My London: McQueen

Where do you live and why? In Highbury because it's green and peaceful and the studio is in Amwell Street, just past Angel, so it's really easy to get to work. But I was born in Stratford, East London.

How long have you lived there? Two years. I was living in Victoria Park before.

Where did you last go on holiday? Last year I went to Malaysia with my eldest sister and my niece. More recently, I've been visiting my house by the sea on the Sussex coast. It's a 300-year-old cottage that I've renovated. I try to go there as much as possible with friends. I also take my dogs, Minter, a mongrel from Battersea Dogs Home and Juice, an English bull terrier.

What was the last play you saw in London and did you enjoy it? Up for Grabs with my friend Annabel Neilson. And yes, Madonna was amazing.

What is your earliest London memory? Swimming in my local pool in Stratford. I began swimming at three years old and then went on to swim for Essex.

What do you miss most when you're out of London? Minter and Juice.

What are your extravagances? My piece of art by the photographer Joel-Peter Witkin.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? Pedestrianise W1.

What is your life philosophy? Live slow, die old. I have worked hard to get the business where it is today and I'm feeling much more settled. I now have the support of Gucci Group and things are really happening fast: a store in New York and now London, then Milan in July and a fragrance all within two years. It's all very exciting, but I am now taking time to enjoy my life and do things for me.

What are your favourite shops? I prefer junk shops and markets. Camden Passage in Islington has some amazing antique clothes shops such as Annie's and Cloud Cuckoo Land.

How do you get around town? In my dark blue VW Golf.

Do you have a favourite pub? The Easton on Easton Street, EC1. You always get a table and the food is great.

What's in your spring wardrobe? My iPod and a tan kid-leather mac with a raw edge by me. I made one for the women's collection and had one made up for myself.

What have been your most memorable London meals?My friend the musician John Gosling's 40th birthday at J Sheekey. It was with my good friends the stylist Katy England, Bobby Gillespie - the lead singer of Primal Scream - Sam Gainsbury, who is John's wife and our fashion show producer, Kim Sion, of Smile, fashion buyer Marc Hare and PR Janet Fischgrund. It was a great evening - fantastic food and good company.

Who's in your secret address book? Wheatleys health-food shop near Exmouth Market is amazing. They always make our food during the shows. Euphorium Bakery on Upper Street makes the best pesto bread in the world. I also go to Maison Bertaux in Soho loads - I've known the owners for years. It's a nice retreat in the middle of town.

What advice would you give to a tourist? Walk everywhere. You can't beat the view from Parliament Hill on a summer's day, followed by a walk down to The Engineer in Primrose Hill for Sunday lunch.

How do you unwind? I do yoga almost every day either in my house or at the Bikram Yoga Centre in Kentish Town, where you practise in a hot room.

What was the last book you bought? Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer by
Patrick Suskind. It's a brilliant book which inspired my new perfume.

What was the last CD you bought? Les Fleurs - The Minnie Ripperton Anthology. I love her voice.

Harvey Nicks or Selfridges? I love them both. Harvey Nichols is very elegant. Selfridges is chic and full of brilliant stuff such as my new perfume Kingdom.

What are you favourite home comforts? I love making soup, especially vegetable soup. I also make a blinding smoothie - my favourite is strawberry and banana.

The new Alexander McQueen shop is at 4-5 Old Bond Street, W1(020 7355 0088)