My 'Fair' London: Martine

Where do you live and why? I live alone in a stucco-fronted house in South Kensington. I was brought up in Dalston so I know what the real side of London is like and I don't want to do the trendy Hoxton thing. I feel safer in Kensington.

How long have you lived there? Two years.

What's your secret address book for London? My best fish 'n' chip shop is Johnny's on the King's Road which does the freshest fish. My favourite Indian is the Lily Tandoori in Fulham with flocked wallpaper and plants everywhere and the best butter chicken you've ever tasted. I also go to Linda Meredith on Beauchamp Place for facials --my voice is on her answerphone!

What's your favourite restaurant? Ffiona's on Kensington Church Street. It's really intimate and Ffiona is a friend - she makes delicious homemade pies. It's the kind of place I'd go with someone I really fancied if I didn't want anybody to know.
What advice would you give a tourist? Ask Londoners, and don't stick to the guidebook - you are more likely to find something quirky. I'd tell them to start in Knightsbridge: it's got the shops, taxis, and it's not far from the Natural History Museum and the V&A.

What's your earliest memory of London? Hanging out with my mates on the Samuel Lewis housing estate.

Which is your favourite: Harvey Nichols or Selfridges? I'd say Harvey Nicks. Selfridges makes you feel dizzy. With Harvey Nicks, you can pop in and pop out.

If you were Mayor for the day, what would you do? I'd let people park anywhere. Not being able to park is the most frustrating thing in the world.

How do you get around London? I use black cabs sometimes, though I'm fortunate enough to have a driver, Glynn, who drives a Mercedes with a TV and a walnut dashboard.

What are your favourite shops? Harvey Nichols, Koh Samui, Space NK (where I buy St Tropez mousse and Tweezerman tweezers) and the interiors shop Louise Bradley on Walton Street which is really eclectic and opulent. I also love Chanel and Christian Dior for sunglasses.

Do you have a favourite pub? I'm not really a pub person to be honest, but I've been going to the Great Eastern bar lately.

Where do you buy vintage? I go to Circa on Fulham High Street - it's run by a mother and daughter. Lots of designers go there for inspiration.

What's in your autumn wardrobe? What isn't? A long cream Marc Jacobs scarf, flat cream Marc Jacobs boots, a beautiful cashmere jumper from Pringle, and a cream coat for just over £100 from Zara (my little sanctuary).

Where were the last three places you went on holiday? The last was
Paris for Julien Macdonald's couture show for Givenchy. He paid for our Eurostar tickets. Before that it was visiting friends in Marbella. And last summer I went to Barbados.

What are your biggest extravagances? Expensive designer clothes.
My all-time favourite has got to be Dolce & Gabbana.

What was the last perfume you bought? The new Roberto Cavalli. It smells of the sea. I bought it for a friend but liked it so much I didn't give it to her.

What are your home comforts? A turquoise Ralph Lauren jumper with bobbles all over it which I wear with my white PJs and suede slippers. And I also love Tubereuse Diptyque candles.

What was the last book you bought? The last book I bought was Billy Connolly's biography, Billy. I loved his honesty and wit.

What was the last CD you bought? Norah Jones, Come Away With Me. She sounds like a mixture of Carol King, Dusty Springfield and Billie Holiday. It's really bluesy and sexy.

What do you miss most when you are out of London? Black taxis and the Embankment at night.

What was the last play or musical you saw in London and why? I went to see Willem Dafoe in To You, the Birdie! at the Riverside Studios, and I loved it. It was very surreal and kept me intrigued.