My London: Sophie's choice

Where do you live and why? In Hampstead with my boyfriend. I've only just moved and thought it would feel too grown-up but I love it. My favourite thing is coming home from work and going up the hill when it starts getting all green and leafy. It feels like a real escape.

How long have you lived there? Since November. Before, I lived in Swiss Cottage.

What advice would you give to a tourist? Go to the markets, especially Portobello and Spitalfields, both brilliant for up-and-coming designers. I also have a great fondness for Camden as it's where I spent most of my youth.

What have been your most memorable London meals? I absolutely adore food. They've just revamped the Fifth Floor of Harvey Nicks and the design is beautiful. I also have happy memories of the Thai café in Hammersmith, near where I grew up. It's a greasy spoon by day and a Thai place by night.

What is your earliest London memory? One of my earliest memories is my third birthday party. We had a picnic in Marble Hill Park, Twickenham, and my mum had baked a cake with some sort of forest theme. As she lit the candles, the wind caught them and the cake turned into a ball of fire. Mum hasn't baked a cake since.

Harvey Nicks or Selfridges? Selfridges, especially Spirit because I still love high-street stuff. Harvey Nichols is a bit too 'mum's territory' for me. In fact, the one time I did visit on my own accord, I bumped into my mother.

What do you miss most when out of London? The humour and the familiarity of being at home. Saying that, I've lived in London all my life and am still discovering it.

What are your favourite home comforts? A well-stocked fridge and a TV. The last series I loved was Faking It. I found the programmes moving; they brought out the best of humanity.

What are your extravagances? Since buying my new house, I've been going mad for home furnishings. And I haven't used the Tube for a while - I used to feel guilty about taking cabs all the time but I don't any more.

What is your life philosophy? Carpe diem. You should seize the day and challenge yourself. I'm quite a passionate person.

How do you get around town? I can drive but I'm really bad. So I either use cabs or get my boyfriend to ferry me around.

What is in your spring wardrobe? The same as last year - I don't really follow fashion. I still want the perfect sandal, though - something for the city that doesn't get your feet too dirty.

What was the last book you bought? Well, I borrowed it from someone on my tour bus - it was The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart. I haven't finished it.

Do you have a favourite pub? The Stonemasons Arms in Hammersmith. It's on the road where my school was. When we were old enough, we used to drink there. I recently went there for old time's sake.

Who's in your secret address book? I love shopping for clothes online. I've just bought some cute pink sandals from haywayshoes.co.uk. You can choose the colour and - best of all - the size of the heel. They invited me to their party at the Holiday Inn, Leicester. Sadly, I couldn't make it.

Where were the last three places you went on holiday? I had a long weekend in October with my family in Barcelona. Before that it was the Seychelles with my boyfriend, which was beautiful but really overpriced. Before that New York with my mum. I took her as a birthday treat.

What was the last play you saw in London? The Play What I Wrote on Boxing Day - Morecambe and Wise are perfect at Christmas. Charles Dance was the surprise celebrity.

What scent do you wear? I have three favourites: Paul Smith for Women, Envy by Gucci and Agent Provocateur's own perfume.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? You can't just introduce the congestion charge without a viable alternative - it's impossible to rely on public transport any more. So I'd sort that out. I'd also stop waiters being rude and enforcing the fact that they hate their jobs on the customer.

What was the last CD you bought? I scratch CDs as I carry them around without their cases, so I've just re-bought a load of my favourites like Michael Jackson's Off The Wall, Neneh Cherry's Raw Like Sushi and a Hotel Costes compilation.

What are your favourite shops? I can pretty much shop anywhere. My favourite place is Topshop - I know everyone mentions it, but it really is fantastic.