What baffles me about London is the congestion charge. It has not made any difference in my view.
London’s best-kept secret is the Roman ruins that are still underground near Blackfriars.
When I want to chill out I go to Hyde Park, which is great. I also go for a drink at the Paramount Bar and Restaurant, which is on the top three floors of Centre Point on Tottenham Court Road.
The most interesting person I’ve met in London is a saxophonist busker I saw playing on the Underground. I said: “Do you fancy playing on my album?” And he did!
My favourite place for a drink is [Japanese restaurant and bar] Roka in Charlotte Street, Soho.
What can’t you beat when you’re hungover in London? The fact that usually there are going to be lots of people all in exactly the same boat.
What gets me up in the morning is the thought of creating something new in the studio.
What’s the first thing you think of in the morning? Tea. And switching on the news.
My perfect weekend is simple, all it needs is for Chelsea to beat a rival London team.
What’s the biggest faux pas you have made? Walking into a Spurs’ fan pub with a Chelsea shirt on.
The last naughty thing I did was embarrassing a few friends live on my radio show on Time 107.5 FM – I told their wives where they really were the night before!
Five words that sum up London … vibrant, cool, historic, entertaining and home, as I was born in Kensington.
New album, 19 Below Zero, out October 15
paulhardcastle.com
Photo: Rebecca Cresta Photography
