT girl (and her home is unmatched) and I also agree that the Okavango Delta is one of the most special places on the planet<33