Eliza Winter

This 220,000-work collection captures the essence of British society. There is a vibrant painting of Zadie Smith by Toyin Ojih Odutola as well as oils of Shakespeare and Lord Byron, and the annual Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait exhibition is always a joy. For anyone passing, it’s worth stopping just to look at the bronze doors scribbled with the faces of 45 women by Tracey Emin.

Following the success of The Brutalist at the Oscars there’s been a renewed interest in the 20th-century approach to architecture. The Barbican Centre – part of a concrete estate with a couple of thousand prize flats and countless walkways – is one of the best places to explore it. Inside, there is world- class arts programming too: pop culture exhibitions in the third-floor gallery, Royal Shakespeare Company performances in the theatre and pay-what-you-can screenings in the cinema. Don’t skip the dystopian conservatory greenhouse.

Probably London’s most famous market, this 13th-century food hall is a mish-mash of greengrocers, fishmongers and spice traders alongside salt-beef and falafel stalls. Those shopping for produce should prioritise oysters from Richard Haward’s (which goes back seven generations), British cheese from Neal’s Yard and giant sugar-dusted amaretti from baking school Bread Ahead. For lunch, head to the street- food hub, with its amphitheatre-like tiered seating, for cod tacos from Padre. Always busy but charming too.

Second only to the Serpentine Pavilion knees-up, the London art world’s next big bash is preview night at the Summer Exhibition. The RA’s patchwork submission-based show has been going since 1769 and is wonderfully accessible. Yet the big focus on the exhibitions means a lot of people don’t know that Michelangelo’s Taddei Tondo (the artist’s only marble sculpture in Britain) is in the permanent collection. You’ll also find next-level jamón sandwiches at José Pizarro’s café Poster Bar.

The Tate Britain on Millbank houses the world’s greatest collection of Turners – probably the UK’s best-loved artist. It’s also home to the annual Turner Prize. Prepare to spend a few hours gawking at all its treasures.

A small theatre with an international reputation, the Almeida is on a mission to launch the next generation of actors. And it frequently does, with productions such as Annie Ernaux’s The Years and Peter Morgan’s Patriots transferring straight to the West End. This is the place to come to be in the know about the London theatre scene.

This pioneering performing arts theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site, which was once a 17th-century pleasure garden. These days it’s all about dance, with a boundary-pushing roster of modern movement such as Matthew Bourne’s memorable, glistening, all-male ensemble of Swan Lake and mod ballet Quadrophenia. Also producing family-friendly Christmas ballets and an annual hip-hop festival, it’s the city’s dance venue to know.

Inside three knocked together 18th-century cottages on Blacklands Terrace is the marvellous John Sandoe Books. It’s proudly independent, and its quarterly catalogue is packed with the best recommendations in the literary world. But there are also beautiful botanical books, architectural tomes, pretty prints and notelets. Plus, a picturesque window seat upstairs near the paperbacks, which makes a lovely browsing perch.

The canteen-style younger sibling of Trullo in Islington, Padella was a long-held dream of owners Tim Siadatan and Jordan Frieda. The Borough Market joint is almost impossible to get into without a wait but this Shoreditch space has a much lower footfall, which means drop-ins are welcome. The plates of lemony tagliarini with Dorset crab and homemade worm-like pici cacio e pepe are such good value it’s reasonable to order more than one. Keep an eye out for kids-eat-free offers plus £2 Negronis (for the adults).

Located where Peckham Road meets Camberwell, this is one of our top pubs in London, and the food is always outstanding. Even if you’re here for a quick Sunday roast (made for sharing), kick off with a white port and tonic and a hunk of house-made focaccia. Roast chicken might come with chilli yoghurt and cavolo nero, slow-roasted spring lamb with anchoïade and golden chips. Chef Mike Davies is a quiet hero of the city’s food scene, as is his Scotch bonnet and pork fat on toast.

When the news dropped that our favourite Italian spot in London was opening it's little The River Café Café, well we could hardly contain our excitement. Walk-in, drop by and fill your plates and bellies with some fresh rotolo or slow-roasted violetta aubergines.