Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s guide to London: vintage stores, seafood feasts

West London. I reside with my husband [Richard Jones, bassist with The Feeling], 4 of our youngsters and 6 cats. I’m additionally 10 minutes away from my mum and our eldest boy, Sonny, who lives down the highway and 10 minutes in a barely completely different course from my brother. So we’re all fairly shut! My sister is in London, too.

As a Londoner it infrequently occurs, however typically if Richard and I do a DJ gig, we spend the night time in a resort and I simply love the decadence of it. It’s very cool, waking up and discovering your self in Soho, or the Metropolis, or Covent Backyard. You go and get breakfast and it makes you see town another way. Very glamorous.

Above The World’s Finish pub reverse Camden Tube within the late Nineties and I assumed it was the bee’s knees. It was proper within the epicentre of all the pieces. I used to be 18 years previous and I used to be tremendous excited to be someplace like that.

Singing! I left faculty after I completed my A-levels, and I went straight into being in a band. I’d had the odd Saturday woman job, labored in hairdressers, labored in a store, however when it comes to what you may name a career, it was singing — I signed to Mercury after I was 18.

You need someplace a bit bit vibey, some good meals and a drink. I all the time assume, go someplace there’s a market. So, Portobello Market, round Portobello Street. My first date with Richard was over 20 years in the past, although!

My native espresso store, the place I get a espresso day by day after the varsity run — it’s punctuation for my day. It says nicely achieved for getting up early, getting all the youngsters the place they should be. I additionally adore my native Japanese restaurant referred to as Makoto in Chiswick. And Past Retro close to Oxford Circus — I all the time discover one thing enjoyable, it’s fairly cheap and I like a bit rummage. Westfield, for some correct shiny procuring, is all the time tremendous handy as we’re not too removed from Shepherd’s Bush. However after some time I begin pondering, get me out of right here. My native cinema, Chiswick Cinema on the excessive highway, is so helpful as a result of I can stroll there.

Brutto is dependable as a enjoyable place, nice meals, and I all the time really feel relaxed. I additionally cherished the London Shell Co, a ship which takes you up close to Maida Vale and the Regent’s Canal, and also you eat superb seafood. We employed the entire boat for our 40ths. It’s actually fairly and romantic, and also you see London another way.

Individuals with children in school ought to get a voucher e-book, with which you’ll take your children out of college with out being penalised — so you’ll be able to go to museums on the times which aren’t so busy.

It’s gotta be Mary Poppins and Bert the chimney sweep.

I simply love all of the chats, actually. London cabs are a number of the finest cabs on this planet; you get a lot house and such a panoramic view.

Probably not. However each time I stroll previous a policeman I really feel responsible. I simply really feel like they know all of the unhealthy issues I’ve achieved.