London's hip new villages, uncovered

Not quite Maida Vale, not quite Warwick Avenue, this triangle between the two finally has an epicentre in the new Everyman cinema. Now you can happily spend an entire day sipping flat whites, watching foreign films and mooching from Clifton Nurseries to The Warrington pub along the stuccoed crescents

HAYLEY NEWSTEAD, 39 director of Absolute Flowers & Home
12-14 Clifton Road (absoluteflowersandhome.com)
How long has the shop been here? Twelve years.
Any celebrity customers? Gwyneth Paltrow comes in regularly and featured us on her Goop newsletter.
Is the local high street still relevant? It’s becoming less so with all the internet shopping people do. We need to get people back into actual shops that have some personality.
What’s your favourite spring bloom? The coral peonies I’ve just had in from Covent Garden Flower Market are enormous.
What are the local residents like? A real mixed bag, but we have a lot of creatives working in the film and music industries.
What’s new around here? A Blockbuster has just shut down and the rumour is that it’s going to be turned into another hairdresser.

LITTLE BLACK BOOK Where to go for...

BREAKFAST Go to Raoul’s for Bloody Marys and eggs Benedict.
13A Clifton Road (raoulsgourmet.com)
COFFEE AND CAKE Saturday afternoons wouldn’t be the same without a flat white and homemade pastry at Amoul.14 Formosa Street (amoul.com)
COOL CLOBBER Hip boutique Pipa London sells unique womenswear and gorgeous jewellery.1 Formosa Street (pipalondon.co.uk)
SOME ME-TIME Yvonne Martin’s hydrating facial at her eponymous salon works wonders on those pores. 5-6 Clarendon Terrace (020 7266 2127)
A PRE-FILM TIPPLE Settle in for a glass of wine at the Everyman cinema bar but don’t miss the film. 215 Sutherland Avenue (everymancinemas.com)
A COSY PINT The Prince Alfred pub is a Victorian gem. 5A Formosa Street (theprincealfred.com)

Sandwiched between Old Street and the Barbican, Whitecross is a small street with a big community spirit (the July street party is a mecca for creatives). There are pop-up art installations and a rowdy daily market, making this one of the city’s hippest new neighbourhoods

JOHN BELL, 32 manager of Luardos Burger Van
Pitch 39, Whitecross Street Market (luardos.co.uk)
How long has the van been based here? Five years.
What’s the USP? Quick, reasonably priced Mexican street food out of a big, green van named Jesus.
How quick are you? We can make a burrito every 26 seconds.
Any celebrity customers? Aaron Johnson came by once with Sam Taylor-Wood. He said he was allergic to dairy but then insisted on having sour cream.
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened at work? When a customer was accidentally sprayed in the face with sour cream. It’s funnier in retrospect than it was at the time.
Any legendary local characters? Our local rag-and-bone man Angus is an institution. I love him so much that I spent more money on him last Christmas than on my own dad.
Sum up the local area in three words Real, urban, louche.

SASHA RAINEY, 31 owner of Fix Coffee
161 Whitecross Street (fix-coffee.co.uk)
How long has the café been based here? We opened here in October 2009, and in Shoreditch in July 2011.
Why a café? I was working at a coffee shop in Shoreditch that went bankrupt so I set up my own.
What’s the USP? A pleasant space with retro and reclaimed furniture, not just good coffee.
Which is your favourite coffee on the menu? The cortado, a mini latte but stronger.
Is the local high street still relevant? With Londoners it is. There’s a perception that independent shops yield higher-quality goods – which is very true with coffee shops.

LITTLE BLACK BOOK Where to go for...

JAPANESE TREATS Pham Sushi serves the best tuna sashimi in town. 159 Whitecross Street (phamsushi.co.uk)
A HAIRCUT Get snipped in Whites’ retro-cool salon. 113 Whitecross Street (020 7256 5050)
BOOZING The Trader pub is always buzzing and the beer garden is just perfect for a summer tipple. 142-146 Whitecross Street (020 7490 2582
CARNIVORES The Wild Game Company has a stall at the market every day, selling fresh Scottish game. Try the pigeon or venison fillet. (wildgameco.co.uk)
PLAY TIME Fortune Park is full of footie-playing youngsters. Their long-suffering parents can admire the street art.
TAPAS Go to Eyre Brothers for sophisticated Spanish fusion food in buzzy surroundings. 70 Leonard Street (eyrebrothers.co.uk)

Victoria Park’s bohemian hub is a crossroads with a toy shop, fishmonger, baker, vintner, nice new gastropub… and not a chain in sight – unless you count The Ginger Pig but we’ll make an exception as they do make the best sausage rolls in town

SUSIE McDUELL, 44 owner of Loafing Café
79 Lauriston Road (020 8986 0777)
How long has the shop been here? Four years next month.
What was the idea behind it? I used to run an eclectic furniture and antiques shop but the products weren’t shifting, and I knew a good café would do well.
What’s the USP? We have a cracking playlist.
Memorable customers A regular named Alistair. He’s 70 and loves bringing us presents; most recently a Barbra Streisand CD.
Have you been affected by the recession? Not really. If people have money to spend, they treat themselves. If they’re down, they come for comfort food.
Will the Olympics make a difference to you? I’m hoping to get an alcohol licence so that we can open for wine and cheeses.
Is the local high street still relevant? The butcher and fishmonger have queues out the door, so clearly people want to support local businesses.

CAROLINE GREGORY, 63 craftsman potter
The Workshop, 77A Lauriston Road (020 8986 9585)
How long have you been here? Thirty-seven years and still going strong.
Any celebrity customers? Robbie Coltrane did his Christmas shopping here once. He bought so much!
What’s the most popular local hangout? Victoria Park. You feel like you’re in the countryside.
Sum up the area in three words I can do it in one – friendly.