My London: Ronan Keating

Singer Ronan Keaton knows what makes London tick for him - the Watches of Switzerland in Brompton Road, comfy sofas in gastro pubs and top nosh in the likes of Nobu, The Ivy and Mirabelle.

Where do you live and why? We have a house in the Surrey countryside near Esher. It's a great area for my two kids.

How long have you lived there? It's been my second home for the past eight years, ever since the start of Boyzone. Before that, I was living in Dublin.

What advice would you give to a tourist? Stay in the West End because it has everything you need: hotels, restaurants and shopping.

What is your earliest London memory? In 1994, staying over here with Boyzone in a dodgy hotel in Russell Square. We couldn't afford our phone bills so we chucked our bags out of the windows and ran away.

Harvey Nicks or Selfridges, and why? Harvey Nichols because you can get drunk in the bar and then shop.

What do you miss most when you're out of London? The accessibility. Whatever you need, you can get.

What are your favourite home comforts? Hotel Costes in Paris has the most amazing candles and home fragrances. We use them at home because the smell is so cosy. I wear the aftershave, too.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? Sort out the bloody traffic. I've just been stuck in a traffic jam for one-and-a-half hours.

What is your life philosophy? Good health is your wealth.

Do you have a favourite London pub? The Latchmere in Battersea because it has a fireplace and comfy sofas.

What are your extravagances? Cars and watches. My latest car is a silver Z8 BMW - it was in the James Bond movie a while ago. And I've just bought an Italian Panerai diving watch.

Who's in your secret address book? Watches of Switzerland, Brompton Road, is great for unusual watches. My secret bar is the Library in the Lanesborough Hotel - dark and peaceful.

What is in your winter wardrobe? Lots of Armani. Giorgio has been looking after me well and my stylist has picked up loads of next season's stuff. I particularly love their little scarves.

What was the last book you bought? I loved Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn. I read it in a week and a half - books usually take me months to finish.

What have been your most memorable London meals? In The Ivy. If I'm in town, I go at least once a week. I'm also a fan of Mirabelle and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's. One of my most memorable, though, was chatting to Robert De Niro in Nobu. We'd met before and he remembered me.

Where were the last three places you went on holiday? St Tropez last summer for a long weekend with my wife; before that, the Datai hotel in Malaysia, which is fantastic and is always voted as one of Condé Nast Traveller's top hotels; before that, a weekend in New York.

What was the last CD you bought? A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay. I bought a copy for my car - I already have one in the house. It's brilliant, a classic.

What was the last play you saw in London and did you enjoy it? I haven't been to the theatre in donkey's years. No, I tell a lie... I took my son Jack to The Lion King last month. He absolutely loved it.

Ronan is part of Capital Christmas Live today at Earl's Court, in aid of 95.8 Capital FM's charity Help a London Child. Ronan Live - Destination Wembley 2002 is out on DVD now