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.

The AA is Britain's oldest school of architecture, but anyone can take advangte of the great work going on there. You can catch really interesting public lectures and free exhibitions throughout the year. There are also occasional installations and event launches, a bijoux cafe and brilliant bookshop. A great place to hang out with the builders of the future.

A great place to start the day if you are in South London is Federation Coffee in Brixton Village. The food is great and so is the coffee. This is a very chilled place where you can get both and indoor and outdoor experience (even though the whole place is under the Village roof).

There is a rather beautiful faded glory to these mythical creatures, which flank the steps guarding the ruins of the Italian Terraces in front of the former Crystal Palace, which dramatically burnt down in 1936.

An all women's team restaurant serving delicious home-cooked Indian cuisine. Owned by the very charming and talented chef, Asma Khan.