Matt Bramford (1983)

You’d be forgiven for thinking the Whitechapel Gallery sits in a slightly unusual spot amongst the curry eateries of Brick Lane and the border of the City at Aldgate. It has, in fact, occupied this site for over a hundred years. It is the only gallery in Britain to ever show Picasso’s Guernica, and has developed a reputation for introducing artists to the UK – the first major shows of Pollock, Rothko, Hockney, Kahlo and Freud were all at the Whitechapel.

Recently the gallery’s had a bit of a revamp but retains its ethos of showcasing new artists alongside established acts. I recently saw the Gillian Wearing exhibition (running until 17 June) which was more than marvellous – an interesting mix of video and photography. The gallery hosts one paying exhibition each year to keep it open, so check before you visit if you’re on a budget.

Aside from art there’s also a glorious café serving teas and snacks and a branch of Koenig Books (see the article)- one of my favourite London bookstores – where you can pick up beautiful tomes at reduced prices.

Goodnight, Sweetheart was a popular British sitcom, in which the main character Gary Sparrow accidentally time travelled between 1990s London and the same area during the Blitz. The first time I entered The Duke pub, I felt exactly like Gary Sparrow.

Tucked away on the backstreets of Holborn, The Duke is situated in a glorious Art Deco building. Inside, chic booths for two are available, but I prefer the livelier side with old wooden tables and red decor. Downstairs, a hidden room (if open) sparkles with fairy lights and has the atmosphere to transport you right back to the 1940s. If you’re lucky enough, somebody might jump on the piano and play ‘Goodnight, Sweetheart’.

Take no notice of grumpy Londoners on various review sites – the publicans are wonderful and I’ve always had a warm welcome at the Duke. The menu isn’t too shabby either, with traditional dishes served most evenings alongside more experimental offerings. But I don’t go for the food – I go to pretend I’m a time traveller.

Visitors to Berlin will have probably seen the Photoautomat phenomenon for themselves, and on a recent trip there I couldn’t wait to have a go in one of these little pieces of history.

I was delighted when I discovered Cargo in Shoreditch was the proud home of London’s first and only Photoautomat booth. I just love these things – as a child, the anticipation and excitement of it all often proved too much, and even now I still find the thrill of joking around in these booths just as exciting. I also think that no technological advancements can compete with the analogue photo booth, from the vintage quality of the prints to the clunks that the booth makes.

As a local I obviously don’t frequent the booth that much, unless I find myself in Cargo after a few drinks with £3 to spare. It’s situated in the garden of this live music venue, so it totally depends on what is happening inside as to whether you’re able to get outside to use the photo booth. Some of the gigs at Cargo are pricey and I wouldn’t recommend you pay the entry fee just to use the booth. But if you do go in, it’s definitely worth it.

The Rivington Grill is, in my humble opinion, one of the best restaurants in London for British food.

Some say the menu is a little uninspiring, but then here in Britain we’re not known for our diverse range of food, are we? Despite continually promising myself I’ll try something more outlandish, I tend to go for fish fingers and chips. You can’t beat a classic, can you? A good variety of seafood spices up the menu though.

The restaurant specialises in British classics with a modern twist and they’re big on seasonality – the menu is updated regularly to suit what is naturally available and almost all of the food is sourced here in Britain. Delicious.

The decor isn’t too fussy, and I love the neon art that hangs on the walls. It isn’t usually that busy at lunchtimes, particularly Sundays when I’ve found myself part of the only group in there, but during evenings, particularly Fridays, it is advisable to book. Also, always check out the website for deals, particularly midweek.

SCP is a recent addition to East London’s burgeoning selection of art and design gift shops. Yeah, there’s always been a good selection of crafty type stores that sell unusual items, but SCP is one of my favourites for hot products of a well-designed nature.

There are two stores: one in Notting Hill and this, the flagship shop, on Curtain Road. If I’m not in there salivating over an Eames chair or a Russell Pinch sofa, I’m usually there to pick up an original gift. Stock includes design from around the world, including soft furnishings, kitchenware, decorative items, clocks, prints and so much more.

Its spacious, airy store is split over two levels – the first floor is like a design lover’s fantasy with larger items like furniture seductively displayed, whilst downstairs caters more for gift buyers (I tend to stick downstairs, lest I end up leaving with £500 side table I certainly don’t need).

They’re the only London stockist of Kiosk products – some of my favourite things – a collection of interesting items from around the world, like motel keyrings, reproduction 1960s bottle openers and other curiosities. They also stock china with unusual illustrations (many by local London designers) as well as one of the best ranges of modern haute-design in London. Maybe even the world.