Writer and brand consultant Duncan Riches takes us on his personal walking tour of Shoreditch and Brick Lane, as featured in LONDON DESIGN GUIDE (the book). Starting off at Old Street and winding through the area’s streets to Aldgate East, a miscellaneous array of shops, sights and eateries await you.

“Alight at the spaghetti junction-inspired Old Stret tube via EXIT 3 and head to No.28 Cowper Street, where you’ll find Undercurrents, a treasure of a shop that sells second-hand 20th-century European design. It’s bursting at the seams with furniture, accessories, lighting and vintage oddities. (Please note: opening hours are incredibly varied. Check before you make a special trip there)

Cut back on to Rivington Street and visit Franco’s Cafe – great value, serving the finest in ciabattas, focaccias and freshly made pastas; the jovial staff are ruthlessly efficient and put on something of a performance too.

Franco’s Cafe, 67 Rivington Street

The health-conscious should hop across Shoreditch High Street onto Calvert Avenue, where Lennies Larder offers big salads and big smiles.

Lennies Larder, 16 Calvert Avenue

Calvert Avenue ends at Arnold Circus, with the Boundary Estate bandstand at its centre. The estate is noteworthy, being the world’s first council-housing project, built by London City Council in 1900 to replace the Friars Mount slum. You can take a moment to reflect here while sitting on a Michael Marriott-designed bench next to the bandstand. In truth, the place is somewhat dog-eared and improvements are scheduled for 2010 – though some graffiti on the notice asks: ‘What’s to improve?’

Boundary Estate Bandstand

Another architectural gem is just south on Chance Street. Dirty House (2002) is one of David Adjaye’s early architectural projects. The former timber factory is now a live/work space for artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster. It’s a strange, inaccessible slab of a building covered in black anti-graffiti paint with blacked-out windows. The beautiful whitewashed cantilevered roof is actually best viewed from the rarefied air of Shoreditch House, but the building is impressive enough from street level in a showy, you’re-not-coming-in kind of way.

Dirty house, Chance Street

Walk south from here on to the ever-evolving Brick Lane. My choice would be to visit Ambala foods for the perfect Asian snack, then head down Fournier Street to the Hawksmoor-designed Christ Church Spitalfields for a piece of local architectural history.

Ambala Foods, 55 Brick Lane

Christ Church Spitalfields, Commercial Street

From here, a wander south on Commercial Street takes you to Whitechapel Gallery, still the best art gallery in the East End.

Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street

Alternatively, walk north up Commercial Street and cut across to Bishopsgate via Folgate Street. Then get a well-deserved pint at The Water Poet, a cracking pub on the fringe of the city.”

The Water Poet, 9-11 Folgate Street

This extract was taken from page 127 of London Design Guide. To enjoy similar tours of other areas in London complete with maps, why not order a copy of the guide?

Product and furniture designer Thorsten van Elten shows us around the historicaly bohemian areas of Fitzrovia & Bloomsbury, as found in the LONDON DESIGN GUIDE (the book) walking tour. Once renowned for its famous writer inhabitants, the area is now home to a variety of quirky shops, pubs and hidden cobbled streets – all of which are dominated by the looming BT Tower.

Fitzrovia & Bloomsbury: Take a Walk with Thorsten van Elten

“Walk down Warren Street and turn left into Fitzroy Square, the heart of Fitzrovia and London’s only square designed by Neoclassical architect Robert Adam with fantastic views of the BT Tower through the trees.

Fitzroy Square

BT Tower, 60 Cleveland Mews

Turn right and take Conway Street back onto Warren Street. There is a beautiful, old blue-tiled dairy on the corner, which is now an Italian café.

Italian Cafe, 35 Conway Street

Keep walking until the end and turn left into Cleveland Street, then right into Carburton Street, which will take you into Great Portland Street. Turn left, and at No.109 is one of my all-time favourite shops in London: the Aquatic Design Centre, where they have amazing tanks of fish and very knowledgeable (although sometimes a bit grumpy) staff.

Aquatic Design Centre, 107-109 Great Portland Street

Bear left into Langham Street, which turns into Foley Street. On the corner with Cleveland Street is the King & Queen Pub, which has an open fire in the winter and is one of the nicest pubs in the area.

The King & Queen Pub, 1 Foley Street

Keep walking and turn right into Howland Street, then take the second right into Whitfield Street and the cute Pollock’s Toy Museum and toys shop.

Pollock’s Toy Museum, 25 Scala Street

Keep walking, crossing Goodge Street, until you see Colville Place on your right, a little stone-flagged pedestrian street with lovely 18th-century houses.

Colville Place

This will lead you to the restaurants and galleries of Charlotte Street. Turn left. If it’s a nice day, have a pint outside the Fitzroy Tavern. It’s perfect for outdoor drinking, not so great inside.

Fitzroy Tavern, 16A Charlotte Street

Always worth checking out is the Contemporary Applied Arts gallery and shop in Percy Street.

Contemporary Applied Arts, 2 Percy Street

Then walk down to the end of Rathbone Place and turn left into Oxford Street and again into Hanway Street, an old lane cutting behind the major crossroads of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. Once you get used to the smell, you’ll find it’s home to some cool second-hand record shops, flamenco bars and the fantastic Bradley’s Spanish Bar, which is charmingly shabby and devoid of pretension.”

Bradley’s Spanish Bar, 42-44 Hanway Street

This extract was taken from page 87 of LONDON DESIGN GUIDE. To enjoy similar tours of other areas in London, complete with maps, why not order a copy of the guide?

Michelle Alger, the Buying Manager for Home and Gift at Liberty walks us on a loop through Soho. Shops, cafes, bars, parks, and even a hairdressers are featured to guide you on a tour which captures the essence of the ever evolving leisure district.

SOHO: Take a Walk with Michelle Alger

“After arriving at Oxford Circus tube, take the exit leading onto Argyll Street and you’ll be facing the large Tudor-style building that is the iconic Liberty. Biased, I know, but in my opinion it is the most interesting store in the area, filled with delights ranging from high fashion through to luxury furniture.

Liberty, Great Marlborough Street.

Walking along Great Marlborough Street you’ll pass the dress-fabric district. Be sure to check out the famous Cloth House stores on Berwick Street, with their lush fabrics and trims.

Cloth House, 98 Berwick Street.

Continue along Noel Street to Hollen Street and the imposing Henry Heath Hat Factory – another fragment of the old artisan Soho.

Henry Heath Hat Factory Building, 98 Berwick Street.

Snake through to Soho Square, with its mock-Tudor gatehouse and welcome green space in the heart of the metropolis.

Soho Square.

On the corner of Old Compton Street and Greek Street, visit Café Boheme and enjoy an afternoon Kir Royale and an atmosphere of Paris circa 1920.

Cafe Boheme, 13-17 Old Compton Street.

Next door is Soho House, where you can enjoy a terrific rooftop terrace if you know a friend with membership. Continue down Old Compton Street past Patisserie Valerie, a must-visit for cakes and coffee.

Patisserie Valerie, 44 Old Compton Street.

On Brewer Street, check out Madame Jojo’s for burlesque dancing and kitsch cabaret and, a few doors further down, Soho’s Original Bookshop, with its edgy collection of fashion and art titles (and a sneaky hidden sex shop downstairs).

Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer Street.

Soho Original Bookshop, 23-25 Leather Lane.

Carry on along Brewer Street to the Vintage Magazine Shop – great for silver-screen and comic-book fans.

Vintage Magazine Shop, 39-43 Brewer Street.

Continue in the same direction to Tommy Guns for a quick ‘too cool for school’ trim.

Tommy Guns, 52 Brewer Street.

Then do some celeb-spotting at Whole Foods.

Whole Foods, 69-75 Brewer Street.

Take a right into Lower James Street and catch a glimpse of the beautiful arches of lower Regent Street behind you. In Golden Square, stop by Nordic Bakery for coffee and Scandinavian treats before reaching Play Lounge for vinyl collectors on Beak Street.

Nordic Bakery, 14 Golden Square.

Play Lounge, 19 Beak Street.

Cut through Kingly Court – a medley of vintage clothing, homewares and beauty boutiques – and re-emerge on Carnaby Street. Head left to howies, my favourite store on the street, selling unisex ethical clothing.

Howies, 42 Carnaby Street.

Finally, on the corner of Ganton Street and Kingly Street, enjoy a glass of Manzanilla and tapas at Dehesa.”

Dehesa, 25 Ganton Street.

This extract was taken from page 65 of LONDON DESIGN GUIDE. To enjoy similar tours of other areas in London complete with maps, why not order a copy of the guide?

Kati Price, the Marketing and Content Manager at Design Council reveals a glimpse of what Covent Garden has to offer with her personal walking tour which she wrote for LONDON DESIGN GUIDE (the book). Follow her route and you may find some hidden gems within and away from the main bustle of the Covent Garden Piazza.

COVENT GARDEN: Take a Walk with Kati Price

“Start off at Tottenham Court Road, where you can’t miss Centrepoint, one of London’s first skyscrapers, which has a fascinating and controversial history.

Centrepoint, 20-21 St. Giles High Street

Wander down St Giles High Street, cross over into Monmouth Street and pop into Miss Lala’s Boudoir for luxury lingerie, then into Orla Kiely for some of her trademark patterned bags and accessories.

Miss Lala’s Boudoir, 18 Monmouth Street

Orla Kiely, 31 Monmouth Street

Keep an eye out for a passageway that leads you into the hippie oasis of Neal’s Yard and emerge onto Short’s Gardens, where you can sample some 200 cheeses at the world-famous Neal’s Yard Dairy.

Neal’s Yard Diary, 17 Shorts Gardens

After exploring Neal Street, bear left onto Long Acre and walk over to Great Queen Street for some robust British fare, taking in the Art Deco Freemason’s Hall opposite – it serves as the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England.

Freemason’s Hall, 60 Great Queen Street

Head back down Long Acre and bear left into Bow Street which is dominated by the impressive façade of the Royal Opera House.

Royal Opera House, Bow Street

As you turn into Floral Street, look up and you’ll spot the twisting glass Bridge of Aspirations, designed by architects Wilkinson Eyre, which connects the Royal Ballet School with the Opera House.

Bridge of Aspirations

Pick up some treats at Kastner & Ovens as you stroll down Floral Street en route to the Paul Smith store.

Kastner & Ovens, 52 Floral Street

Paul Smith, 40-44 Floral Street

As Floral Street ends you’ll find Covent Garden’s oldest pub, the Lamb & Flag.

Lamb & Flag, 33 Rose Street

After a quick pint, head down James Street into the Piazza, the heart of Covent Garden, designed by Inigo Jones in the 17th century. Formerly a vegetable market, the space now hosts lots of craft and food stalls, boutiques and street entertainers.

Covent Garden Market

After a refreshing frozen yoghurt at Yu-foria, visit the London Transport Museum or head down Russell Street to Drury Lane and Aram, which, in the 60s, first brought furniture by the likes of Marcel Breuer and Le Corbusier to the uk.

Yu-foria, 19 The Market

London Transport Museum, 39 Wellington Street

Aram, 110 Drury Lane

If you’re feeling thirsty, grab a seat at the brilliant Lobby Bar at One Aldwych or head underground to CellarDoor, where you’ll discover drag queens and cabaret crooners in this former Gents toilet.

One Aldwych, 1 Aldwych

Cellar Door, Zero Aldwych

Cross over the Strand and finish your tour at Somerset House – a spectacular spot for ice skating in winter or al fresco drinks and music on the River Terrace in summer.”

Somerset House, Strand

This extract was taken from page 75 of London Design Guide. To enjoy similar tours of other areas in London complete with maps, why not order a copy of the guide?

When we created LONDON DESIGN GUIDE (the book), we took the decision to break this vast city into manageable areas. To accompany each area, we asked a local to write a personal tour of their favourite places. Here is shoe designer Tracey Neuls‘ tour of Marylebone, home to her inimitable shoe store.

MARYLEBONE: Take a Walk with Tracey Neuls

“Homogenisation of our cities is sadly becoming more and more unavoidable. Marylebone Village, on the other hand, is unmistakably British and goes even one step further – it is honestly local. The atmosphere as you walk from Oxford Street to Marylebone Lane quickly changes from department stores to shops like Biggles Gourmet Sausages, where you can buy handmade links by the dozen or in a bun to take away.

Biggles Gourmet Sausages, 66 Marylebone Lane

Neighbours include David Penton & Son, an old world DIY shop where, more times than not, they will have what you need.

David Penton & Son, 64 Marylebone Lane

And The Button Queen, which supplies buttons from the 1800s.

The Button Queen, 76 Marylebone Lane

Across the road you have Paul Rothe & Son, a family-run café where the decor has been loved yet untouched since it opened over 100 years ago.

Paul Rothe & Son, 35 Marylebone Lane

And this is the best bit about Marylebone: popping up among the original shops are strong contenders for future classics. The side streets are always worth exploring for just that. For example, on Bulstrode Street you will find Content, which sells creams and perfumes served by the passionate owner herself, who knows her products inside and out.

Content, 14 Bulstrode Street

Remembering less is more, don’t miss the Monocle magazine shop – quite possibly the smallest shop in London yet jam packed with goodies.

Monocle, 2A George Street

Keep walking and you can choose between butterflies and cheese. Worth a look is Damien Hirst’s boutique Other Criteria, where art multiples can be bought at a hint of the price of the original.

Other Criteria, 14 Hinde Street

Nearer the top of Marylebone High Street, The Fromagerie beckons. This cheese specialist and grocer supports local producers, and has a few secret tables in the back where they prepare and serve up a delicious daily menu.

The Fromagerie, 4 Moxon Street

Pass through the tranquil innercity Paddington Street Gardens before arriving closer to the heart of residential Marylebone.

Paddington Street Gardens

A rather eccentric character called Felix sets up a rogue stall every morning selling flowers in front of Hardy’s restaurant. His unique selections of cut flowers are reflective of his own individual personality.

Hardy’s, 53-55 Dorset Street

And while you are there treating your senses, have a peep across the street at St Andrews Mansion Courtyard for some rare, well- preserved London architecture.”

St. Andrews Mansion Courtyard

This extract was taken from page 39 of LONDON DESIGN GUIDE. To enjoy similar tours of other areas in London complete with maps, why not order a copy of the guide?

All photographs taken by Claire Rooney.