The Thames is not traditionally the prettiest river but it has its moments. Here it is turning pink in a sunset this summer. Its the reason the city is here and I like how in moments of real importance it rises to the occasion. For the golden Jubilee the queen floated down it with hundreds of boats, it was an amazing sight, like vikings setting out for battle. Good river spots - North Bank Savoy Gardens, Royal Festival Hall.

It is a music store in Brick Lane. You can spend there the perfect Sunday afternoon, listening to lot of new good music, thumbing through cool books while relaxing in their café. Oh, and the Rough trade photo-booth is a must if you go there!

This is one of my favourite places in the whole of London. Cernamic, run by Nam and Susi, they offer some fantastic workshops and at a very affordable price. They have really cultivated a welcoming environment, full of lovely people and a place to share and recieve knowledge.

Founded in 1828 the museum houses around 67,000 specimens many of which are now extinct or endangered. My favorite is the skull of a Bottlenose Whale from 1860.

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.