We like to think TrustedPlaces provides a great platform to share your favourite restaurants, cafes and shops with fellow lovers of good times, but we’re always interested in delving deeper. The Best Little London Secrets is a Facebook group that tries to do just that, and we gave founder Stephen Trott a grilling on our city of secrets:

Why did you start your Facebook group?

As a way of finding some cool places when I first moved to London.

Were you surprised at the response?

Yes and no. It obviously has a universal appeal and when you think about it, it makes sense, but I never had any other intentions than to get a few people to tell me about their favourite little bars and restaurants.

What sort of things do people discuss on the board?

Everything from art and culture, restaurants and pubs to clubs, shops, fast food, sports clubs and parks and some really random stuff too.

Do you think a city as crowded as London can still have secrets?

Oh yeah, for sure. Unfortunately the globalisation of the high street has homogenised a lot of London’s character, but it also means that some of these secrets are left to the locals because your average visitor will stick to the global brands and tourist traps.

What’s the best secret that’s been posted in the group so far?

The Algerian Coffee Store on Old Compton Street has been mentioned a few times - it is without a doubt the best coffee in London. It’s like a treasure trove of coffee, tea and chocolate delights and it does delicious coffee to go for less than a quid. It’s just such a refreshing break from the coffee flavoured milk they sell for £3 everywhere else.

What do you think is London’s best kept secret?

Someone mentioned the other day about how quiet London is in the early morning, which is very true. You have to get out at about 5.30 - 6.00 am - after the last of the stilettos has been kicked out of Chinawhite and before the commuters start arriving. You really can see no one for 5 / 10 minutes walking around the parts of London that are normally shoulder to shoulder. You see things you would not normally notice; details in architecture and colours that normally appear as a blur of grey.

How do you handle a little London secret? Do you enjoy harbouring that knowledge, sharing it with a select few or sharing it with the world?

I forget the exact quote but Paul Arden, a former Executive Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi who has now sadly passed away, wrote in one his books that the more you share ideas, the more ideas will come to you, which is very true. It’s not the primary human response, to share, but it works. It’s karma - the more you give, the more you receive

What do you love most about London?

Its diversity.

What would be your perfect day out in London (avoiding all the obvious places, of course)?

Thats a tough one - last Bank Holiday Monday I had a fantastic day with friends in an amazing garden out the back of Henry J Beans on the Kings Road. It’s an average American bar/diner but the garden is incredible: a plethora of mature plants and plenty of space. It feels very special, you just would never know it was there unless you stumbled upon it. Or of course are given the secret…

Will you be giving up some of your best secrets in some TrustedPlaces reviews?

I’ll try.

What are your future plans for the group?

I think a proper website would be a good idea - so everything can be arranged by location and easier to navigate. I might try and get it sponsored.

Can you recommend any other London themed FB groups / community websites / blogs?

There is a comedian called Daniel Kitson that you really should see, he has a FB group named Daniel Kitson Fans.

So there you have it. We look forward to Stephen’s secrets appearing on TrustedPlaces, but in the meantime what’s your Best Little London Secret? Big or small we’re dying to find out…

Photo credit: Mask Of Silence by rosefirerising (CC License)