There’s a particular kind of London magic: you turn off a busy street, slip through an unassuming gate, and suddenly the city goes quiet. Not silent, exactly, more like the volume drops and the soundtrack changes, from buses and phone alerts to birdsong and wind in reeds.

Kassondra’s book, An Opinionated Guide to Wild London, is a love letter to the capital’s secret pockets of nature, places that make you feel a long way from Zone 1 without ever leaving it. We chat about two brilliant “starter” spots in central London, the surprising power of brownfield rewilding, and why getting onto the water, whether by kayak or paddleboard, can completely rewire how you see the city. It’s a conversation full of practical ideas, proper London wonder, and a gentle nudge to open your map, find a green splotch you’ve never visited, and go explore.