London with Paula Kerr-Jarrett

Trained as an attorney-at-law at the University of London, JLP caretaker for Eastern Hanover, Paula Kerr-Jarrett, knows the city of London extremely well, and considers it The Number One City of the World. While her favourite place to eat as a student was the Lebanese eatery Maroush on Beauchamp Place (pronounced Beecham) in Knightsbridge, "probably because they remained open until 5:00 am", she quips, the more sophisticated side of her loves Knightsbridge's Zuma and Mayfair's Hakkasan. The former has given her a "melt-in-your-mouth type of experience" with its contemporary Japanese fare, most notably the Salmon Caviar and Wagyu Beef. Upon her first visit to the latter, she ordered the Peking Duck Salad, quite "by accident, but a serendipitous error!" Kerr-Jarrett also wouldn't turn down a dinner reservation at any of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants.

The most memorable dining experience for the politico was at Simpson's-in-the-Strand, a place where one must wear a jacket and tie (they provide if necessary), and where Paula experienced traditional English food for the first time, when she was a child. The stuffy Old World elegance, the serving of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding on carving trolleys, and the superb service have not changed one bit, and the Kerr-Jarrett children have now been able to have this "unforgettable experience" as well.

The glamorous girl from Jamaica, who advises a first-timer not to try to see everything in one trip, likes to stay at the W Hotel in Leicester Square, have brunch at Bar Boulud in the Mandarin Oriental, wander around Covent Garden or the Tate Gallery, pick up a hamper of picnic items from Harrods Food Court, and sit in Hyde Park with her daughter, sip Champagne in the Snuggery (do reserve it) of Claridge's Bar, and end her day at the theatre. However, the one thing that depicts England is Afternoon Tea. For a "cosy, no-frills refreshing 'cuppa cha' and scrumptious scones with strawberry preserves, and fresh Devonshire clotted cream, of course", she insists one goes to "Turnbull's, a quaint teahouse in a small village called Shaftesbury". And while she's down in the western end of England, Paula likes to hit the city of Bath, where one can find "High Street fashion in a splendid Georgian setting", and stay at The Summer Lodge hotel in Dorset, where one encounters a decadent 'whatever, whenever' option, "and yes, I did try it.... and it worked!"

London with Rachael B

Samuel Johnson said when a man is tired of London he is tired of life, and that's as true today as it was in the 18th century.

My London hotspots are mostly art- and culture-related as this city is a melting pot of the best culture found anywhere.

The best breakfast in town is at The Wolseley, a café-restaurant in Piccadilly. It's difficult to get a reservation, but the rooms at the front overlooking busy Mayfair are first-come-first-serve and you can have the full menu there. The best breakfast in all of London is at Tom Aiken's Kitchen in Chelsea, American-style brunch that goes all day. For lunch, I usually end up at Members' Clubs with colleagues or clients: The Arts Club on Dover St in the heart of the Central Gallery district is the latest popular spot. The club has been around since Johnson's time but a glitzy revamp and star-studded membership committee, headed by Gwyneth Paltrow, has made this a must-see spot. Members can take guests and the restaurant is run by the team from Le Petit Maison. Mark Ronson curates the programme for the cabaret club underground, which is a great speakeasy venue with live music every night.

On the restaurant scene there are so many restaurants to choose from that it's hard to narrow down a list. Scott's on Mount St is a classic and my all-time favourite — best seafood anywhere. This new brasserie lobster/burger (guess what they serve) is a bargain lunch; in Soho Nopi (started by the team behind Ottolenghi) is tapas style blend of Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern and Asian cuisine in a beautiful marble setting. The Petersham Nurseries in Richmond, Surrey is a bit of a hike, but the river walks and Michelin-star food make for an afternoon well spent.

Picking up a Time Out newspaper is always worth it to help narrow down what theatre shows are on, as well as what gallery exhibitions are worth a visit. The Gagosian Gallery on Britannia Street always has top-notch shows, and the newly built White Cube in Bermondsey runs a programme of films in a screening room in addition to its exhibition schedule. Tate, of course, is a must-see. You can take a boat down the Thames for a fraction of the cost of a taxi from Tate Britain to Tate Modern.

East London feels more like New York than London, and picking up a gallery map for a Sunday crawl, when the markets on Brick Lane and Broadway are open, is worth it. Shoreditch House has a heated pool for anyone missing the chance to take a swim, and some of the best views in the city. If you don't know a member, then book at Boundary across the street, it's smaller but the food is arguably better!

Retail Therapy:

Shopping: Best vintage is in Portobello, go early to avoid tourists and get the best deals. The best vintage traders sell their stock out and shut early. The best dealer of them all is Jeff at One of a Kind, but don't go looking for bargains there, this is the real deal and a frequent stop for stylists and designers looking for archive inspiration. If you're looking for Chanel/Hermès, discreetly enquire and ask about the back room. For bargains, head to the end of the room toward Golborne Road. If you get hungry, Santo is the only Mexican food worth having in London and Pizza East is a great place for watching shoppers amble by. For mainstream shopping, I'm afraid London is not a place for the thrifty but a haven for fashion-forward risk takers. Brown's always carries clothing from the latest crop of emerging British-based design talent, while of the big three department stores Harrods has the broadest selection of designer clothing. The boutiques nearby in South Kensington are a good second stop if your size is gone. Covent Garden still has a few independent shops as well for anyone looking to go off the beaten path; checking http://www.independentlondon.com/ is always useful, too.

Nightlife: The Box, the newly opened Le Baron and The Arts Club are the current top clubs in town. Speakeasy vibes are also gaining popularity, and The Experimental Cocktail Club is probably the best of these. For a more civilised drink with piano music to boot, try Quo Vadis in Soho or The Groucho just down the street. Scotch of St James is barely open and promises a laid-back bar vibe with a licence till 6:00 am. And for a hipster, quirkier feel go to Efes in Dalston for a game of pool or Manero's Bar for a more laid-back drink, or to get lost in the myriad of city-style bars in trendy Shoreditch.

Taking the time to plan based on what's on is really worth it as this city feels a bit like a few rolled into one. My final tip is re: the rain: Elnett hairspray is sold in small purse-size cans in Boots — a must for anyone who doesn't want their blowdry to whimper. Boots also sells the smallest umbrella anywhere — it's worth it!

— Rachael Barrett,

Director — Three Sixty Degrees

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