This is the place where ghost pirates roam in times forgotten. Where great poems were once written. Everything has happened here. A few abandoned boats and much stillness. And an island in the middle. Most curious. Not much choice but to explore as far as your nerves will take you. Watch out for Zorro the dog.

The Roundhouse was built as a steam-engine repair shed in 1846, and then became a warehouse before falling into disuse for 25 years and reopening as a performing arts venue in 1964 hosting acts like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Pink Floyd. It was redeveloped between 2004-2006 and is one of my favourite music venues in London; it’s a beautiful building, has a great sound and isn’t too huge so feels fairly intimate. Some highlights for me this year were The Flaming Lips, David Byrne & St.Vincent and the Timepiece installation by Conrad Shawcross.

My favourite library when I was a student, I still love to wander and look up to its Renaissance sculptures. 

A station, a stop or two away from London sits a shop that is only open once or twice a year – its specialty are books but it also sells things.

The V and A houses a public collection of prints and drawings of every kind imagineable from old master drawings to photographs, playing cards, fashion plates and wallpapers. You have to select what you want to see from the collection http://collections.vam.ac.uk/and book in advance. The behind-the-scenes route up to the study room of v and a is a treat alone (pictured)