The ice queen

So imagine my feelings as I stood in an ultra-cool West End bar, sipping a divine vodka cocktail and chatting to beautiful people - while shivering, hunched in a space-age fur-lined, silver hooded cape and oversized gloves, which concealed my newly-manicured nails. At that moment, I felt more Hobbit than hottie.

I was in the new Absolut Ice Bar, hidden away off Regent Street, where with its constant temperature of -5C, everything but the floor and ceiling is made of pure ice - including the glasses. Socialites and social climbers alike are united in their bemusement at how ridiculous they look, and "Ooh, isn't it cold" proved to be quite a good topic for conversation, as did cures for frostbite.

The Ice Bar is truly a venue with a difference - and I was mid-way through a London trip with a distinct difference. Gone were my thoughts of West End shopping and trawling the tourist attractions. I was having my eyes opened to A Whole New World (as Jordan and Peter Andre sang at the switch-on of the Oxford Street lights - another port of call on my tour) which included exploring the city's East End and firmly getting into the Christmas spirit.

My two-day trip started with a change to my usual routine of leaving King's Cross and heading for Bond Street. This time I headed for Brick Lane. Once there, I found a thriving district, full of fashionistas, fabulous restaurants, and funky buildings. "What's that?" I asked our guide, pointing to a bland industrial-looking monstrosity.

"That's where they filmed the Hell's Kitchen series," she said. Wow. Who'd have thought it? And almost every building we passed had similar hidden secrets - art galleries within people's houses, restaurants with murals portraying Princess Diana as an Asian. You never know what's behind closed doors.

Markets were also unknown to me. The idea had never really appealed, with air-conditioned extortionately-priced boutiques a more attractive option. But one peek and I was sold.

First was Spitalfields. Hundreds of stalls, spilling over with reasonably-priced vintage clothes, bags and jewellery - of which I have more than enough - but couldn't help myself. "Keep up!" called the tour guide, as I found myself drawn to some bright green leather gloves like a moth to a flame.

And then further across London, the selection of food on offer in Borough Market, in the shadow of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, was incredible. The trick is certainly to get there early, as shoppers descended like ants as midday approached. Stalls - at which Jamie Oliver is apparently a regular customer - overflowed with fresh produce, and the divine smells of baking bread mingling with sizzling meat seriously tickled the tastebuds. I decided that sampling everything was an absolute necessity, and ate what probably equated to a three-course dinner, with extra portions.

And although not a market, Oxo and St Paul's Wharfs - hidden in the shadow of the London Eye - have some real hidden gems. Crammed with interiors, clothes and jewellery boutiques, it really seemed like a shopping oasis. Prices are reasonable, staff are friendly, and most appealingly, even on Saturdays, it is not manically busy.

As I'd discovered the perfect place for my Christmas presents and food, I now needed to get into the festive spirit. Ice skating amidst the beautiful surroundings of the Natural History Museum seemed a lovely thought - but a pretty tough task for someone who has never done it before. "It'll be easy," I thought, and, admittedly, my skates were infinitely more comfortable than the heels I had packed for my trip.

But as I took one step onto the slippery surface, my hands grabbed onto the surrounding rail for dear life. And they remained clasped tight for the next hour as I took pixie steps around the rink, marvelling at the skills of the toddlers who were whizzing past.

After a long day braving the winter weather, the Hoxton Urban Lodge, not far from King's Cross, proved a welcome retreat. It is a curious mix of modern art and roaring log fires, and corridors that are illuminated like a catwalk. The rooms are comfortable, but the multitude of mirrors could prove quite difficult to negotiate after one too many cocktails in the hotel's trendy Hoxton Grille and bar. Although initially the hotel seemed quite remote - well away from my familiar West End territory - there were several friendly bars nearby.

Although exploring the less familiar side of London was an exciting new prospect, a welcome return to tradition was in store. A tour along the Thames is always a safe bet for any tourist's itinerary - but when it is in the comfort of the luxurious Silver Sturgeon cruiser, and accompanied by haute cuisine and champagne, it becomes even more attractive. Plus, it was somewhere that my sunglasses and stilettos didn't look completely and utterly out of place. I happily whiled away almost three hours sipping Laurent Perrier while floating past Canary Wharf, the Millennium Dome and St Paul's Cathedral.

And, as a fabulous end to my fleeting visit, I took my first-ever trip on the London Eye, which was accompanied by mulled wine and mouthwatering Christmas truffles as a prelude to the festive season. As dusk approached and the lights of London went on, the city looked more beautiful than ever. And while, in one direction lay the traditional sights of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, my gaze was focused elsewhere.

For instead of looking to the West, my attentions were now drawn to the East. While I would never have considered browsing markets or wharfs by the river before this visit, or even visiting anywhere other than London's shopping heart, I have now changed my mind. Although I won't be giving up my aspirations for a champagne lifestyle just yet, it will be more vintage than Versace for me this Christmas.