The area of London I call home is…New Cross. I have lived here for years now, and it just felt like home from the very beginning. This area is still largely undiscovered and yet you’re in central London in five minutes by train. I live close to a lovely park, and only a short walk away from some of the best pubs in south east London. We’ve recently had some great cafes open up in the area, including the fantastic Maddy’s Fish Bar on New Cross Road.

Photo: Caro Hutchings

I’ve got to have a meal at… The Royal Albert on New Cross Road – I have been going there for years and the food is always delicious. Further up the hill you’ll arrive at Chapters restaurant in Blackheath, which serves a great all-day menu and some fantastic cocktails. If I’m heading into the centre of town, The Grenadier in Belgravia is one of my favourite places for a cosy meal and they also do the best fish and chips in London. If I’m in Soho, I love going to Kettner’s for cocktails, and the main dining room always has a buzzy atmosphere. Andrew Edmunds along Lexington Street is a must for an intimate meal, with an ever changing, seasonal menu.

I tend to get my threads (clothes) from…the high street and secondhand shops. I really like Whistles, H&M, Zara, and I’ve picked up some lovely pieces recently from Anthropologie. If I’m in secondhand shops, I often find some great accessories.

To enjoy London nightlife, you should…take the people you have the most fun with and bespoke a night around what you want – the beauty of London is the sheer amount of choice. For example, if you want a night of glamour, you can’t beat cocktails at the American Bar in The Savoy. Likewise, you could have a more low-key evening, grab a pizza at Pollo Bar in Soho, and then head onto some of the pubs in the local area – The French House is a must. You can design a night around any budget, that’s why London offers something for everybody.

If I was mayor, I would…make London more pedestrianised, particularly during the summer months. This is a selfish decision on my part as I love walking everywhere, and so the more access I have, the more I can easily navigate my way around the city.

My favourite spot to check out art is…the Hayward Gallery along the Southbank. I actually remember the first exhibition I went to which was Antony Gormley’s ‘Blind Light’ – it was years ago now but it was an evening I’ll never forget. I highly recommend this gallery as it is in a great location to make a day of it too – after you’ve visited the gallery, you can sit with friends along the Southbank and just watch the world go by.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to…explore the capital by foot and head towards those places recommended by Londoners, who have a real insight into what the city has to offer. It’s great to see and visit all the usual sights, but you get a real understanding by exploring those places you never thought to visit before.

The things I miss when I leave London are…the incredible array of restaurants and pubs, as I am a real foodie. In fact, when I arrive back in London, the first thing I do is call my husband and suggest we go and try a new restaurant or pub we haven’t been to before – just one of the many reasons I love London.

My soundtrack to London would include…Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks. It is such a beautiful and atmospheric song, and I often think of it as I’m walking around the city. I was listening to it just the other day in fact, and it just gets better every time – the soundtrack to London, in my opinion.

Follow Stephanie Brookes on Twitter: @stephbrookes

The post Metropolitans: Stephanie Brookes, radio presenter and author appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The post Metropolitans: Camila Fernandez, make-up artist appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The area in London I call home is… Whitechapel. I’ve been here for three years now, but it’s the place that I feel suits me best. I’ve lived in just about every point of the compass at some point, but never settled anywhere before here.

I’ve got to have a meal at… Stingray Globe Cafe. Epic pizza. Nice and small (not the pizza). Super cheap

I tend to get my threads from… Oscar Milo in Spitalfields. It’s an independent place (I think) run by tailors, so what you get is really interesting clothes as they don’t have to worry about making lots of them. They’ve got great details on the shirts, but sadly they’re crazy expensive, so I try not to go there too often!

To enjoy London’s nightlife, you… need to get underground. All the best places are subterranean. Of the places I DJ at, Concrete and the basement of The Book Club are the most fun. Low ceilings, dark, crowded, hot… perfect.

If I was mayor, I would… get a better bicycle. And get more going on, on the Hackney Marshes. The recent BBC gig was great for the area, so hopefully we can have some more stuff over there for those of us that don’t like Rihanna.

My favourite spot to check out art is…  Nelly Duff. It’s a print shop I got to a lot. Galleries tend to leave me a little cold, where as in Nelly Duff’s all the stuff is great and (relatively) affordable.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to… try out Zone 2. Spread your wings and ditch the West End.

The things I miss when I leave London are… the subtle differences. I’m a big fan of the little things that add up to make something great. It’s the reason why nude espresso is better than Starbucks. Not one big thing – just lots of little things.

My soundtrack to London would include… Gold by Wake Owl, I Wonder by Rodriguez and Line of Fire by Junip. Or my Itchy Feet radio show of course! www.mixcloud.com/theitchyfeetshow

The post Metropolitans: Leo Bedford, DJ appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The area in London I call home is… Hackney. I live near London Fields and enjoy the vibrancy of this area.

I’ve got to have a meal at… Comptoir Libanais. I love the bright decorations and the mezze plates are delicious.

I get my threads from… all over, as I like to purchase something wherever I travel. In London, it is a combination of vintage shops near Spitalfields / Brick Lane, as well as Topshop and Liberty.

To enjoy London’s nightlife, you should… go to a Deviation party if you are in the mood to dance and if you want a great cocktail try Nightjar.

If I were mayor… I would encourage businesses to incorporate an arts initiative that would allow the works of emerging artists to be showcased in every corridor or office lobby.

My favourite spot to check out art is… Tiwani Contemporary, Whitechapel Gallery, Tate Modern (especially the Tanks) and Parasol Unit.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to… go to Hampstead Heath; it is quaint and beautiful and doesn’t feel like it is in a city. I would also encourage a walk through Broadway market on a Saturday and Columbia Road Flower market on Sunday.

The things I miss when I leave London are… the beautiful parks and cheap Turkish food (halloumi and falafel wraps).

My soundtrack to London would be… Blood Orange, Champagne Coast

The post Metropolitans: Stephanie Baptist, Arts Producer appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The area in London I call home is… I live in Greenwich, but I always think of home as Brixton. It’s where I was raised and made so many crucial memories. But it’s been almost 10 years since I last lived there. I’ve also lived in Wembley for a couple of years. It was different to Brixton, but not so much where I felt out of place. It was still a bit naughty and I liked that. But eventually I had to return to south, as that’s where my heart is.

I’ve got to have a meal at …  St. John in Smithfield. It’s nose to tail eating, which makes it ethical because they use every part of the animal that usually gets thrown away. If you do pop in, I’d recommend trying the Grouse, it’s very tasty. To drink, I like to visit a secret absinthe bar on Chamberlayne Rod in Kensal Rise (The Broken Down Doll Bar and Boutique). From the outside it looks derelict with a window full of weird deflated green balloons. To get in you need to bring something green.

I get my threads from… mainly the high street – American Apparel for T-shirts and Uniqlo for jeans. But when I want to treat myself, I head to Comme des Garcon and Yohji Yamamoto for shirts and tailoring and Zadig & Voltaire for knitwear. For men when it comes to style, I feel they should keep it fairly simple and classic.

To enjoy London’s nightlife, you should… head to east London. It’s full of energy, inspiration and interesting people. There’s so much going on there. You can bar and club hop all night and you’d barely scratch the surface.

If I were mayor… I would live in the new flats that have recently been built by Tate Modern.

My favourite spot to check out art is… either Lazarides or Elms Lester.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to… take the time to look at the top of buildings. This city has a rich history in architecture. The tops of buildings in London, for the majority, are incredible and go unnoticed everyday.

The things I miss when I leave London are… not one thing in particular but, as a whole, what London represents to me. Its differences, opportunities and options, that’s what I would miss.

My soundtrack to London would be… I Luv U from Dizzee Rascal’s Boy In Da Corner album and Has it Come To This? from the Original Pirate Material album by The Streets. Growing up as a teenager in London these two albums were the first albums I felt represented our generations London. I felt finally our generation had a voice in music; both hugely important albums to me.

Visit Rowan’s website at www.rowannewton.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @RowanNewton

The post Metropolitans: Rowan Newton, Artist appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The area in London I call home is… E4 bang bang, aka Chingford. I’ve lived here all of my life apart for three years at university.  I wouldn’t class it as “proper” London as it’s on the borders of the capital and Essex so it’s a bit of an odd suburb.

I’ve got to have a meal at… The Table Café, 83 Southwark Street, SE1 0HX. Table effortlessly pull off the relaxed café come restaurant look and vibe. The food is always great whether it be breakfast, brunch. lunch or dinner! The staff are friendly, the price is reasonable and the background music is always great – they were playing GangStarr, Nina Simone and Sly & the Family Stone last time I ate dinner there!

I tend to get my threads from… Most recently I picked up a few items from Albam. They’ve got a few stores around town. They have a good variety of clothes that can be worn as either smart or casual which is always useful. Tapered chinos and stuff like that I guess…

To enjoy London’s nightlife, you should… I prefer bars over clubs and where ever I go I always seem to end up at Dragon Bar on Shoreditch High Street. I think this is because when it was near Old Street roundabout, it was a bit like Cheers in there.  I recently went to Nightjar on City Road and I highly recommend anybody who likes cocktails, jazz or both. I can’t remember the name of it but they have a cocktail that combines red wine and dark chocolate. It goes down a treat with some live music. Just make sure you book in advance.

If I was mayor, I would… Fast track the proposal to put in a shopping lane and a walking lane for pedestrians on Oxford Street. I work near by and won’t feel guilty bashing tourists out of the way if they’re stood in the walking lane.

My favourite spot to check out art is… The Design Museum. I am more into design than art so it’s much more likely I would be paying a visit to their exhibitions that any of the other galleries. Plus, the last time I went I got to oggle at Joe Lewis’s 220ft yacht that was docked right outside on the Thames.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to… either eat at Table after traipsing round the Tate or visit Lounge Bohemia on Great Eastern Street for a quirky bar with good cocktails and free hit or miss canapés. Make sure you book in advance though as they have been known to turn people away even if they’re nearly empty?!

The things I miss when I leave London are… The hustle. I strangely enjoy being in the city and fending for space. I like to rush around, skipping past dawdling tourists and generally getting to where I need to be without any hassle. I don’t have much patience for slow people on pavements. I also massively miss the Monmouth Coffee shop when I’m out of town. They have two shops and a roasters. I love filter coffees (bit of a coffee geek) and Monmouth are by far the best in my opinion.

My soundtrack to London would be…

Nightmares on Wax ft. LSK, Rodney P & Roots Manuva: 70’s 80’s Child (Upbringing Mix) – I’m a 80’s 90’s child but a lot of the lyrics in this song remind me of my childhood growing up in London. There’s a good few mentions of the recession too – funny how history repeats itself.

London Possé: How’s Life in London – Early Rodney P…need I say more? This came out a little after rappers in London realised they didn’t have to put on American accents to make a good hip-hop track. The line “A yank said I sound Australian” always cracks me up because that happened to me once. After just listening to this I wonder if people from outside the UK can even decipher half the stuff they’re rapping about.

Lovin’ Spoonful:  Summer in the City – When I’m riding in a sweaty, packed tube carriage and this starts playing on my iPod it always brings a smile to my face. However hot and stuffy London gets with its lack of air con anywhere the evenings are always great in the summer.

The post Metropolitans: Steven Layton, Graphic Designer appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The area in London I call home is… I was raised South of the river, but have also resided in Islington, Camden and Hackney. I’m currently in the process of moving back to North London, but would like to experience living on the Westside too. Holland Park is a cool area, as its tranquil, but still close to the buzz of the city centre.

 I’ve got to have a meal at… anywhere that serves authentic (cooked in the drum) jerk chicken! I’m a bit of a die-hard fan and will travel far and wide for the good stuff. One year, I passed through Notting Hill Carnival JUST for that reason! Haha… There used to be a festival called Jerk Cookout which took place every summer in Horniman Museum Gardens and it was heavenly! Lemonia in Chalk Farm is one of London’s best Greek restaurants, while Ponte Nuovo in Crystal Palace serves amazing Italian. I’m also a stickler for Thai and Indian cuisine and I can’t forget dim sum and tapas.  My parents and grandparents (plus various other family members) were restauranteurs, which probably explains why I’m a bit of a foodie!

 I tend to get my threads from… independent boutiques, High Street and online stores, markets (Spitalfields and Portabello are two of my faves) plus a few one-off pieces by some upcoming designers I know.

To enjoy London’s nightlife, you should… Try something different! I advocate the ‘variety is the spice of life’ philosophy, have clocked up an endless list of alternative nights and am always on the hunt for new experiences. I guess it’s because I get bored easily, so avoiding the same old same old is a necessity.

 If I was mayor, I would… apart from slashing the extortionate public transport fares, expand train schedules to run later on weekends.  I’d really like to set up schemes which would enable underprivileged people to experience activities they would never usually have a chance to, from the arts to sporting events. Also, the general culture of rudeness bugs me! Londoners seriously need to learn how to be friendlier to each other, so I might have to introduce fines or some other way to eradicare that nonsense!  Also, in an ideal world,  I’d love to build a canopy over the city. The weather can really spoil the vibe at times, so having guaranteed warmth would be awesome! Of course it would be able to open on sunny days and when we need rain. Having seen Boris in action at Mayor’s Question Time, and being thoroughly unimpressed by his bafoonery, I would so revel in doing the job properly!

My favourite spot to check out art is… as a hobby photographer, I see art pretty much everywhere. I’m a fan of street art – from community murals to graffiti and the pavement re-creations of the masters’ classics you find in places like Covent Garden. In terms of more conventional exhibitions, whenever I hear of something that sparks interest, I’m there! …The Tate Modern is a great art space and their late night events make it a cool hang out spot too.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to… Invest in taking one of the bus tours, as it’s a great way to see the whole city. The history you get is really insightful too. I’d also recommend doing a waterways walk – along the Southbank, by the Regent’s Canal or around Docklands, then go to Parliament Hill or Greenwich Park for panoramic views. Oh, and if you want good fish and chips in central London, Fryer’s Delight on Theobald’s Road in Holborn is the place to go.

The things I miss when I leave London are… apart from the obvious one, being my peoples, being away from the multiculturalism here makes me glad to come home.

My soundtrack to London would be: 

Prayin’ by Plan B – simply because this creative genius is a homegrown talent ;)

LDN by Lily Allen –  this track expresses the familiar pros and cons of life in London town.

Bright Lights, Bigger City by Cee-Lo Green –  apart from the fact I absolutely love this guy’s voice, the song is vibrant and the title says it all really ;)

The post Metropolitans: Maya Simeon, Freelance Creative appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The area in London I call home is… Charlton. I’ve moved to the Southeast in the last 6 months and being next to Greenwich is pretty cool. Whenever, I leave the area for a while, it’s like fresh air when I come back.

I’ve got to have a meal at… Taste of Raj. It’s a really nice Indian restaurant in Blackheath.

I tend to get my threads from… Jaeger, Aquascutum and Cos. I like quirky T-shirts. I once had a nice blue t-shirt that had the logo, “Make us a brew”.

To enjoy London’s nightlife, you should… try Matsuri in St James, a yummy Japanese restaurant. Working in the City, I would often go to local bars, but they’re  not the greatest – I’d rather dine out than drink out.

If I was mayor, I would… also allow cars  in bus lanes during the day and have them out of the bus lanes during the peak time times when folks are going home from work.

My favourite spot to check out art is… Saville Row. I like the concepts that visual merchandisers come up with when they design their windows. I like that kind of art and think it’s pretty cool.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to… keep the noise down on public transport; it’s bad enough not understanding the language but when it’s louder than everyone else’s, not cool.

The thing I miss when I leave London is… the pace! In London, there is always somewhere to go, something to do! So I am on the move even when window browsing.

My soundtrack to London would be:

Bongo Jam  by Crazy Cousinz – Having your headphones on with this song in the morning will get you to work in no time.

Thank God it’s Friday by R.Kelly -We all love the Friday, when we can dress down to go to work and then chill out when we finish work.

It’s a London thing by Scott Garcia – Reminds me of the pace of London. We like to be on the move.

The post Metropolitans: Nana Banful, IT Professional appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The area in London I call home is… North London. Enfield, if I’m being specific. Somewhere people only seem to know about now because of the riots. Is it ironic that that’s where I feel safest? Who knows. My friends love to make jibes about how ‘technically’ I’m not a Londoner because the closest Underground station from EN1 is a bit of a bus ride away. It’s a red double decker bus, and I have an 0208 phone number, so in my eyes I make the cut.

I’ve got to have a meal at… Caribbean Scene. It’s a lovely Caribbean Restaurant that boasts a serious vegetarian menu, not that they don’t serve meat, they do, but being a vegetarian my eyes tend to only read things with a green (v) next to it. There are a few in London but I like the one by the Royal Victoria Dock because I have a thing for water. The ambience at the spot is amazing, definitely worth a Google if you won’t take my word for it. A Google, then a visit.

I tend to get my threads from… the High Street. I have a bit of a laissez-faire approach when it comes to my wardrobe. Unless I have a show and I have to leave the house on a specific mission to buy a specific type of outfit, I’ll usually be gallivanting about somewhere, as one does, spot something in a display window, investigate and end up blowing a week’s pay. On a day to day basis, the ensembles I leave my house in are usually unintentional, be that in brilliance or faux pas.

To enjoy London’s nightlife, you should… definitely have an online presence. They are so many things going on in London, it can get hard to keep track. This is especially the case when it comes to niche kinda events. Websites like the Cultural Exposé amongst others, are pretty handy when you’re looking for a different kind of night out. Tip 2: Plan your route home ahead of time. Nothing as joy killing as watching your last bus pull away from the station after a good night out, or maybe that’s just for Enfieldians.

If I was mayor, I would… shut down all the shops on Saturday. Hidden Adventist Agenda?  No, but really, as much as I love the hustle and bustle of London, I do think it’d be lovely if the city was to ‘pause’ once in a while, so its workaholic citizens could enjoy the beauty of the city’s natural spots and have un-timed conversation with the city’s mixed multitude.

My favourite spot to check out art is… London’s walls, stalls, floors, trains even. I really like graffiti. It serves as the unadulterated voice of the masses, (till the council clean it up). My favourite piece is a pseudo Andy Warhol pop up piece of a girl in Tottenham. Because of where it is, it can only be seen from the upper deck of a bus. There’s a little voice in my head that shouts ‘exclusive’ every time I do get to see it.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to… keep their receipts so they can claim tax back at the airport when they are leaving.  Nothing finishes a holiday like payment on exit. That, and keep to the left when walking, and, right on the escalators if they are standing. Been said before but, some people are repeat offenders.

The things I miss when I leave London are… my mommy. . . like for real. TFL (my missing it being the love part of the love/hate feelings I have towards it), the variety of food available, delivery and in store, the spoken word poetry scene, oh and black hair shops. Really and truly someone should start delivering black hair products etc. to those outside major cities. Something for the people.

My soundtrack to London would be…

Tinashe – Mr Presumption: I really like this song and think it has a particularly English feel to it. A Zimbabwean Londoner, kinda like me. :) The beauties of globalisation.

Calvin Harris – Flashback: An oldy but a goody. There’s almost a dichotomy between the deep lyrics of the song and the monotony of the house beat.

Dean Atta’s – Revolution Awaiting Warriors: It’s not actually a song but if I were to make a soundtrack to London it’d definitely be on it. The piece speaks for itself in its brilliance and beauty. It’s one of if not thee most inspiring poem I can ever recall hearing.

Labrinth – Earthquake: It has a really refreshed old school sound to it, methinks. I’m forever rewinding the bit with the trumpets at Buckingham Palace. Cheesy but I love it.

The post Metropolitans: Kimberley Kasirowore, poet appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The area in London I call home is… Clerkenwell. It’s all about EC1! I live right on Exmouth Market and being foodie I’m well situated. Also, I ride everywhere so being central for me is a bit of a life hack to keep travel simple.

I tend to get my threads from… ASOS as they really are the leader in terms of range, price, and best online shopping experience.

To enjoy London’s nightlife, you should… try the cocktails at 69 Colebrooke Row.

If I was mayor, I would… install cycle helmet vending machines in locations around the city and make helmets compulsory!

My favourite spot to check out art is… Wellcome Collection. The last thing I saw was ‘High Society’ earlier this year. There was this fantastic photo exhibition there that told the story of a chamber maid hooked on Laudanum by her domineering mistress in the 19th century.

I’d kindly tell a tourist to… go to Borough Market for mid-morning breakfast (to avoid the tourists), check out the free museums for the day and then head to Gordon’s Wine Bar in the evening.

The things I miss when I leave London are… London cafes and British food. I always judge a city by the quality of its restaurants and cafés. Due to the great British food revival British food rocks and (let’s face it!) thanks in part to us antipodeans, London cafes rock too

My soundtrack to London would be…

Fault Line by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – epitomizes how I felt when I arrived in London, kind of lonely…But I’m finding my way!

Reach a Bit Further – Wild Beasts – This song just makes me think, I love it. Wild Beasts are a very original band. They’re amazing live.

Bon Iver’s Perth – This song surprises me every time I listen to it. To me, it captures my home town (Perth) perfectly.

(Research: Tosin Omilaju)

The post Metropolitans: Mark Wright, Senior Account Manager appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.