Professor Chris van Tulleken, a doctor and broadcaster, has shared his favourite London spots, from a family-run pizzeria in De Beauvoir to cold-water swimming in Stoke Newington.
Home and childhood
Van Tulleken lives in De Beauvoir in Hackney, which he describes as "French for Dalston." He has lived there for just over 10 years, in the house his wife grew up in with her mum, who now lives in the garage. The couple have three children, aged nine, six and two.
He grew up in Hammersmith, on Brook Green, where his parents still live. He notes that cycling in west London makes him feel "like the enemy," whereas in east London it is "a joy and a pleasure."
Favourite food and shops
His go-to restaurant is Sweet Thursday in De Beauvoir, a family-run spot that he says makes "the best pizza in London — maybe even the world." He praises its healthy, locally sourced ingredients.
He spends more than he can afford at Turner and George, a butcher on St John Street, though the family eats little meat. He also recommends St Vincent's charity shop on Kingsland Road and The Flower Appreciation Society for gifts and homeware.
Dates and leisure
For a first date, he suggests the Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL, followed by cold-water swimming at the reservoir in Stoke Newington and finishing at the Scolt Head pub.
His first job in London was at Harrods in the golf clothing department during the reign of Mohamed Al-Fayed, which he calls "comically horrible" — staff were paid virtually nothing and had to pay to use the toilet.
Work and heroes
Van Tulleken is finishing a children's book about food with Penguin and about to start a big series on food for the BBC. He is also publishing a scientific paper with the World Health Organisation about UK definitions of unhealthy food.
He works one day a week in the NHS at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and calls his colleagues his professional heroes, noting that some work "essentially eight days a week."
