Sonya Barber – författare

Whether you are flirting with leaving the capital for good or fancy a daytrip to Margate or the South Downs for some much-needed country air, this small guide is an unashamedly opinionated guide to the very best places to get some release from city life in these dificult Covid times. Coastal walks, boutique hotels, top restaurants, wild swimming - there is much to discover within a short train ride from the capital, and so much to remind us that life is not quite as compressed and stressed as it seems.

Hoxton Mini Press have made a name for themselves as a publisher that celebrates the creative and colourful character of east London. This is the third edition of their unashamedly biased, deeply opinionated (and very popular) guide to the area. With 20 new suggestions of where to eat, sleep, shop and drink this pocket-sized companion is the ultimate guide to the ever-changing face of east London, filled with beautiful photography, pithy reviews, a perfect weekend itinerary and a neighbourhood map showing where all of the places are located. It's a must for east London locals and first-time visitors alike.

Peruse the latest releases in indie favourites Pages of Hackney and Kirkdale Books, get wanderlust among the vast shelves of Stanfords and bag well-thumbed second-hand treasures in Bloomsbury's Skoob. London is a world-leading literary mecca and bookshops here are more than just places to pick up paperbacks - from community favourite (and the city's first Black bookshop) Beacon Books to queer Soho institution Gay's the Word, these 50 shops are the capital's finest places to seek out new stories. Time to clear some space on your to-be-read shelf. This is part of a growing series of opinionated guides which offer straight-talking insider's advice on what to do and see in London.

Peruse mid-century furniture at Hackney Flea Market, gorge on falafel wraps and British cheese in Borough, soak up the vibe at Camden Lock and then buy a bunch of fresh eucalyptus or a five-foot monstera at Columbia Road. That's a weird day out - but a good one! London's got hundreds of markets but these are the only ones you need to know about. So grab an empty tote bag and be prepared to hunt for some treasures. This is part of a growing series of opinionated guides which offer no-nonsense insider's advice on what to do and see in Britain.