I read 'Fitzrovia News' as 'Tower' for over thirty years,…read morebefore I was encouraged to contribute as a writer, & distributor. It is bang up to date, informative,witty, occasionally controversial... but always inclusive to locals who wish to be part of the bigger picture. Great local paper / Join / write for it too!

I recently discovered Fitzrovia News after a friend gave me a copy. I was amazed to find out it is…read morewritten entirely by volunteers and people who live in Fitzrovia. What I like about the paper is that it doesn't pull its punches yet at the same time caters for a wider variety of tastes. It's one of the few community papers that takes a firm stance on things that matter to people living in central London. The paper has interviews with local celebrities, analysis of local political issues. It's not afraid to have a go at big business. It doesn't moan about them. It attacks them! The letters' page is full of opinions about anything and everything in Fitzrovia. If you live, work in or visit Fitzrovia, it's essential reading.

Yes fantastic free paper as I've won quite a few things out of it and can pick it up in the Kilburn…read moreHigh Road. Over the years have won tickets to a top West-End play called Man & Boy starring one of the Suchet brothers, an England Managers book worth about £15, fabulous comedy show last Christmas at La Scala in King's Cross (can't remember the artist) but even a Daily Mail reader like me found it funny. I did win tickets to a champagne reception, concert and tour of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath at a charity event attended by the then Mayor of Camden, Jonathan Simpson. Apart from the fact that the live Soul music was too mournful for me and the Mayor was rude to Simon and I (I've never voted Labour anyway) it was lovely to be in The Orangery of Kenwood House and have a tour round. I've had a free lunch from The Camden New Journal but it loses one star as it's so left wing.

New Journal Enterprises publish three weekly free newspapers in London; Camden New Journal (The…read moreCNJ) which covers The London Borough of Camden, West End Extra for The City of Westminster and Islington Tribune for The London Borough of Islington. New Journal Enterprises is London's only remaining independent newspaper publisher (all the others are now part of large media organisations) and this is probably down to the fact they they are more interested in running good quality local newspapers rather than making huge profits, for this reason they are well respected not just by residents that read their local papers, but also by the newspaper industry and have won many awards over the years. The Camden New Journal was launched in the 1982 by Paul Foot, Frank Dobson and Eric Gordon and has been going strong ever since. I feel so lucky to live in an area that is covered by such a brilliant local newspaper and it's free! Here are links to the three New Journal Enterprises local newspapers: Camden New Journal (http://www.camdennewjournal.com) (Camden Council) West End Extra (http://www.westendextra.com) (Westminster City Council) Islington Tribune (http://www.islingtontribune.com) (Islington Council)

All your ex-pat needs in one totally random place!…read more Hot News has shelves full of Australian, New Zealand and US foods and drinks to satisfy your homesick cravings. And I'm not just talking Vegemite. This place has all the obscure cereals, chocolates, beers, spirits and snacks you've been missing, and if it's not on the shelf, you can ask the friendly owner to order it in for you. It is pricey, but no way near as much as the old Australian Shop in Covent Garden. We spent £50 and got: Nutri Grain, 2x Kraft peanut butter, Cherry Ripe, Summer Roll, 3x Twisties, Cheezels, Violet Crumble, Chicken Crimpys, and a 6 pack of VB. If you aren't Australian, that may sound like nonsense, but believe me when I say, finding this place has made me a far happier Aussie in London :)

This is such a tucked away spot, in the basement of a sort of mini-mall, but perfect if you're…read moreheading to the Cineworld opposite and want something a lil more interesting to eat. They have super basic sandwiches and cheap drinks if you're on a budget, but also imported snacks from the US and Australia. These are a little more costly but worth it for the experimental value. Reese's cereal with Hershey's chocolate milk? (Way better than you'd expect!) Even if you just want to browse, you'll find lots of intriguing items to look at. And best of all, the staff are really friendly: not your typical newsagents - and I speak from experience ;)

I read The Guardian everyday and have done ever since I was about 15. I love it and every other…read morepaper I've read since has been faintly disappointing. The paper has a left-wing slant, there's no use in denying it but that's fine because I have a left-wing slant too. It offers really great international coverage of politics as well as a long line of super investigative pieces like a recent one over about a month on corporate tax evasion. It's in a handy Berliner format similar to the SF Chronicle a bit of a cross between broadsheet and tabloid. It's also full colour and there's a daily Eyewitness photo that takes up the middle page spread that makes awesome wrapping paper or posters. As well as all this there's the brilliant Opinion section with my favourite columnist Poly Toynbee and a host of others including guest sections from people like David Cameron and Gordon Brown. On a Saturday the paper comes with the indespensible Guide full of nationwide listings for both events, TV and radio. There's also the daily G2 segment, half the size of the daily paper, with pieces on ethical living, women and a daily arts section (a real treat in an increasingly boring world) as well as TV and radio listings, a crossword and a comic. If you're in the UK and you've never done so before I urge you to go out and buy The Guardian as you'll never go back. If you're in the US seek out a copy of the Guardian Weekly (I got mine at Green Apple Books or the Booksmith on Haight).

The Guardian is part of this media group. The Guardian is a British daily newspaper. It was founded…read morein Manchester in 1821 as The Manchester Guardian. The name was changed to The Guardian in 1959 when they then moved to their headquarters in London. Whether you agree or disagree with the views of the press is up to you. I love historic media of any kind. This newspaper was geared towards the working class. I've definitely grown up in a working class environment and appreciate the struggle that this daily newspaper brings to the forefront. There's no doubt it's the most popular newspaper in the UK with millions of readers. Your time is valuable so what you spend your time reading is important. A favorite tag line is "The More You Know ". I find it educational to read different points of view in other countries. Four Stars for The Guardian.

Nobbies Hobbies is a real Bedford Institution, it's been around since before I was born and if a…read morenuclear weapon hit bedford I imagine this little store would be the only thing to survive. If you're heading towards the cinema then head to nobbies and grab value for money snacks instead of the over-priced tat on sale at the cinema.

Over the many years I lived in Bedford this once little shop has developed over the years into a…read morelarge convenience store which sells all those things you need from a local shop. There was once a Post Office but this closed due to the Royal Mail cuts and changes to local post offices. The shop has now been developed to incorporate a Fish and Chip shop which appears to have a roaring trade at present (probably aided by the fact that a campus for the University of Bedford is over the road) The owner is friendly and welcoming and always aiming to satisfy. If he doesn't have it and you can wait I'm sure he would endeavour to get it for you. From newspapers and sweets to things for the garden - try Nobbies Hobbies and you will more than likely be surprised

This is probably a favourite, was a favourite!…read more Ending the scandal of MyGeneration's immediate call for publishing and publishers to learn from past and present, agents clearly rerouted local authority contracts as a result of inadequate time allocation which takes priority on this particular occasion. We press ahead and change the way our industry is now perceived by currently going a step further to supply further choice.

Well, I picked up a copy of Leisure Kicks magazine in Subway fast food at Aldgate in The City on my…read moreway to work. It was free and displayed on one of the shelves. I don't normally bother entering competitions where one just types one's name into a website as I never seem to win. Good job I did with Leisure Kicks magazine! I had a telephone call from Nasar saying I'd won a surf simulator prize in Nottingham. I told him that Nottingham was a long way for me to travel for this prize (I'm game for tickets in London and a little way out) and Nasar was very helpful and flexible and called me back the same day telling me I'd won 'King of Shaves' prizes! Parcelforce delivered it today and I'm delighted. Loads of exotic shaving creams, ointments and razors with refills. I've taken a photo of me with my prize and emailed it to Leisure Kicks with a quote as they requested. Excellent! I assume Portamento is small business but they are very efficient. Leisure Kicks is a sports and leisure magazine. The staff at this branch of Subway are very lovely - I go in to buy a cheap coffee in the morning. I noticed they were 'Halal' today which I don't really approve of but I may just nip into a Subway outlet in future to see if this fantastic magazine is available without purchasing food or drink. Delighted with customer service from Portamento, prize and pleased I've won a website (online) competition at last.

To any commuter, Shortlist, the free paper distributed on Thursdays a welcome distraction from the…read moresame old same old METRO ad filled stuff that we have all become to accustomed to. With interesting features, as well as the shortlists, the magazine normally gets to reside in my briefcase for te week and is read cover to cover over the 7 days .before the next one comes out.

Did you know that you can buy your favourite books or try out a new author or genre, on…read morehttp://www.thamesandhudson.com ? neither did i! Forget Amazon! buy direct! fabulous!

As a fan of Architecture, Phaidon reports and prints some of the most interesting and extraordinary…read moremedia on the subject. Frank Gehry, Santiago Calatrava, and numerous other visionaries are covered in the arena. I sat next to the Director of the Architecture group from the UK at dinner recently and just struck up a conversation purely by chance. Certainly a fan having a serendipitous meeting with someone doing work I highly appreciate.