Lots of traditional charming country pubs around the area, but it can a bit hit and miss. A really friendly one with amazing food (and a unusually large veggie selection…) is the Beehive in Epping Green; close to the Great Wood. It's friendly enough you dare going there by yourself with the paper and are not at the mercy of local rubbernecks ("the rubberneck" = person who stares at strangers without any sign of guilt)
I've only just discovered this fantastic little salad bar-come-florist right round corner from my studio. It serves freshly made salads that are not only delicious but cheap too! Either take away, or grab the one and only table and eat in.
A peaceful park in Kingston Upon Thames. You can see lovely houses and gardens across the river. It's a wonderful place where you can take a rest with your family or friends. I recommend you to take a walk after having lunch or dinner in riverside restaurants near to the park. It's not big, however, very enough to feel the beauty of nature. I've done some location drawings here which was quite exciting. Just seat on a bench and enjoy the comfortable atmosphere.
Leila McAlister's grocery shop and café off Arnold Circus, Shoreditch. You can find the best of everything, from jars of horseradish to eggs and croissants.
It's such an iconic building and it's always a joy to be anywhere near it. It just dominates the landscape around it. Ever since I first saw the cover of Pink Floyd's Animals I've loved it and I still do. There are always reports in the news for plans for developers to spend billions on refurbishing it. I'd genuinely prefer it to remain as it is rather than see it being turned it into a massive shopping centre full of chain stores. The thought of it being turned into some kind of Westfield full of people on Facebook on their laptops in a Starbucks fills me with rage.