I’ve been in London for 32 and a half years, most of my life, and definitely longer than I have lived anywhere else. I don’t know if Samuel Johnson was correct, but I am not yet bored with London; there is always something new to discover.

I love the city and think it rewards curiosity and an open mind. Naturally, London became an integral part of my writing, but here I’ve tried to select pieces that capture the heart and soul of the place: the good and the sad. Generally, it’s a place that will put a smile on your face, whether you’re a visitor, a resident or a true sound-of-the-bells Cockney.

  • The grand old duke — You don’t often get to go backstage or look out from the stage at an invisible audience in the stalls, but I had the opportunity to do both at the Duke of York’s Theatre while discovering its history and character.
  • The day F1 came to London — Once there was talk of a London-based race, and so Formula 1 took over Regent Street, drawing a vast, good-humoured crowd for an unforgettable burst of noise, spectacle and shared excitement. At the time, I worked just up the road.
  • Two minutes silence — The street outside my Holborn office fell still and silent after the 7 July bombings. London: a vast, diverse city united in remembrance.
  • Trafalgar Square vigil — A Trafalgar Square vigil honoured London’s transport workers and emergency services, showing a resilient city standing together.
  • Stretching from slumber: morning light — A lyrical journey through half-awake suburbs captures London stretching into the crisp light of a new day.