It’s coming up to Christmas and if you’re like me, i.e. like to avoid the hustle and bustle of a jam packed Oxford Street to find that perfect item for that special someone why not check out Folk Clothing which is tucked away close to Central St. Martin’s near Southampton Row and surrounded by some really interesting shops including the People’s Supermarket.

British seasonal ingredients through an Italian lens....Parmesan fries, wild mushroom tagliatelle and tiramisu are some of my favourites.

As a keen runner, running through Greenwich Park and on to the river side I see the Thames Barrier, which is not only the worlds second-largest movable flood barrier (after the Oosterscheldekering in the Netherlands) but is also an iconic site on what is fast becoming a recognised stretch for developers including the 02 and Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication.

It might sound rather odd to suggest going to a cemetery, but this has to be one of my new favourite places to visit. Getting lost down one of the narrow paths certainly doesn’t make you feel like you’re in London anymore which can be refreshing. Another interesting fact about this place is that the late Amy Winehouse shot her music video for ‘Back to Black’ here.

One of the most special pubs in London, not so much for the place itself but rather for the crowd you will meet there; a mixture of locals, art students, passers by and weirdos. A place to feel at home and share a beer with the staff and/or the landlord (Paul).