Serving dangerously good cocktails and boasting one of south London’s most innovative menus, this amazing place to eat, drink and hang out with friends is housed in an equally spectacular architectural salvage shop.

Paul Rothe n Son has been there 120 years, bang in the middle of town. Hard to find a proper old-school deli in central London nowadays, n none more proper than this place. Great jacket potatoes, soup, sandwiches. It looks the part too. And the service is always great. Try and avoid the lunch queue.

Quiet outdoor garden with bar and pizza meters away from the busy and vibrant Dalston main roads.

A phenomenal cultural place which brings to London the best contemporary dance talent and productions. Sadler's Wells is one institution that makes London such a an amazing place to live in. Always ground-breaking and risk-taking programming. The best dance venue in the world, thanks to the amazing artistic vision of Alistair Spalding and his team. Leading by example and always doing it with heart.

Whipps Cross flats next to Hollow Pond boating lake is where I run. A perfect antidote to the chaos in the city.