Patrik Schumacher of Zaha Hadid Architects tells us his favourite thing about London from our 50 of the best series. 

For me London is the only place where I can live or settle because only here do I feel I am in the very centre of things. Only here do I not have the eerie feeling of missing something important, or of history passing me by. Here, top talents from around the world come to live and work, and those who live elsewhere visit regularly. 

Cultural, professional and intellectual institutions, beautifully placed in walking distance from each other, are the key ingredient: the AA, RIBA, NLA for my discipline; RCM, Southbank Centre, Barbican, Tate, Serpentine, V&A for wider cultural needs; UCL, King’s College, LSE for wider intellectual nourishment; and, last but not least, feeling close to political ideas through IEA, ASI and other think tanks. The depth of history that attaches to many of these institutions and their places reinforces the sense of being right where it happened and happens.