The original church had the misfortune to burn down in the Great Fire of London. It was rebuilt by Christopher Wren, only to be bombed to a shell during The Blitz. Well, to be honest, most people haven’t ever heard of the Streatham Rookery, and those that have mainly live in Streatham but it’s one of the darned prettiest little gardens in South London all the same. As such, it found itself as the centre of many a naughty activity including bear baiting, gambling and even duelling. Oh those crazy olden days people. Lords and ladies! We’re of magnificent buildings here in London it has to be said. In fact, in a city as old as ours, you won’t go far before you stumble upon some historic gem, age-old boozer or towering skyscraper which practically defies feats of engineering. But when it comes to Royal Palaces ? Now that’s where we really come into our own. So when the lights go down and the chanting starts, don’t be surprised if you get just the tiniest shiver down your spine. It is weiiiiiiiiiird but in a good way.

Despite the tempestuous nature of the British weather, London is a wonderful place to stroll through, whether you’ve got a destination in mind or are just out for an aimless meander. So breathe some fresh(ish) air into your lungs, and take in the beautiful scenery surrounding you wherever you go. There are a whole host of routes you can take, but we’d recommend the Parkland Walk – which follows an old railway line through graffiti-covered tunnels and secluded wooded groves – and ‘The Line’ – London’s first dedicated modern and contemporary art walk. You’ll discover nine different artworks on this one, including pieces by Damien Hirst and Anthony Gormley. 17. See the roller skaters do their thing in Hyde Park Who wouldn’t want to discover an ancient Roman temple buried in the heart of The City? Or visit one of the highest points in South London where you can soak up some of the best views in the city – get this – in absolute peace and quiet?I was looking forward to receiving Secret London - An Unusual Guide, but with slight trepidation. There are so many ‘hidden London’ guidebooks out there that I thought his one would just be a re-spin of a well-trodden genre. How wrong I was. Secret London, An Unusual Guide is quite simply brilliant. London bakeries don’t come much more cult than Bread Ahead, who’ve conquered far and wide with their incredible, cream-filled doughnuts. Getting your hands on one of these mouthfuls of heaven is, admittedly, something of a quest, and they’re often completely sold out before midday. Many of those poor and all of the prostitutes were buried on a small plot of unconsecrated land near to The Shard – Cross Bones Burial Ground. We were passing an old history book around the office (because we really know how to have a good time in our downtime) and saw mention of it. Let’s get the big stuff out of the way first – yes yes – Leadenhall was used as a filming location for Harry Potter. If you make believe hard enough, you can almost transport yourself to the world of Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone.

Not all stories in Secret London are this grim, or this funny, but they are all equally fascinating and enlightening. The book finishes off with a list of 35 unusual bars, cafes and restaurants. London is officially the most vegan-friendly city in the world according to HappyCow, with an increasing number of us adopting a plant-based lifestyle. In fact, we’ve actually got over 400 vegan restaurants, eateries and foodie spots in our city now, so if you haven’t sampled any of them yet – then what are you doing? From Sri Lankan curries at Mildred’s to wild mushroom risotto cake at The Gate, there’s plenty of tasty options to try, so what are you waiting for?! Get out and explore! 52. Get a head for heights at Europe’s highest viewing platform Photo: 22 BishopsgateEltham Palace was bought in 1931 by the wealthy Stephen Courtauld who started a period of transformation and extension that led to some of the best-preserved Art Deco interiors you can find today. You’re probably aware of the British Library. It’s a bit of a Meca for people trying to find a quiet spot to get productive in the city centre, and an iconic place in its own right. Do you know about its reading rooms though?