London’s wildest and best park to get lost in. Just follow your instinct, chase trees, go up to the viewing points and you’ll always find breathing and mindspace in Hampstead Heath. If you can, visit often, as it goes through wonderful changes over the seasons.
I love the George and Dragon Public House. Cluttered deco of silly artifacts and memorabilia and slightly scuzzy around the edges. Great drinking characters, DJs and The White Cubicle gallery in the ladies toilets is difficult to beat.
The gallery was extended into a neighbouring Victorian House space about a year and a half ago, with a real skill in judging the meeting point between the contemporary and the conserved. The architects — 6a — were also responsible for Raven Row near Spitalfields (another favourite place). I'm lucky enough to work part of the week next door, at Camberwell College of Arts. This is about great food and good books. The café — a real haven at breakfast time before work — is run by the nicest team of people, with intertwined relationships to Camberwell. This book, designed by James Langdon, represents the kind of find possible in the bookshop and also the quality of conversation content had, over the best coffee.
I really enjoy this vegetarian restaurant. It has everything from amazing healthy soups and salads to healthy dairy free desserts...my favourite is the raw chocolate tart with dairy free coconut ice cream!