The many book stores dotted along this strip can provide hours of inspiration. Aside from those selling new books, several specialise in second-hand and antiquarian books.
Damian Miranda is a graphic designer, photographer and excessive thinker originally from Melbourne, Australia. He currently lives and works as a freelance designer in London.
Wonderful place for an indulgent afternoon tea. My favourite room is the millennial pink bathed Gallery room where the walls are covered in a sea of original David Shrigley art. The bathrooms feature beautifully designed individual egg-like pods and there's even a waiter whose sole focus is to serve you caviar.
A Hint of Mint, Taylors Sky, Class Freedom, Horseshoe Ping – amazing names, muscle, speed, beers, the cheap thrill of Greyhound racing at the dog tracks is a London must. It was best experienced at Walthamstow Stadium, an iconic 1930's stadium with a fantastic neon sign that sadly closed for racing in 2008. However fights to save it from demolition and reopen it for racing have been ongoing since then. So please support the campaign 'Save our Stow' and in the meantime head to the dog tracks in Romford, Wimbledon or Crayford.
The Barbican is worth visiting for it's brutalist architecture alone. The concert programming is really diverse; it's home to the BBC Syphony Orchestra, but you'll also find bands like the Dirty Projectors and the National amongst the classical and contemporary composer line up. Plenty of art, dance and theatre too, however, the Conservatory is the real gem that's not to be missed.