Gemma Arterton’s guide to London: secret gardens, fabulous stationery shops and Singer Sargent

East Sussex, in the countryside with my husband Rory, our son and our dog. I’ve lived here for almost three years and before that I was in Battersea which was my stomping grounds for 15 years. It’s crazy how it’s changed. I went back to Battersea Power Station and thought, “What the hell?” I couldn’t find my way around. I used to go to Battersea Park all the time.

It varies. The good thing about not living in London now is that you can be on holiday in London. I usually stay at the Ham Yard Hotel or Kettners. The real luxury is Claridges – but that’s for special occasions.

My first flat was in West Kensington. It was a basement apartment, basically a basement – ​​it smelled of damp – but I didn’t care. I loved it and stayed for about a year, then moved to Brixton where I lived for ages.

When I was a student I had a few. The first was as a barmaid at a pub called The Duke of Sussex, which is in Waterloo by the Old Vic theater – actors from there and the National would come in a lot – and I was a karaoke hostess on Friday and Saturday nights. My go-to karaoke song is Total Eclipse of the Heart and I also like to do Rapture by Blondie because of the rap, which I can’t but I try. Back then I sang a lot of ballads. The landlord was a bit of a gangster and he loved ballads so he said, “Go ahead and do a bit of Celine Dion”, so I did.

I like to be outside and in nature, so I would choose Wimbledon Common, a walk around the forest with a really nice hot coffee or hot chocolate, and end up in one of the cozy pubs nearby. There is one called Hand in Hand, which is very nice.

I love Liberty so much, I love it and always have, and I love Daunt books. There is also a vintage shop in Portobello called Found and Vision which is nicely curated. I go to The Conran Shop and Choosing Keeping in Covent Garden which have the most amazing stationery. It’s lovely.

The best meal I ever had was at Ledbury. That was when my husband proposed to me. Actually not there, but as part of the proposal we went there because one of his best friends was the maître d’ at the time and it was amazing – insane.

There are lots of serious things I would do, but what would be fun is if they closed all the thoroughfares through central London like Regent Street, Oxford Street and Soho and turned it into a bouncy castle or put trampolines in, and people were jumping around. In the summer, of course.

My uncle Dave is a cabbie in London and he has said a lot of nice things to me. He’s a real punk, the punk cabbie. He has a big mohawk and is totally cool. A big shout out to my Uncle Dave.

Yes, about 15 years ago. It was Christmas Eve and I had been out in my little Mini. I hadn’t had anything to drink, but I’m not the best driver, I’m a bit erratic. I was driving down Pall Mall Road and was pulled over. They breathed on me, but I hadn’t had anything to drink. I asked why they pulled me over and they said, “Because you were driving like a drunk.” I said, “It’s just my driving!”

There are plenty, but I think it’s David Bowie. There has been no one as cool and iconic as David Bowie.

Now I have a small child, I just don’t let my hair fall out. I’d say any friend’s house since that’s how we let our hair down these days.

That would be my best friend Syrus Lowe. He knows London and the scene – you always have fun when you’re with him.

It’s pretty boring: It’s my house – we’re renovating right now, and it’s the biggest extravagance of my life.

Chelsea Physic Garden. I love it especially because it’s hidden away, it really is a secret garden and when I’m in London with some time to kill it’s where I go.

I’m in a show called Culprits which is coming to ITV. I play a baddie, it’s very against type. There was a great cast and I got to be a leading lady and wear all these outlandish costumes and it was just amazing… Because in roles I’m usually really sassy or super depressed, it was nice to be the one in control … and rob a bank.

I’m a huge fan of (director) Andrea Arnold, whose from my neck of the woods in Kent. I just love her movies and what she does. I also love David Lynch. Acting wise, I love Kate Winslet, she’s just so amazing.

I’m not much of a collector, but I do collect rocks and minerals. I probably have about 15 that are noteworthy scattered around the house. People who know me know that buying me a present is something to get me. They are from places that matter. I have brought them back from Brazil, New Zealand. One I’m looking at now is from the Dorset coast.

I always listen to Jesse Ware’s podcast, Table Manners. She’s a friend and we met because of that podcast. It’s really comforting and she puts on great guests and is really good at making them relax.

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargent. It’s a stunning, exquisite painting of two little girls at Tate Britain. When I have time, I paint portraits and Sargent is a great reference for me. I don’t commission yet, I’m still honing my skills!

It’s really sad. I have the weekend to myself with my son, my husband is away so I googled the best indoor water parks in Sussex. But I found one with a pirate ship.

It must be Sarah Chapman on Pavilion Road, near Sloane Square. She does the most amazing facials ever.

City maps. Even when I lived in London I couldn’t get my head around the tube map.

Culprits streams on ITVx from 19 December