London — my addresses, my spots, my London.

There are cities where you feel at home without being able to explain why. For me, London is one of those places. The first time I went there was with school, in fourth year. I'd already liked it a lot. The second time was memorable, and it only took two months for me to go back a third time.

The people are nice. The accent is pleasant to hear. You completely change your surroundings, your pace, your atmosphere. It's a city that never stops, where there's always something to discover, a neighbourhood you haven't explored yet, a place you didn't plan to find.

Here are my addresses. It's not a tourist guide, just places I return to every time, and those I've discovered and won't let go of.

Morning — Ozone, Shoreditch

Breakfast at Ozone is a personal institution. A counter open to the kitchen, eggs benedict on bubble and squeak cakes, strong coffee, a relaxed atmosphere. It's the best place to start a day in London.

Open Monday to Friday from 7:30 AM, weekends from 8:30 AM.

📍 11 Leonard Street, EC2A 4AQ — Overground: Shoreditch High Street

I've detailed all of that in an article on the Breakfast and brunch in London.

Brick Lane — Beigel Bake

A must-visit. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bagels are warm, the prices are ridiculously low, and the queue outside the shop window is part of the scene. It’s an East End institution, the sort of place that’s been around forever and that we hope will be around for a long time to come!

155 Brick Lane, E1 6SB — Overground: Shoreditch High Street

Soho — eating, shopping, strolling

Soho has a lot of my favourite haunts. It's dense, lively.

Polpo For a simple, well-prepared Italian dinner: spaghetti and meatballs, a carafe of red wine, candles on the tables. No fuss, just the right amount. Open every day.

📍 41 Beak Street, W1F 9SB — Central or Bakerloo lines: Oxford Circus

Rudy's Neapolitan Pizza — Thin crust, puffed-up edges, authentic ingredients. That’s what you’re looking for when you want a pizza that actually tastes like a pizza. Open every day from 11.45 am.

📍 80 Wardour Street, W1F 0TF — Central or Bakerloo lines: Oxford Circus

Kricket Soho & Shoreditch — Watch out! This isn’t the sort of Indian restaurant you’re used to seeing. No cheese naan on the menu, no coconut chicken curry. It’s almost like a gourmet Indian restaurant, with unexpected combinations, carefully prepared ingredients and a changing menu. I went there thinking I’d order my usual favourites, but ended up discovering something completely different.

I highly recommend it – you won’t be disappointed.

They also have a branch in Shoreditch — 35–42 Charlotte Road, EC2A 3PB.

📍 12 Denman Street, W1D 7HJ — Bakerloo or Piccadilly Underground: Piccadilly Circus

I’ve written a whole article on these three restaurants if you’d like the details.

Sounds of the Universe — This is where I found my favourites: Liam Gallagher’s *As You Were*, and Oasis’s *Definitely Maybe* and *Standing on the Shoulder of Giants* in limited-edition 25th-anniversary silver vinyl. The "Music Healing Force of the Universe" neon sign at the back of the shop says it all about the place. Open every day.

📍 7 Broadwick Street, W1F 0DA — Central line: Oxford Circus

Supreme — Because you don't go through Soho without popping in.

Open Monday to Saturday from 11 am, Sunday from 12 pm.

2/3 Peter Street, W1F 0AA — London Underground: Oxford Circus

Adidas — obviously, I couldn't not go. An entire square dedicated to the Oasis x Adidas collab, released for their 2025 tour. When I think of London, one song comes to mind: Live Forever. The real ones will know.

425 Oxford Street, W1C 2PG — Underground: Bond Street or Oxford Circus

Ronnie Scott's The legendary jazz club in Soho. Open since 1959, there's always something good on. You have to go at least once. It's the sort of place that reminds you why London is a musical city like no other.

Open Monday to Sunday from 5:30 PM.

47 Frith Street, W1D 4HT — Underground Northern Line: Leicester Square

The Tate Modern — and free museums

One thing people forget to mention about London is that the museums are free.

The Tate Modern, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert, all of them, free. It's a gift.

The Tate Modern deserves at least half a day. Andy Warhol, Dalí, and so many others. I discovered an exhibition on Vorticism, a British art movement from the early 20th century, cubist and angular, halfway between Futurism and Art Deco, it's exactly what I'm talking about in my article on Art outside museums, images that exist without needing explanation.

It's this kind of unexpected discovery that I love about London: you go somewhere without knowing what you'll find, and you leave with something new in your head.

Open daily from 10 am.

📍 Bankside, SE1 9TG — Tube Jubilee: Southwark or London Bridge

Hackney — the market, the vinyl, the books

Hackney is a bit like London's Marais. Small boutiques, antique shops, the kind of English crockery we love, books everywhere. There's a little market where I spent some time rummaging with a lovely couple who were selling their finds, vinyl, books, all sorts of treasures. Obviously, what first caught my eye was the cover of Liam Gallagher's album "C'mon You Know".

It's also there that I found a Janis Joplin vinyl. She gives me shivers every time I listen to her, an incredible voice, sounds you rarely hear, immediately recognisable. Ball and Chain remains one of my favourite songs. The ideal place to find originals, true gems. They also recommended the David Bowie exhibition to me, unfortunately I didn't have time this time.

It's the kind of neighbourhood where you lose two hours without noticing and come away with things you hadn't planned to buy. In other words, perfect.

📍 Hackney — Overground : Hackney Central

Camden — Modfather

For vintage clothes, Modfather in Camden. It's an amazing place for those looking for unique vintage pieces. Not the kind of shop where everything is arranged by colour for Instagram; real treasures if you take the time to look.

Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

37 The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH — Tube Northern Line: Camden Town

Rain Dogs — Bethnal Green

A Guinness at Rain Dogs. There's always a bit of live music – the kind of bar where the live music is part of the deal, not an accessory. It’s the perfect place to end a day in the East End. And if you’re there on a Sunday, it’s also a chance to test the Sunday roast, the great English tradition of Sunday roast, meat, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding. A must-try at least once.

Closed on Mondays.

120 Bethnal Green Road, E2 6DG — Tube: Bethnal Green

The Dover – Mayfair

A unique address. The Dover is a New York Italian restaurant in Mayfair, behind heavy velvet curtains, with dim lighting, walnut panelling, and vinyl on the turntables. You’d think you were in a private members' club in 1970s New York, except you can book a table here.

The atmosphere is chic, the people are gorgeous, and the lasagne was very good! There are French and Italian classics on the plates, well-executed recipes that we know. That's what makes the charm of the place. You go there to have a nice evening, and to hear good music.

Evenings only — booking advised. Closed Sundays.

33 Dover Street, W1S 4NF — Jubilee or Victoria line to Green Park

And the tattoo in all of this

London and tattoos, it's an old story. Evil from the Needle in Camden, opened in 1986 by Bugs, a tattoo artist of French origin, specialising in Cubism, Art Deco and classic art, is one of the studios that built London's tattoo culture. He has since moved to Los Angeles, but his influence is there, in the city's DNA.

Jason Butcher, on the other hand, is still in England. Realism, black and grey, large formats. The kind of artist that makes you want to work in this ecosystem.

London has long taken tattooing seriously. Not as a trend, but as a profession.

I work at Graphicaderme in Avignon on Art Nouveau and Art Deco projects. A city like London, with this tattoo culture and this level of demand, I think I'll be coming to set up my needles for a guest spot very soon. If this idea appeals to you, We can discuss it..

If you're coming from the Avignon area, I've also written about Where to sleep and where to go during the Festival.