Beautiful, calm location for lunch on a sunny day in London. Housed in a former school bike shed on Arnold Circus in Shoreditch. Great seasonal fresh food.

The oldest surviving fire station in Peckham, converted and restored by 6a architects, is now an annexe to the South London Gallery.

Since The Columbo Group took over The Jazz Cafe, it's become the best programmed venue in the city, focusing on jazz, soul, funk, disco and afrobeat.

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.

Hidden away in the backstreets of Finsbury Park, I used to share a house opposite this pub, where it assumed the role as our second living room. A real north London gem, I still go there these days for the tree-house-like, leafy terraced beer garden, which is perfect for summer evenings.