Penny Blood's Black Book – My Independent Guide to London - Penny Blood's eclectic collection of favourite places in London to drink coffee, eat cake, have tea, eat out, buy clothes, watch movies, kill time, read Voltaire, quote Baudelaire and write this blog.

Dear Tourist,

We are not known for being welcoming to tourists here in London. We have no patience when they try to scan their paper tube ticket on the oyster card reader, or when they insist on holding hands so they don’t get separated or when they stand on the left of the escalator when clearly no one else is. However the point where I feel really sorry for them is the sad and pathetic sight of a couple in an Aberdeen Steak House (guide books should warn that places like this only exist for the purpose of money laundering). I am actually extremely helpful to tourists, it goes against my nature, I hate to give favours, I never lend, I don’t take phone messages (even when I’m paid to) but when a tourist needs directions I will actually get out my pen and draw them a detailed map pointing out significant landmarks along way. I hate going to a new city and having no idea where to go. This is when you end up in awful places and your experience of a city is severely tainted. I am very particular about where I eat, where I shop etc.. you will never hear me say “that’s fine whatever, I’m easy”.

I am neither a food critic or food writer, I just love good food and stylish places and I don’t like to spend too much money, (mainly because I can’t). I also like to shop. Here I have made a list of the 10 best of my favourite places (and a few more) whether it be the best place for breakfast, dinner, going to the cinema or shopping. I am not interested in children or the outdoors, you will find nothing about parks, outdoor pursuits or where to take your children here. I will also refrain from using the following expressions yummy, groovy, edgy or trendy. I won’t give areas nicknames like calling Shoreditch ‘the ditch’, no one calls it that. I will also try to include good photographs. I’m not interested in seeing close-ups of napkins, why do travel guides insist on doing this? Pricewise I’m going for middle of the road, nothing too expensive but don’t come to London if you’re looking for cheap! I’m choosing places that are worth travelling from one side of London to the other for, this is not a local guide, I’m not trying to impress you with my ‘clever little finds’ if people haven’t heard of it it’s usually for a reason. In essence I am just paying homage to some of my favourite places in London.

Love Penny

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