Whipps Cross boating lake is a true hidden East end gem. Located on Whipps Cross flats midway between Walthamstow and Wanstead.

I love living in cities with a river and the Thames is so wide! It is one of my favorite things about London.

Serving dangerously good cocktails and boasting one of south London’s most innovative menus, this amazing place to eat, drink and hang out with friends is housed in an equally spectacular architectural salvage shop.

The Roundhouse was built as a steam-engine repair shed in 1846, and then became a warehouse before falling into disuse for 25 years and reopening as a performing arts venue in 1964 hosting acts like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Pink Floyd. It was redeveloped between 2004-2006 and is one of my favourite music venues in London; it’s a beautiful building, has a great sound and isn’t too huge so feels fairly intimate. Some highlights for me this year were The Flaming Lips, David Byrne & St.Vincent and the Timepiece installation by Conrad Shawcross.

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).