The fast track
Each month, an international high-flyer reveals their jet-set inside knowledge
“Home town” for me is odd, because it’s London, but also Worcester. I was brought up in London until I was 11, then moved to Worcester, then came back to London at the age of 18. So more of a Londoner than anything but my formative years were in Worcester.
I love Los Angeles now but I didn’t always. When I first went I didn’t really get it. Brits always say this about LA — you’re always in a car, it’s sprawling, it’s too big, and the culture clash is bigger than you think. I wouldn’t live there, but I now really look forward to going. I’ve been on a couple of choppers this year; it’s a dangerously addictive way to travel. I choppered into Glastonbury Festival, but it’s almost ruined the experience. Rose [Leslie] and I said it would be a one-off thing, we can’t get choppered into festivals, but then you do it and it’s so easy, but I’m not going to get into the habit. I carry a relatively pared-back washbag. I always pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, a beard trimmer
(to make sure shit doesn’t get too out of control), a scent, strong deodorant, moisturiser — I have tons of Dolce & Gabbana stuff. George Best Belfast City Airport is one of the worst places to land because it’s got a crosswind and a really short runway. I fly in there a lot for Game of Thrones, and you know it’s bad when you’re only a few hundred metres from the runway, and you can see it out of your window. You realise you’re coming in sideways. I’ve had a few rejected landings, there was one particular time when I texted my closest and dearest from the plane, and none of them texted back. I called them when I landed, “I am safe, thank you very much!”
Rose is my ultimate travelling companion. I have to say that or I’d get in trouble. Other than her, can I say David Beckham? I have the hope that he’ll contact me and we’ll go on a trip together. It could happen. Budleigh Salterton is genuinely my favourite beach in the world. It’s a childhood thing.
If I could have three houses in three places, it would be London, somewhere in Suffolk and I’d love a place in Europe, or maybe New Zealand. If the world ends, that’s where you want to be.
The Grill Market
[Gril lmark a ðurinn] in Reykjavík is an amazing restaurant. They do the most immoral platter of burgers, which I haven’t had — I could never bring myself to eat puffin, whale and reindeer. I was there once and Björk was at another table.
You can take a London pub and lift it exactly as it is, with the bar staff and everything, and put it in New York or somewhere else, and it’s not a pub any more. It has to be in London.