Indie folk musician Matilda Mann on her favourite London haunts

There’s so much culture in London, especially in Shepherd’s Bush, where I’m from. Everyone is open about their love of music, and there are so many wonderful record stores nearby, like Next Door Records.

I used to walk past Hammersmith Apollo to school, and then in 2021 I opened for Dodie there. It was a magical experience. One of my dream venues to play at is Shepherd’s Bush Empire. It’s not too big or overwhelming.

Wherever you stand or sit, you can see the artist, and it’s got amazing sound. Most of my inspiration comes from live music, and I’ve seen some of my favourite artists perform there, including Olivia Dean and The Staves.

I need busyness around me, but I also like peaceful places such as Bushy Park, and I love working from my producer’s home studio garden in North London. 

What’s your perfect day out in London?

I’d probably start at a café like Burnt in Shepherd’s Bush (it has amazing sandwiches and wild pancakes), or walk along the canal from Angel with a group of friends. We’d end up in a fun pub in Hammersmith overlooking the water, and play some cards (I’m obsessed), before going to a nice restaurant nearby.

I like Eat Tokyo: it has very high quality sushi and won’t break the bank. I’m also a movie fan. I got my boyfriend a membership to the Prince Charles Cinema near Chinatown because it plays loads of old movies that he loves.

What about London do you love most?

You just can’t get bored of it, the places you can go, and the people you can bump into. I used to work at The Anglesea Arms on Wingate Road and served David Tennant a sticky toffee pudding.

Another time, my dad was walking our dog, George. He was saying “Good boy, George,” and he walked past Boy George, who looked at my dad like, what the heck? And my dad was like, ”No, no, not you!”

Matilda Mann’s debut album Roxwell is out now, and she will be touring the UK and Europe this autumn with Tom Odell