London Favorites with Mehrnoosh Khadivi

Kossoffs in Kentish Town is a known to-locals-only spot which has been serving incredible breads and the absolute best croissants in London for 3 generations.

It is fun to wander along the Thames River to food markets such as Maltby Street on weekends which is held in the railway arches in Bermondsey.

For a delicious and easy lunch in Soho, I would head over to either Koya - a Japanese udon noodle that first opened in 2010 specializing in freshly made udon noodles and dashi or to Kiln which serves wonderfully authentic regional Thai.

Liberty’s is always a safe bet for great edits of fabrics, prints and homeware.

Donlon Books on Broadway Market has an amazingly well-curated esoteric collection of the latest: art, photography, cultural theory, independent publications and zines.

For great collectible or vintage furniture pieces, there is Alfies' Antiques Market. Also, Japan House is great for discovering really beautiful new pieces from Japan be it in terms of craftsmanship, design, or innovation and technology- it’s always worth a visit as they install beautiful exhibitions in the basement.

Hampstead Heath - it is a wild park of woodland and meadows, close to the city center, and sprawls over 800 acres with some of the most spectacular views overlooking the city. I love to go swimming at the ladies' swimming pond and there are lots of woods to discover and immerse oneself in nature. I have been going since I was a child and I love that I am still discovering new spots.

We are so blessed in London with a huge variety of cultural spaces offering a plethora of experiences - I always check out the shows at the Camden Art Centre which is a fantastic local contemporary art gallery with a beautiful garden.

Sir John Soane’s Museum - The museum was the house of Sir John Soane, a British Architect, and has been kept as it was at the time of his death in 1837. Here you will find displays of his vast collection of antiquities, furniture, sculptures, architectural models and paintings.