Meandering through the heart of London, I stumbled across a peaceful corner of Hackney. As if by an invisible force, I was captivated and driven to explore – who knows what curious discoveries lie ahead?

Parting upmarket cafes and water ponds, I meandered my way along leaf-covered paths, past regenerated townhouses steeped in history yet brimming with modern invention.

Nearby alleyways reflect the half-timbered houses, which echo an eclectic mélange of an ancient East End. Each step fuels my curiosity to learn more about this emerald borough as a swirl of fragrant nutmeg engulfs me in the crisp winter air.

Eventually, approaching the atmospheric churchyard – much famed in novels and scripts – I feel at one with Dickens and all his characters that have been embedded into London’s cultural fabric, inviting others to share this festive period even during our most austere times.