THE place for birthday presents and bookcases (mine was 50p).

Although my skating days are now over, Stockwell Skatepark located just behind Brixton Academy is one of the reasons I moved to Brixton. It’s an excellent place, lumpy and hectic but totally friendly with decent Portuguese coffee and cakes just next door.

London institution, a magical place to have tea and cake and a perfect spot to watch London Soho life unfold before your eyes. The quality is always superb, the staff are friendly and human and the landladies Michelle and Tanya are part of what make this place and London so magical. A little gem that is a must on anyone's visit to London.

An obvious choice but no 'best of London' list is complete without the Barbican

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