On The Headphones: Polly Scattergood - Miss You

Aside from sounding like a Charles Dickins heroine, Polly Scattergood makes beautiful, heartfelt music, blending raw sounds with electro pop beats. This track, 'Miss You', is the sound of her at her most vulnerable, bearing her soul with nothing but a few piano keys for accompaniment.

Hash E8, Hackney

Hackney may be a little short on greasy spoon cafés these days, but it certainly makes up for that by serving up a range of quirky brunch destinations instead.

With a menu focused on the humble hash brown, Hash E8 has the hungry locals flocking for their full English, or on the more healthy side, kale and poached eggs with hollandaise sauce. Get down early though, there can be a long wait on weekends!

Find it at: 170 Dalston Lane, E8 1NG

Scandinavian Kitchen, Fitzrovia

In search of a less-obvious mother's day present, I decided to go visit the Scandinavian Kitchen, which resides on the backstreets of Oxford Street. Far away from the rushing crowds of tourists, there are so many beautiful little shops and restaurants that sadly are often overlooked by those on the main high street.

This lovely little grocery shop and cafe is one of them. Stocking classic Scandinavian foods, from fish to salty liquorice sweets, its the perfect place for homesick natives, or those looking for a unique and authentic culinary experience.

After choosing a gift to take home this weekend, I couldn't help picking up a couple of delicious looking cinnamon rolls too. The cafe has a good selection of pastries, as well as open sandwiches and salads.

Website: Scandikitchen.co.uk
Find it: 61 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PP

On the headphones: The Night VI - Too Late To Lie

It certainly feels like spring in London now. The sky is an (almost) clear blue, the sun is peering out and people have started to scatter across the parks on weekends.

With the change in season, I've been listening to a lot of Anglo-French sextet The Night VI recently. Their melancholic pop melodies are painfully addictive, particularly the haunting 'Too Late To Lie'. Soft enough for a day in the park, but not too sweet to belong in summer yet..

Escaping from the city: Epping Forest

I love the city as much as anyone who lives here, the frequent surprises, the bright lights and the constant rushing that becomes a kind of rhythm that you move to. It's nice to have a break though, especially on a sunny day when you start to wonder where the sky is behind all those tall skyscrapers!

London is really spoilt for nearby places with a little more greenery, and getting there is much easier than you would think. I went to visit Epping forest, which is barely 20 minutes away by train, then a short walk until you reach the woods.

Although you are never quite that far from the sounds of traffic, it's a beautiful place to explore, with ponds (with lots of ducks!) and stretching fields to make you believe you are miles from the concrete streets.

Nearest stations: Theydon Bois, Loughton, Epping

Champs - Rough Trade East, Brick Lane

Part of the Old Truman Brewery buildings, Rough Trade East, a mecca for vinyl fans sits right at the heart of Brick Lane. Although it may have branched out into selling books and coffee to the (mostly bearded) customers, the staff are true music lovers themselves and are always on the lookout for the next breakthrough act. You'll see posters for the most obscure releases lining the walls, alongside all the indie label favourites.

Tonight's special performance was from Isle of Wight brothers, Champs, performing tracks from their new record Vamala. The pair's music sways gracefully from soft country ballads, to synthy 80s inspired indie pop.

Peckhamplex Cinema, South London

Barely five minutes walk from Peckham Rye overground, Peckhamplex (or Peckham Multiplex, if you want to be specific) is one of the cheapest cinemas in London. Tickets are just £4.99 standard, or £5.99 3-D. Don't be put off though, it might not be the plushest cinema you've ever been to, but it's not a budget one either. The screens are a decent size, and there's plenty of films on to choose from.

Quick tip: there's some great local pubs, including The Montpelier for a quick pint before / after

Find it at: 95a Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST