Where do you live?

Chiswick. I was brought up in South London and lived in London through the Sixties. Come Zeppelin, I left the session world and London studios and moved out to the countryside to bring up the children, all that sort of thing. I basically did a 25-year tour of the southern counties and now I'm back in the city again.

What keeps you in London?

Everybody comes through here. I've got friends all over the world and if I'm here I see people as they stop by. It's also the cultural centre of the world - there's no better range of concerts, theatre and food. I like modern theatre. The last brilliant thing I saw was "Street of Crocodiles" by Theatre de Complicite. I go to Sadler's Wells quite a bit.

What would your soundtrack to London be?

From the Sixties, "Dancing in the Street" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

Where do you take newcomers to London?

If Americans come and visit I drive them around London, up the Mall, all the usual places.

Have you been to Buckingham Palace?

No. We gate-crashed a party at 11 Downing Street in the Sixties. Not the sort of thing I'd do now.

What's the best London view?

I like looking across from the South Bank to Charing Cross station. That used to be my gateway to London from south of the river so it always has a bit of a magic about it.

How do you squander time?

I walk about the West End and drink coffee.

Where do you shop?

Liberty. I have to go to the men's clothing but I like the art as well. It's one of the best departments and is on the top floor. I buy ceramics, modern ones, usually. My studio at home swallows up most of my funds though.

Where do you eat out?

For lunch I like Pont de la Tour - it's got a fantastic view. For dinner I like the River Cafe because the food is fabulous.

Do you ever go clubbing?

I go down to the Watermans if there's any salsa there but I'm not really a dancer. I can't really do the salsa steps though I can play the lines on the piano.

How has your lifestyle changed?

It's suddenly got busy again. It's a strange lifestyle. After spending quite a lot of time making a solo album, you suddenly have to talk about it. I'm proud of my new album but I don't like listening to music as soon as I've finished it. I try to leave it then when I come back to it after a month I can enjoy it. Otherwise I just see all the imperfections.

What inspired your new album?

I've been promising I'd do a solo album for a long time. As a musician one always does. The feeling that I really wanted to play live again was a good prodder. I went on the road four or five years ago and I'd forgotten how good it was to play to people you could see. By the end of Zeppelin we were in huge stadiums where at night you couldn't see a thing.

Do you return to Sixties haunts?

Not really. London's changed a lot. I lived in Hampstead in those days and now it's pretty much unrecognisable, apart from the Heath.

What's better now?

There are places where you can get a good cup of coffee for a start. The appearance of coffee in London is fantastic. If I'm in the West End I'll probably go to Ponti's. I also like the Caffe Nero. But of course the best one is Bar Italia in Soho. You never quite know what time it is there.

Do you talk to cabbies?

They don't seem a happy lot anymore. Once they've got you in they want to get rid of you again because that's how they make most of their money. They don't want to take you too far.

What's your favourite London venue to play?

Shepherd's Bush Empire is pretty cool. I like to go to gigs at the South Bank and the Barbican.

What's good calming-down music?

The Hungarian composer Ligeti, Ravel, Bach's early music.

What do you think of Geri [Halliwell]?

She seems to work hard. They're all entertainers, they're all troupers these people. They get up and look at themselves in the mirror and know they've got to go on that night. Anybody who does that is a professional.

John Paul Jones's album, Zooma, is released on September 13.