What makes your city special?

I’m lucky to call London home and whilst it’s an amazing city for many obvious reasons, there are certain things that make it extra special for me. I’d love to know what’s special about the city you live in so please leave a comment.

Why London is special

It’s multicultural

London is very British but it’s also so diverse and that’s what makes it so interesting and exciting. Where I live in particular is very multi-cultural; there are people from all nationalities and you’ll find every kind of restaurant on my high street from Thai, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish and even Afghan. I believe that living amongst people from other cultures and ethnicities make you more worldly-wise, accepting and curious.

It has so much history

I love my home country, South Africa, but as countries go it’s still fairly new. What I love about London is how old it is. It’s not unusual to see buildings dating back to the 1400s. As well as the architecture, history can be found in all the (free) galleries and museums around the city. The National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and the V&A being my favourites.

There’s always something new to discover

I’ve lived in London since 2004 and I’m still discovering new areas I’ve never been to! And it’s not just areas, there’s something new to do all the time – whether it be a new art exhibition, market, play, concert or trying out a new restaurant. As Samuel Johnson said: When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life. This is so true as you can never get bored in London!

Phenomenal restaurants

There are around 17,000 restaurants in London and the city boasts a whopping 65 restaurants with Michelin stars. Luckily you don’t have to break your bank balance to enjoy a fabulous meal – there are so many great places to eat that suit any budget. For delicious yet inexpensive meals, try stalls at markets such as Borough Market in London Bridge, Ropewalk Market in Bermondsey or Spitalfields Market in Shoreditch. For something more upmarket, I love L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, L’Anima, The Summerhouse, Hakkasan and Barrafina (pictured below).

Interesting ways to travel

Of course London is known for its transport networks, such as the tube, overground and trains but there are lots of other fun ways to get around. Why not try travelling by boat? Thames Clippers offers routes for commuters as well as tourists and their routes include the ‘Tate to Tate’ and boats to Greenwich. A much nicer way to travel and you can even use your Oyster card. Or why not travel by air with the Emirates Air Line, which takes you across the Thames from North Greenwich to Royal Victoria?

So that’s what make London special to me.What makes your city special?