Quick, easy, cheap thai food. It's fairly new to me, but easily makes this list.

A place that really grows on you, with each visit the Barbican reveals more of itself to you and your bond is tightened. The Barbican Kitchen is great for coffee or lunch, summer hangouts by the ponds, cinema in winter, the amazing Barbican Hall for live music, and don't miss the conservatory.

It's really close to my house and one of my favourite pubs in London! (I even went before it was close to where I lived!) It is London's first cooperatively owned pubs and has lovely events and workshops, exercise classes and great parties, and good beer! It's lovely in the beer garden in the hot summer and equally great in the winter, next to a real fire.

Misty mornings on the river beat the rest... this pic was taken in February on the Walthamstow marshes.

Westerns Laundry is a restaurant and wine bar (natural wine) in a converted laundrette that does brilliant small plates (focus on seafood).