Westerns Laundry is a restaurant and wine bar (natural wine) in a converted laundrette that does brilliant small plates (focus on seafood).

I couldn't decide which coffee shop to feature so here's the first, Store Street Espresso. It's right round the corner from work and a great place to chill out at lunch time and get that kick for the afternoon. Compared with the other independent coffee shops in the area (Wild & Wood/Lantana/Tapped & Packed) the interior's minimal and light which is great. Anyway coffee's really good and so is the food.

Nice old trees, lots of space, good for walking, running, hanging out with your kids and most of all, the perfect place to lie in the grass and chill out.

I'm waiting for a vegetarian-friendly event to get the full dining experience, but in the meantime there's wine!

If you want a peaceful day out of the busy city, Highgate doesn't really feel like London. The cemetery is interesting and peaceful, there's a tour of the old half which is definitely worth the money. Karl Marx, among others are buried there.