This is my favourite place to have a morning coffee in London. Its real chilled and the music is always perfectly set to welcome the day in, its usually something I have never heard before too. The coffee is good and the tip jar they have is the best tip jar in the world so make sure you bring a bag of pennies. Sit with your sketch book and have a lil think.

No matter where I am in the world, which city I’m living in, my bedroom will always be my favourite place and there’s nothing more I enjoy than to just sit down in front of my computer, scan negatives in, smoke a ridiculous amount of cigarettes and drink excessive amounts of tea.

One or two screenings a day, a few days a week; less is more at Close Up. The library is a great resource too, for work or pleasure.

I spend many hours in the bookshops along this stretch, namely Henry Pordes for second hand books and new discounted titles (pile on left of photo), as well as Koenig Books for new art books with lots of great discounts in the basement. (photo right). In 2001 the rents for much of this strip were increased to align them closer to market value but thanks to public support they were reduced again. Unfortunately some bookshops still closed down; Koenig replaced the beloved Zwemmers - a real institution - but thankfully still provide great books, although others are no longer bookshops at all.

It's really close to my house and one of my favourite pubs in London! (I even went before it was close to where I lived!) It is London's first cooperatively owned pubs and has lovely events and workshops, exercise classes and great parties, and good beer! It's lovely in the beer garden in the hot summer and equally great in the winter, next to a real fire.