Mei Leaf is a lovely little tea/health shop based in Camden with a friendly staff that are always happy to assist and give advice. I love exploring the many different teas and some of my personal favourites are the: Silk Oolong, Duck Sh*t Oolong, Amber Mountain and Silver Needle. Mei Leaf was established in London in 2006 to represent true tea culture. Don and his team tirelessly explore the mountains of the East to find the most delicious teas on the planet. These are pinnacle teas made by masters from the perfect terroirs and picked at the perfect season.

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.

Every year I take my 25 year old mini on the London to Brighton run. The views from the start line are always worth the 4AM wake-up.

Long standing late night cafe  

East london spot with a bit of everything, food during the day and cocktails, music and cinema during the night. Few nice places around like E5 bakery, Netil 360 rooftop, and Mare Street Market