THE place for birthday presents and bookcases (mine was 50p).

Arguably the best café in London – or at least East London – with an incredibly welcoming atmosphere, delicious array of food and drinks, and hypnotising views to Broadway Market. Visit early in the mornings, for a roque-monsieur at lunch, or to get lost in their cheese selection at the market stalls on Saturday. Warning: addiction likely to occur.

Bordering the west side of Victoria Park, Regent's Canal serves as a pleasant walking or riding track, particularly on weekends when it's at it's quietest.

A residential estate that once housed 40,000 people which has now become an abandoned ghost town. Minutes away from Elephant & Castle, is an unexpected dystopian treat.

Key community arts centre, near to Shoreditch High St station. The cinema is handy and the music programming is solid, but they also host a variety of other interesting nights, most notably Jawdance, London’s (arguably) best spoken word night