Day 2

Don waders to stalk the mud of Deptford’s starkly beautiful tidal creek (creeksidecentre.org.uk; £12;

pictured left). Tours are run once a month on Sundays and explore a little-seen stretch of wild that is fringed by the ghosts of old tidal mills, beached hulks and birdlife.

Head next to Spitalfields for the bizarre sight of Dennis Severs’

House (dennissevershouse.co.uk; £15). Each room here has been meticulously recreated in the style of a different era by its former owner. It’s a testament to obsession and detail – even the chamber pot is full! And afterwards, it’s not far to walk to the old bombed-out ruins of St Dunstan-in-the-east, the site of London’s best secret garden.

Finish at The Vaults – a maze of tunnels that spills into a little-known theatre (thevaults.london) below Waterloo station. Its Hidden Jazz Club nights shine in an eclectic programme that rarely disappoints.