TOP 20 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ben asks a special guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area & lifehack.
Find out the BEST things to do and PLACES to go. New ep every fortnight.
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For ALL links including Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube etc CLICK ➡️ https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
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🏆 BEST OF LONDON REACHED NUMBER 19 IN THE PODCAST CHARTS 🏆
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E-mail: ben@lifemac.com
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Produced & Presented by:
BEN AFLECK & BEN HOLLAND
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Ed Sheeran, Pickle Roulette & Echolocation : The BEST Life Hack That's Free and No One's Using with Lesta Woo World Class Architect, Dancer and Artist
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 01:17:10
From designing the world's best structures to music videos and winning international swing competitions with only one shoe! A hilarious strategy for Pickle Roulette, the brutal aftermath of winning a chilli-eating contest, and the brilliant, completely free life hack for experiencing London in a whole new way.
We are joined by the incredible Lesta Woo, a world-class architect, award-winning jazz dancer, and talented artist. She also happens to be visually impaired.
Lesta shares her extraordinary journey.
Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including Apple, Amazon music, Audible, Instagram, Twitter / X / Facebook. Click here for links to all of those : https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
Episode Highlights:
The Power of Echolocation: How Lesta uses the continuous rhythm of jazz music to "see" the dance floor, avoid collisions and more.
Dancing with The Stars: Behind the scenes of a massive three-day music video shoot with one of the world's most successful recording artists
Winning International Dance Competitions: Taking first place at the Upside Down Festival in Ghent—despite her shoe flying off mid-routine.
Pickle Roulette & The Ring of Fire: Lesta’s fearless approach to buying mystery £1 pickles in Chinatown, and the terrifying realities of the Red Dog Saloon spicy wing challenge.
The Ultimate London Life Hack: The best way to uncover the hidden magic, smells, and textures of the city.
EXCLUSIVE BRAND NEW PARODY TRACKS THROUGHOUT THE EPISODE INCLUDING IN THE OUTRO AND AT THE VERY END
People Mentioned in This Episode:
Ed Sheeran: Global music superstar whose Azizam music video featured Lesta shaking her bum.
David Attenborough: Legendary broadcaster, mentioned for featuring the Gardens by the Bay Supertrees on Planet Earth.
Mike Figgis: Oscar-winning director of Leaving Las Vegas, who directed Lesta in the film London Tango.
Romano Viazzani: Musician, producer of London Tango, and former Best of London guest.
Amir Giles: Choreographer
Kate Flatt: Artistic director and the original choreographer for Les Misérables.
Jay Adegbenro: Lesta’s dance partner.
Shivangee Agrawal: Audio describer for the contemporary dance show Plieu.
Chris McCausland: Comedian and Strictly Come Dancing winner.
Rosie Jones: Comedian whom Lesta spotted at the Scope Disability Awards.
Sir Robin Miller: The blind chair of the disability equality charity Scope.
Alice Gregory: Lesta’s dance partner for the disability and nightlife exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands.
Best of London Picks include: The Crystal in Royal Victoria, Pleu The Place London School of Conemporary Dance, Jamboree in King's Cross (where Lesta teaches) and the inspiring Scope Awards at the Kia Oval. Her mum’s kitchen for unmatched wontons, Peppers & Spice in Dalston for incredible Caribbean patties and goat curry. Chinatown supermarkets (for Tiger Paw buns!), and K-Miso in Greenwich Market for Korean product, Clissold Park for chilling under a tree, grabbing a coffee, and saying hello to the deer.
Lesta Woo:
Instagram: Follow Lesta at @dis_swing_thing
Exhibition: See the new disability and nightlife exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands.
Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including Apple, Amazon music, Audible, Instagram, Twitter / X / Facebook. Click here for links to all of those : https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
🫣💎 New bus goes on LAND & WATER! How to find PEACE, CALM and HAPPINESS. How to TUBE SURF with comedian Tom Ward. Plus Shepherds Bush Empire, The Comedy Store, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 18:28
Hidden Gem: How to find PEACE and CALM. Bus that goes on land AND WATER. And how to TUBE SURF with comedian Tom Ward.
Plus Shepherds Bush Empire and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.
Includes parody tracks which can only be found on this episode and nowhere else!
This is a Hidden Gem (🫣💎 ) episode of Best of London including an interesting section from a previous full length episode.
Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
For the full episode this is taken from click below:
You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON. In which the guest tells us their favourite places to go and things to do in London.
My guest this week is Tom Ward, one of the UK’s funniest comedians. He performed a storming set on BBC’s LIVE AT THE APOLLO and he’s been on TV shows like QI and ROAST BATTLE. He hosts a show called Abandoned Engineering where they visit breathtaking places all over the world like Abandoned Olympic Villages, Huge Space Rocket Facilities, Ghost Towns and Jungle Cities. Time Out said he has fine jokes and star presence and Best of London gives him 5 stars and says he is a hilarious comedian, he’s wonderful, warm, funny, loveable and relatable.
For Tom's Linktree click here:
Accidental Movie Star's FREE Private Bar, Karaoke & Playroom / BEST Hidden Italian / CHEAP Theatre Tricks / GREAT small comedy venue / How to do a PhD and GET PAID! Dr Megan Devonald & Ben Holland BOL
Monday, June 1, 2026 • Duration 01:22:01
How to move abroad, get robbed, and end up in a big movie wearing oversized men's shoes?
Discover how to hire a secret private room with a massive karaoke screen for FREE in an iconic music venue, the Michelin-starred dessert you have to try, and the insider hack to scoring front-row London theatre tickets for just £10.
* The Blockbuster: How volunteering at a women's health NGO led to Megan getting her purse stolen on night one, before accidentally getting cast as a journalist in a big budget film.
* PhD Shortcut: How she managed to earn a doctorate while keeping her full-time job, and why her approach meant she could afford to do it.
* Risky Business: Why taking a massive risk to work abroad might just allow you to get your dream job
* The culture shock: Of moving from a tiny village to the big city.
* The Free Birthday Hack: How to score a secret, private playroom with a massive karaoke screen and your own personal bar for absolutely nothing in one of London's most iconic music venues.
Megan’s Best of London Secrets:
* The Venue: The legendary Camden spot where you can catch up-and-coming stars up close, and the Nunhead vermouth bar that will instantly transport you to Madrid.
* The Food: The secret Italian restaurant disguised as a tiny deli, and the Michelin-starred vegan dessert in Shoreditch that will blow your mind.
🫣💎 GRACE JONES, BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANTS, Best Cabaret Venues, OSCAR-Nominated Mike Figgis, A Life-Changing LONDON TANGO and world class accordion playing. Hidden Gem Romano Viazzani & Ben Holland
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 • Duration 15:21
Hidden Gem: Where the best Italian restaurants and cabaret clubs are in London. Includes parody tracks which can only be found on this episode and nowhere else!
This is a Hidden Gem (🫣💎 ) episode of Best of London including an interesting section from a previous full length episode.
Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON. In which the guest tells us their favourite places to go and things to do in London.
In this episode we hear from Romano Viazzani, a world-class musician with deep London roots and a story unlike any other who's recorded with Oscar winning directors and worked with huge music legends like Grace Jones. He's also one of the world’s finest accordionists.
He grew up in the heart of Soho, one of the rare few raised within its tight-knit Italian community. As a child, he recorded a song at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles made history, and his track went on to be heard by millions around the world.
He's toured the world with bands and written breathtakingly beautiful albums and soundtracks including one which was part of a film by a director who's films have won Oscars and as you'll find out it was a film that I was in.
He's performed alongside musical greats like Grace Jones, Sir Bryn Terfel, and members of Roxy Music. He also won the BBC Album of the Year award as part of a renowned jazz septet.
You can visit his website here:
Award Winning Actor's SECRET Members Bar Hack, BEST Walk, BEST Dessert and on PEEP SHOW, FLEABAG, ILL BEHAVIOUR and how you can get tickets to her NEW show 16 Postcodes! Best of London - Jessica Regan
Thursday, February 12, 2026 • Duration 01:13:05
Award winning actor, writer and star of stage and screen Jessica Regan. You'll hear:
The Fleabag Beginnings: Jessica Regan was in the room when Phoebe Waller-Bridge performed a very early version of Fleabag . She reveals the original opening line that grabbed her attention and made her laugh.
The Peep Show Confession: How Jessica got to be in the cult show and another big TV show by the same writers.
The 18-Month Secret: Auditioning for a role in a made-up language, getting the job, and not being told what the project is for 2 years!
Franchise surprise: Jessica explains how she accidentally ended up in one of the biggest franchises in history.
Ben’s Techno No-No: Why did Ben end up in a concrete basement listening to two big dogs fighting in a metal bin.
Jessica’s Best of London Secrets:
The Venue: A hidden gem that feels like a David Lynch movie set, that you’ve probably walked right past.
The Food: The dessert in Pimlico that is so good, the staff will stop working just to watch you eat it.
The Shopping: Forget Oxford Street. Jessica reveals the specific road in West London where the charity shops are better than designer boutiques.
The Walk: The "Golden Hour" route that beats the South Bank every time (and has better pubs).
The Hack: Why you may avoid Members' Club and the secret free alternatives that are better.
Jessica Regan's amazing new show16 Postcodesis running at the King’s Head Theatre in Islington from . It's had 5 star reviews so get your tickets NOW. There are some £10 tickets for every performance so hurry and click this link:
🫣💎 DAVID LYNCH - Do this one thing every day for a happy life + A London event with board games that YOU can take part in + The Artists Way by Julia Cameron. HIDDEN GEM episode Best of London
Thursday, May 8, 2025 • Duration 08:21
David Lynch and Julia Cameron both have a lifehack which can give you a happy and fulfilled life if you do them every day.
This is a Hidden Gem (🫣💎 ) episode with Etan Ilfeld
Our guest is an incredibly intelligent, interesting and insightful individual who’s the owner of Watkins Media and Watkins Books and founded The Mind Sports Olympiad and Mind Body Spirit Magazine.
He invented diving chess which involves playing chess at the bottom of a swimming pool and there are annual tournaments with competitors from all over the world. His media company has released many popular, well reviewed, bestselling and award winning books.
He has recently launched the Ilfeld Prize and he hosts a podcast which has guests such as the acclaimed film director David Lynch and he’s written his own books and he even recently created The Synchronicity Oracle. This is Best of London according to Etan Ilfeld
NEW MOOD ENHANCING NonAlc Drinks, HOW TO Make Friends When Out, BEST Places for Tea, BEST place to Swim, BEST Alcohol Free Venues , Awarded MBE from Queen Best of London with Laura Willoughby MBE
Saturday, April 19, 2025 • Duration 01:01:43
NEW Mood Enhancing NonAlc Drinks, HOW TO Make Friends When Out, BEST Places for Tea, BEST place to Swim, BEST Alcohol Free Venues In London, Awarded an MBE from The Queen, Best of London with Laura Willoughby MBE and Ben Holland
How Laura made being alcohol free feel normal in London’s pubs and bars
The TWO revolution‑fuelers behind London’s mindful drinking surge
Club Soda’s “Nudging Pubs” research that kick‑started a movement
The story of London’s alcohol‑free Drinks Festival
Club Soda’s Covent Garden “tasting room” your gateway to hundreds of non‑alcoholic drinks
Unforgettable Club Soda events including alcohol-free cocktail masterclasses & private tastings
The UCL‑backed behavior‑change program that helps you be in control of your drinking
The NEW mood‑enhancing drinks: lion’s mane mushrooms, ashwagandha, valerian & herbal power blends
Being awarded an MBE
Cheap London ticket secrets revealed
London’s hidden aquatic gems: from brutalist bathing to swimming in Royal Victoria Docks
A food obsession: ricotta pancakes at Granger & Co, King’s Cross—fluffy, banana‑topped heaven
The buzzy Drury Lane Vietnamese haunt (ring the bell for service!)
🫣💎 FREE Music, Meditation, Mini-Museums, Concerts and Peaceful Havens! Including a 900 year old one! BEST OF LONDON Hidden Gem episode with Living London History presented by Ben Holland
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 • Duration 10:49
FREE Music, Meditation, Mini-Museums, Concerts and Peaceful Havens! Including a 900 year old one! BEST OF LONDON Hidden Gem episode with Living London History presented by Ben Holland
My guest's a bestselling author, millions watch his videos he was recommended by our former guest when she was on Best of London. He published his first book called London: A Guide for Curious Wanderers, which was a Sunday Times Bestseller and his name is JACK CHESHER.
Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, click here: https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here:
WHERE to Watch Films for LESS THAN £1 . CINEMA TOURS Loved by Mark Kermode. Amazing SRI LANKAN restaurant that helps homeless. BEST OF LONDON with NIGEL SMITH & BEN HOLLAND Produced by Ben Afleck
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 • Duration 01:14:25
WHERE to Watch Films for LESS THAN £1 . CINEMA TOURS Loved by Mark Kermode. Amazing SRI LANKAN restaurant that also helps the homeless. Website with the inside scoop on London's Cinemas. BEST OF LONDON with NIGEL SMITH & BEN HOLLAND produced by Ben Afleck
My guest worked for the BBC and is a true lover of London, film and history who has tours which celebrate all of these and YOU can book on them. His tours have been recommended by countless people on review sites and by musician, author and world’s best film critic Mark Kermode.
He’s recommended by me as I’ve been on his tour of Camden’s Lost Cinemas.
He runs a London film club where you can join and watch some amazing films for less than a pound each.
He’s helping to keep London film making and cinemas alive with his Memory Palaces website which is a beautiful and informative guide to London’s cinemas past and present.
🫣💎 BEST THEATRE Shows. Best Places To Go For a GREAT ATMOSPHERE & The Importance of Tracing Your Family Tree with Actor and Singer and Katherine Ryan mother Julie McCarthy Best of London Ben Holland
Sunday, March 2, 2025 • Duration 10:15
This is a hidden gem (🫣💎) episode. To listen to the full episode click here:
My guest has acted in stage plays, musicals and feature films. She wrote and released an album which is beautifully sung and has raw, honest, dark and funny lyrics. She has a podcast about her life. She’s an IT guru, a trained lifeguard, and she wrote and performed a chapter in world famous comedian Katherine Ryan’s bestselling audiobook, The Audacity, and she’s voiced a number of other audiobooks. She features in the excellent recently released UK TV series Katherine Ryan Parental Guidance. This... is Best of London… According To… Julie McCarthy
You can follow her on instagram @jewelssays
Her podcast is also called Jewels Says
She has a darkly comic album available on Spotify called I'll Be Drunk For Christmas by Jewels Sings
You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts.
The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck
Please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE we've got some great episodes coming up.
Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
Email us: ben@lifemac.com
Best of London is hosted and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck.
You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts.
Once a series we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com
BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of recolodesign.com. If you or your company would like to work with him email: bob@recolodesign.com - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend.
For the full episode this is taken from click below:
* The Shopping: Forget the high street. Megan reveals the Peckham charity shop that comes with its own DJ.
* Comedians in Bookshops: The tiny Bermondsey bookshop where you can catch big-name comedians like Nish Kumar and John Kearns performing up close — plus book clubs, life drawing, and craft beers.
* The Area: The iconic golden Thames route from Tower Bridge to Waterloo that makes you realise how lucky you are to live in London.
* The Hack: How to completely game the system and score £10 Friday rush and lottery tickets to National Theatre and Young Vic.
Global health researcher Dr Megan Devonald joins Ben to share one of the wildest travel stories we've ever heard and some amazing tips.
Plus Ben chats about surviving the hottest London May on record, mingling with Rose Ayling-Ellis, and Rosie Jones at the Scope Disability Awards.
Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go.
Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland
Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck.
BEST OF LONDON logo by the brilliant bob@recolodesign.com for all your logo, artwork and design needs.
Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including Apple, Amazon music, Audible, Instagram, Twitter / X / Facebook. Click here for links to all of those : https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
https://romanoviazzani.com/
You can buy his London Tango CD with detailed liner notes here:
Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
Email us: ben@lifemac.com
The show is hosted and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck.
You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts.
After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com
BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of recolodesign.com. If you or your company would like to work with him email: bob@recolodesign.com - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend.
Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go.
Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland
Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck.
BEST OF LONDON logo by the brilliant bob@recolodesign.com for all your logo, artwork and design needs.
Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including Apple, Amazon music, Audible, Instagram, Twitter / X / Facebook. Click here for links to all of those : https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
The show is hosted by Ben Holland and produced by Ben Afleck.
You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts.
After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com
Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F
Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go.
Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland
Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck.
BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by my good friend Bobby Magill of recolodesign.com. E-mail bob@recolodesign.com for all your logo, artwork and design needs.
Chapters and transcript are created by Spotify and may contain inaccuracies these take 24 hours to show up. If you're listening to it in the first 24 hours thank you and why not guess what the chapters will be called.
Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including Apple podcasts, Amazon music, Audible, Instagram, Twitter / X and Facebook, please click here for links to all of those : https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go.
Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland
Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck.
BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by my good friend Bobby Magill of recolodesign.com. E-mail bob@recolodesign.com for all your logo, artwork and design needs.
Chapters and transcript are created by Spotify and may contain inaccuracies these also take 24 hours show up. If you're listening to it in the first 24 hours thank you and why not guess what the chapters will be!
Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here : https://linktr.ee/bestolondon
After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject.
Ben's instagram / tiktok / x / youtube / bluesky is @benpodz
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