Lauren Laverne's My London

Home is…

Muswell Hill. I never thought I’d find my own patch in London until I moved to N10.

Best place to let your hair down?

Little House Mayfair — the new Soho House sibling club — or The Groucho.

Most romantic thing someone’s done for you?

Started a family with me.

Best place for a first date?

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. It’s very romantic and useful if you’re stuck for things to say.

Favourite shops?

Selfridges for its dazzling array of goodies; the shop at the Science Museum for gifts. St Christopher’s Place is my ideal shopping street, especially the Whistles there and Charlotte Olympia, which is just around the corner. If it wasn’t for Topshop on Oxford Circus, I would have been naked for the first 30 years of my life.

Favourite pub?

The Clissold Arms in East Finchley. It’s where The Kinks performed their first and last gig together. It does a great roast.

What do you collect?

Records, handbags, and weird friends.

First thing you do when you arrive back home?

Buy a skinny strong flat white from Pret A Manger. It’s the closest to my character.

Best meal?

I’ve been dreaming about the buffalo mozzarella salad at Theo Randall since I ate there. The squash and sage ravioli was also lovely.

Building you’d like to live in?

Tate Britain, preferably with all the art in it. It’s one of London’s most beautiful buildings and I’d love to live by the river.

Earliest London memory?

Feeding the ducks in St James’s Park when I was five.

What would you do as Mayor for the day?

Put on all the mayoral gear and parade around town on an open-top Routemaster dispensing presents. I think they should have a day like that at the beginning of every new tenure.

Last show you saw?

Malcolm Gladwell Live: The David and Goliath Tour at the Lyceum, which was fantastic. The Staves performed as a warm-up.

Biggest extravagance?

The Hailo taxi app is lethally convenient.

Who do you call when you want to have fun?

Other than my other half, who is Mr Fun, I’d call Caitlin Moran, who is always up for lolz.

Last album you bought?

Lizzobangers by the phenomenal hip-hop riot grrrl Lizzo.

What are you up to at the moment?

Hosting my 6 Music show.

Best place for a nightcap?

The Charlotte Street Hotel, where you can have a sweet sherry served in one of those little Dot Cotton-style glasses.

Best thing a cabbie has told you?

A story about dropping off an American banker who was devastated that he had to return to New York, so the cabbie tried to help by mentioning all the great things he’d be going back to, like the Statue of Liberty. The guy just turned to him and said: ‘Yeah, but you can’t get Radio 4.’

Building you’d like to be locked in overnight?

Kensington Palace. I once DJed there and was reprimanded for inciting dancing on a historic floor. I’d spend the night imagining all the people who’ve lived there over the years.

Who’s your hero?

My nan. Nine kids, no washing machine and apparently she was never in a bad mood her whole life. Amazing.