Beautiful architecture and setting, ideal place for catching the latest art-house flick or to enjoy evening tea and a journal session. Friendly staff, ambient atmosphere and a wonderful crowd.

Aside from the excellent cultural facility's the Barbican Centre has to offer, ranging from theatre, art, music and dance. The space outside the Centre holds personal value in its ability to evoke nostalgia of the Emerald City, in the slightly disturbing film 'Return to Oz'. I enjoy residing by the fountains, where I draw, read books and feed ducks.

Full of fine books, nice owner and his beautiful mellow dog. If you like digging for books on most subjects you can strike lucky here.

This is my regular working place every week. Love the staffs there and the atmosphere surrounding by contemporary arts.

Half a mile from Markfield Park down the River Lee is Springfield Park. The park rises steeply up from the river and has an amazing array of tree species making it beautiful in all seasons. At the brim of the hill there is a line of park benches each one surrounded by box hedge offering a private view across the Lee Valley, Walthamstow and beyond. The park warden was nice enough to give me a chestnut log a couple of years ago from which I carved a bench and two stools.