1) I live near Portobello Market, so of course I am going to recommend it. Portobello is under threat as the big brands move in, due to its popularity, so the more people go and keep the small stalls alive, the better. The fruit and veg market all week (except Thursday) is cheap, and friendly, and there’s great coffee from the Fairtrade coffee stall. The antiques and clothes markets happen on Friday and Saturday, but for brilliant vintage clothes go to the covered market under the bridge on Friday mornings, where you can find truly beautiful things.
2) Columbia Road flower market on Sunday morning. This small street throngs with flowers, plants and the banter of the stall holders who auction off whopping great bunches of flowers. It’s ridiculously romantic and photogenic and is consequently popular with the young and in love. Also good for pubs, delis, brunch spots and so on.
3) In summer, go to Regent’s Park Road, buy a picnic in one of the over-priced but great delis (Melrose Morgan is very good), grab a bottle of wine and head to the top of Primrose Hill for sunset. There are great views of London, and again, it’s super romantic.
4) Sir John Soane’s Museum in Holborn. The 19th-century architect’s house is packed, floor-to-ceiling, with art, sculpture and architectural artefacts. I can’t recommend this highly enough. It is totally unique, the collection is breathtaking, and it is an alternative to London’s huge museums. On the other end of the art scale, go to Hauser Wirth on Savile Row. This is an über modern gallery with super shows. Also visit the White Cube Gallery in Mason’s Yard off St James’s.
5) Here’s a quick list of other must-dos: the National Film Theatre (and everything that happens at the South Bank Centre). Bike along the Regent’s Park canal. Go to The Cow pub on Westbourne Park Road for oysters and Guinness and fish stew, or Exmouth Market for restaurants. Then there’s Wilton’s Music Hall, Borough Market, breakfast at The Wolseley, the Whispering Gallery in St Paul’s (just do it once in your life), Lidgate’s pork pies, the courtyard at the VA, Chelsea Physic Garden, and Monmouth coffee shop in Covent Garden for the best coffee. I could go on and on . . .
