It’s true what they say: London is a city of neighbourhoods. From the leafy parks of Richmond, to the pulsating party warehouses of Tottenham, each postcode offers something unique. You can spend years peeling back its layers – bopping between dots on the underground map – and there will still be things left to see. That’s what makes London so great.

Yes, there are the classic sites: mobbed and mysterious Buckingham Palace; quietly baroque St. Paul’s; fun-fair icon The London Eye. Then there are the museums – some of the world’s best, from cathedrals of contemporary art like the Tate Modern to priceless spoils of history displayed at the British Museum.

But don’t spend too long in the centre, because the city has many hearts, and you won’t want to miss them. Bar hop in nocturnal, party-hardy Dalston; sniff out street-market bargains and A-list faces in Notting Hill; find shade and cool pond waters at Hampstead Heath. The city’s restaurants keep getting better and better – Peckham and Hackney’s blend of migrant-community mainstays and hotly-tipped, cheffy spots make them world-beating food neighbourhoods.

London is a world unto itself; even if you only scratch the surface, she’ll reward you with one of the world’s most captivating city breaks.