London insider: Lizzie Kempson

What baffles me about London is the amount of people who can fit on the Tube. It’s staggering how many commuters can cram themselves into such a small space. Even in its open spaces, the city is still bustling.

London’s best-kept secret is Guilty Pleasures’ at Camden’s Koko. Once a month they have a theme night with great cheesy music. It’s so much fun to let loose and party. Love it!

When I want to chill out in the winter, I curl up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate and a good movie. In the summer, I like to be outdoors, so I’ll usually head to Hyde Park. I love long, warm days.

The most interesting person I’ve met was a girl I got chatting to on a bench in Holland Park. She’d just got back from South Africa and had been swimming with sharks. Apparently one of the guys she was with was shit scared – literally – which apparently seems to attract more sharks.

My favourite place for a drink is the Arch Angel in High Street Kensington. It has opulent decor, but still manages to feel cosy. There’s also a nightclub downstairs, and, most importantly, the cocktails are amazing.

For when you’re hungover in London you can’t beat a big greasy full-English fry-up – I love bacon and eggs. I usually head to Duck Egg Café on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton because I can’t be bothered to cook it myself. A hungover Sunday wouldn’t be the same without it.

What gets me up in the morning? My alarm. Then a shower and a cuppa.

My perfect weekend would involve going to the British Museum’s Court restaurant for a cream tea, and to the Ladbroke Arms in Holland Park for a roast dinner. In the evening, Camden is my playground. InSpiral Lounge is part veggie restaurant, part bar, part live music – such a nice, chilled evening.

My biggest faux pas was getting up to give a pregnant woman a seat on the Tube. However, it turned out she wasn’t expecting. It was incredibly awkward – but she took the seat anyway!

Five words that sum up London ... Busy. Fun. Crazy. Multi-cultural. 24-hour.

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