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.

St. JOHN is famous for its 'nose to tail' dining which encourages people to eat ‘unusual’ parts of the animal. St. JOHN also have their own bakery and winery and you can just visit for a drink and small bite in the bar (Clerkenwell and Spitalfields).

Everyone should visit this absurd restaurant once in their lifetime. Its over-priced, mediocre food but the decor and ambiance is like nothing else in theatrics and campery. You are met on arrival by a white velour 'napkin' artfully screwed up on your diner plate. Absorbent, not? Fabulously awful, yes.

Although off the beaten track from the large national galleries, 198 is no less an important part of London’s artistic heritage. Developed during the social unrest in the Brixton area in the 1980s, 198 has grown from a community arts space into an exciting contemporary visual arts body that is often the first place to see the next rising star of the London art scene.

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.