If you like some nice cool beer, portuguese sweets (the once with yellow custard inside) tasty and affordable sandwiches, good strong coffee and football, at all hours. Max Snack Bar is worth checking out.

The Party Superstore was/is my absolute favourite London shop until it was bizarrely attacked and gutted during the summer London riots. They have been since adopted as a concession by the local Debenhams but you can still savour the full delights of the products and nonsense on line.

A brilliant little hidden gem of a place to relax and look at some interesting rare / Out of print books and Magazine. Their evening art events are also very special. Great atmosphere and great people.

Spring always arrives earlier to London, and London shows its most beautiful face during the spring. If you live in London, or if you come to visit, bring your training shoes and take a morning run along river Thames in Chiswick. Between Barnes Bridge and Hammersmith Bridge, there's a great trail on both sides of the river. And if you take the run in March, you might run through this wonderful Alice-in-Wonderland cherry-blossom landscape.

An oasis of peace in London's frantic atmosphere.