Leighton Meester's My London

What's the first thing you do when you come to London?
I like to have tea - any health regime I'm on goes out of the window when the scones appear. I just had afternoon tea at Soho House. It was so delicious, and then suddenly it was midnight and I found myself asking for scones again. I'd give up everything for a scone.

Where do you stay in London?
I really like the Corinthia London Hotel (below left) by Embankment because it's brand new and I like the area.

What's the best meal you've had in London?
Fish and chips at The Wilton Arms in Knightsbridge. It's a decadent dinner that is perfect with beer.

What's the most romantic thing someone's done for you in London?
A not-so-secret admirer once sent flowers to my hotel.

What's your biggest extravagance?
My Taylor acoustic guitar, I love it.

If you could buy any building in London and live there which would it be?
Buckingham Palace would be nice.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Keep your head screwed on and be true to yourself.

What animal would you most like to be?
My dachshund Trudy. I love snuggling with her.

What was the last album you downloaded?
Check in the Dark by Check in the Dark: it's a mixture of folk and soft-rock acoustic. I've been writing with them recently.

What are you up to at the moment?
I've been on a break from Gossip Girl, writing music and performing. I'm about to go to Boston to start shooting a very funny film called I Hate You, Dad with Adam Sandler and Susan Sarandon. I'm also about to start promoting another film I'm in called Monte Carlo with Selena Gomez and Katie Cassidy. And I'm the face of the Vera Wang Lovestruck fragrance.

What smells do you like?
I love the smell of garlic in an Italian restaurant, and freshly baked bread.

What's your earliest London memory?
When I was 11 I was obsessed with the Tudors and had all these fantasies about that era so I was really excited to come to London with my family on vacation.

Who's your hero?
My older brother Logan. He's become a wonderful man now he's a husband.

Which London shops do you rely on?
I stock up on everything we don't get in the States at Boots, like Berocca vitamin supplements, which I love glugging down. I love any branch of Topshop; I made an extended stop in there recently and came out with a whole new wardrobe. I love Burberry and all the department stores like Harrods and Liberty (below) but they're so dangerous because I could spend the whole day in them.