Forget the tourist books, Londoners are the best guides to this great city

Friends visiting from Boston, Massachusetts, meant I had the rare privilege of seeing London from the perspective of a tourist this week.

We queued for almost an hour for the London Eye , in scorching heat with intermittent internet access, while bottled water supplies dried up around us. Next we waded through crowds on the South Bank and Charing Cross, only to arrive to find “free Tommy Robinson” protesters at Trafalgar Square raging amid pigeon droppings, empty beer cans and a defunct fountain. I politely declined the kind offer of watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace the following day. An underwhelming experience it is later confirmed, as we relaxed in the bone-dry grass at St James’s Park.

The trail had been devised after much transatlantic deliberation. The questions came thick and fast. What to pack into a brief three days in London? How close is Camden Market to the Tower of London? And where must one enjoy English breakfast and a cream tea? If old- school tourist books and guides weren’t enough, social media added another layer of complexity. The teen in our midst had a list of unremarkable, Instagrammable spots from overseas travel bloggers that she wanted to fit into every available minute too.

Tourists enjoy a slower pace of life and the thirst to uncover a new culture. With that winning combination in place, I would go on a stroll down the South Bank instead, via Coin Street, HMS Belfast and Hay’s Galleria all the way to Tate Modern. Then scramble around London’s incredible food markets — even wake up early to do Billingsgate Fish Market.

Make sure Brick Lane and Columbia Road flower market are covered at a leisurely pace, and just wander the streets admiring our architectural gems and every blue plaque. London has so much more to offer when seen through the eyes of Londoners.

Spice up your life to stay cool in the heat

Are you surviving the hot summer on ice-cold beverages and delicately flavoured food? As a food writer and Indian cook, I insist you ramp up your spice intake instead.

In my childhood I watched my father chase every bite of food with a nibble of a potent green chilli. Indian food isn’t universally spicy and is adjusted to taste preferences. But eating chillies, and heat in food generally, makes you perspire, and this lowers your body temperature, keeping you cool. Which may explain why some of the spiciest food comes from hot nations: India, Thailand, Mexico, Jamaica, to name a few. Friday-night Indian, anyone?

Any beauty contest that can promote diversity is a winner

For the first time in the contest’s 66-year history, a black woman has been crowned Miss Universe Great Britain. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, from the British overseas territory of Anguilla, broke the mould, calling it a “great achievement.”

Beauty pageants are more Marmite than Marmite itself, and possibly less relevant than they have ever been. Being of Indian origin myself, I love all the glitz and glamour. After all, India has produced a bevy of beauty queens who want to deliver world peace with a sparkling smile.

Irrespective of your view on the event, diversity on any stage should be celebrated. In an ideal world, this wouldn’t even be news. Until then, let’s all agree that diversity is a beautiful thing.

*It’s all going down under for London’s universities as Australia is set to overtake the UK as the leading destination for international students. A pity. I have the fondest memories of life here as one: vibrant, eclectic, warm and welcoming.

International students bring a net economic benefit of £4.6 billion to London alone. But it’s more than just taking and giving. My journalism class from City University just gathered from far-flung corners of the world to celebrate our 20-year reunion. It’s an unparalleled network of friends and contacts from media and business.

For a world-class city like London, surely this is reason enough not to slip down the rankings.