My London: Mel C

Liverpudlian singer Melanie C loves her organic food, nipping around town in her sporty car and sipping a pint or two in the Hollybush pub. She tells Charlotte Williamson what spices up her life in London.

Where do you live and why? In Hampstead. When I first moved to London with the Spice Girls, I followed Emma back to Finchley as it's where she comes from. We both always aspired to live in Hampstead and now we do - in the same complex!

What advice would you give a tourist? Do all the usual stuff - the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge - but also go to more out-of-town places. Often, when I'm sipping my glass of lager at The Hollybush pub in Hampstead, I'll see groups of walking tours going round the historic bits.

Harvey Nicks or Selfridges? Selfridges because it ranges from high street up to high-end designers.

What do you miss when you're out of London? The accessibility of things. I still spend time up North and it's so much harder to find things like organic food and alternative therapists there.

What are your favourite home comforts? I have this system for my TV, DVD and radio where I can press a button in any room and turn them on. So if I want to play stuff in my bathroom then I can. It's lazy but I love it.

What is your life philosophy? Do everything you can within your capability and without hurting anyone. I've been troubled with depression in the past and now I do everything within my power to be happy all day, every day.

What is in your spring wardrobe? I'm on tour right now so there's comfy clothes for the bus and then stagewear at night.

What are your favourite shops? There's a shop in Hampstead called Linea which is great if I'm freaking out with nothing to wear for a premiere or something. Jacqueline in there will always sort me out. I also like Whistles. They don't have silly sizes - it's so depressing when a size 12 is tinier than normal.

Who is in your secret address book? Fresh and Wild - the one in Camden is my local. I also like Hampstead Food Hall on Heath Street.

Do you have a favourite pub? The Hollybush. It's like a Tardis: tiny outside and massive round the back with lots of lovely little cubbyholes.

What scent do you wear? I'm going through a natural phase at the moment. I'm really into the Alternative toiletry range which contains hemp seed. Its shampoos are amazing - they smell so coconutty that when you shower you feel you're on a tropical beach.

What have been your most memorable London meals? I went to Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's over Easter and it was fantastic - mouthwatering from start to finish.

What are your extravagances? I'm not that extravagant really, but I've just bought a pair of white Christian Dior boots and matching bag from Selfridges.
I saw them and just knew I had to have them, even if I never wear them.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? I'd make parking free everywhere. London is a joke - it's impossible to park. And then you go to somewhere central like Covent Garden and see all those meters with yellow jackets on - what's all that about?

What was the last play you saw in London? I haven't been to the theatre since I was at performing arts school. Then I was into Les Mis and Cats. Dancers always like Cats.

What were the last books you bought? I'm a good buyer but not a good reader. I'm interested in books on alternative therapy and the Dalai Lama. I hope they'll give me karma just through sitting on my coffee table.

How do you get around town? Where were the last three places you went on holiday? Barbados at Christmas with my boyfriend [Thomas Starr] - we stayed at the Sandy Lane Hotel which was out of this world. Before that it was Marrakech for his birthday in April - that was the first time I had been on holiday with a guy as most of my relationships haven't been long-term - and before that it was Christmas again in Barbados. It was on that holiday two Christmases ago that I met Thomas so it was nice to go back and celebrate our anniversary.

How do you get around town? In my silver BMW Z3. Because it's a two-seater it's easy to park. But I try to ride my bike as much as possible - for my health and the environment. You've got to pick your time, though - the traffic can be scary.

Melanie C's new single 'On The Horizon' is released on 2 June, taken from her album Reason out now