A green oasis for everyone to enjoy in the heart of busy Dalston

One of the few newsagents in London with the widest selection of specialist international fashion, media, art and design magazines. Just off Portobello Road.

Just down the road from where I live is this Art Deco cinema where mainly locals go. Watching films and sitting in this old theatre really adds another level to the experience.

Getting lost is an age old suggestion but a good one. Put away your cell phone or your A-Z and just wander around. I still do this regularly even though Ive lived here for nearly 10 years. London is a big city and it drip feeds you its secrets sometimes. You will come across things you wouldn't usually, in amongst the Starbucks and pret a mange there are some amazing sights. Just 'being' somewhere is a great experience and one no guide book can help you find.

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)