Health junkies in Kensington swoop into this café and store which sells nurturing food and drink as well as a range of organic and ethical products. If you're on the run in Kensington and need something to give you a lift, you could do worse than opt for a quenching fresh juice – like the alkalising celery, apple and lemon juice, or the Potassium Punch - celery, carrot, lettuce, parsley and cucumber.
240 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6NE Landmark attractions: Kensington Roof Gardens; Holland Park; Royal Albert Hall.
Beatroot is a vegetarian café that has been serving up fast food for the healthy minded since 1997. Staples include the bean hotpot, veggie shepherd's pie, quinoa taboulleh and wholesome cakes. The staff will happily cram as much good nosh into your small, medium or large container as possible. Try the crunchy red cabbage coleslaw festooned with dill, basil, carrot, roasted beetroot, pumpkin and seasame seeds and drizzled with cider vinegar – lipsmackingly delicious. If you're up and out early, grab a breakfast smoothie for a protein-packed punch that will keep your blood sugar levels on an even keel: it contains bananas, oats, sweet dates, and strawberries.
For optimum control over your grab-and-go lunch, head into Food Secret where your chosen gourmet salad ingredients are entered onto a computer and given a unique inventory of their own – listing the individual price, ingredients, and nutritional content of your chosen feast. There are zillions of ingredients to choose from here including baby spinach, pearl barley, marinated tofu, salmon, chicken, seared tuna, feta, lentils and legumes, red onion, broad beans, peas…along with fresh and enticing soups and sandwiches.
59 Broadwick St,LondonW1F Landmark attractions: Golden Square, Oxford Circus.
A few minutes walk from Old Street and Barbican tube, the Whitecross Street Market is one of the oldest in London, dating back to the 17th century. It offers delicious bites to grab on the run - for something unusual, try the Three Bean Veggie version of the British classic, the Scotch egg, or venture to the Hoxton Beach stand for an authentic, vegan Lebanese falafel wrap including ingredients like organic Baba Ghanouj (aubergine dip), organic Turshi (Lebanese pickles) or roasted seasonal vegetables with hummus.
Whitecross street, Islington Landmark attractions: The Barbican, Smithfield Market; Penhaligons (famous scent emporium).
Portobello Road has housed its famous market since the 1800s and this stretch is like a Little Portugal and Mini Morocco rolled into one. The pavements are dotted with makeshift stalls selling bric-a-brac, and a large selection of food stalls selling anything from falafel and kebabs to tagines and fresh grilled seafood – try the Morrocan Fish stall's seabass, perfectly cooked with soft flakey flesh and crisp, smoky skin with a side of salad and a warm tomato and onion sauce. The mini fish tagines looked equally appealing. A steal at just £6.
Portobello Road, 72 Tavistock Road, London, W11 1AN Landmark attractions: Notting Hill, The Trellick Tower; The Electric Cinema
Beneath the railway viaducts between the Thames and Borough High Street in southeast London, Borough Market is a haven for quality food and exciting produce. If you want something hale and hearty for lunch, try The Veggie Table – they offer veggie and vegan burgers (either in a bun or wrapped in a cabbage leaf, or made from sweet potato for the gluten-free). The organic superveg burger is made with quinoa, nuts, sultanas and vegetables, or try the Heavenly Haloumi burger with caramelised onions for something different.
Borough street or Southwark street Landmark attractions: Southwark Cathedral, Tate Modern, The Globe Theatre.
Sometimes only a piece of cake will do but where to go for something vaguely health-conscious or if you can't tolerate dairy or wheat? Step forward London’s first vegan teashop, offering dairy and gluten-free cakes and pastries in a quaint, cosy environment with a shabby-chic feel. Everything is available to take away and cakes can be made to order. Prices range from £1 - £3.50 for various cakes and savouries, while afternoon tea costs £9 per person. If you're up early enough, there's also muesli and granola with intriguing sounding blueberry milk.
38 Old Street, EC1V 9AE Landmark attractions: Almeida and Courtyard Theatres, the Emirates Stadium, Islington Arts Factory, the London Canal Museum
