A Taste of London with Mark Hix
Chef / Restaurateur

Foodie

I would spend my perfect day in London because it is a great city where you can do pretty much anything you want, and shop and eat all through the day and night. In my business, I love the fact that I can buy any ingredient from around the world. It makes dinner-party-planning simple.

My most memorable moment here was going to the Live Aid concert in Wembley when I first moved to London about 30 years ago. It was a worldwide fundraising concert for the Ethiopian famine, and it was moving to be surrounded by thousands and thousands of people. That was a concert of a lifetime.

The activities that can't be missed

1. Touring our fantastic galleries, like the Tate, and institutions, like the Royal Academy.

2. Shopping at Selfridges – it has everything you need under one roof as long as you are in the mood to indulge.

A Taste of London with Mark Hix
A Taste of London with Mark Hix
My favorite places to eat

1. The Wolseley for breakfast because there is something for everyone no matter your mood or occasion.

2. I love the dim sum at Yauatcha and Leong’s Legends. Try the dumplings with liquid soup in the center.

3. The River Cafe is always a treat. We often stop there for a long leisurely lunch on the way to Heathrow to get into holiday mode.

The places you should definitely see

1. Hyde Park, in the middle of London, is a fantastic escape if you want to picnic, swim or just enjoy a show at the Serpentine Gallery or Summer Pavilion.

2. There has been a surge in street food all over London! On weekdays and weekends alike, you will find street markets, car parks, and farmers markets with a broad range of quality food served from vintage vans by keen foodies and restaurants that want to extend their offering to the streets.

A Taste of London with Mark Hix
A Taste of London with Mark Hix
My favorite hidden gems

1. Lucky for noodle lovers, there has been a boom in Japanese specialist noodle bars in Soho. My favourite is Bone Daddies, which has a fantastic selection of ramen noodles, including some really hot ones.

2. Ducksoup is a London gem, exemplifying the latest restaurant trends in London. It is a wine bar on Dean Street that specializes in natural wines and serves great European bar snacks. Its eclectic, seasonal menu is handwritten every day.