Today’s interview is with @a_ontheroad, Notting Hill guru and super talented Instagrammer.
1.Tell us a bit about yourself
Hey Pretty Little Readers! My name is Alex, I am 28 years old and originally from Paris, where I grew up! I moved to London in August 2015 and before that I was living in New York. I am a mandarin teacher in a French school here in London and when I am not in front of my students speaking Chinese, you can find me behind my iPhone screen on Instagram, writing posts for my blog or wandering all around London with a camera in my hands!
2.Where do you live in London and what do you like/dislike about that area?
I live in Notting Hill and I love absolutely everything about this neighbourhood: The coloured houses, the nice independent shops, the mix between a vintage and British atmosphere and the feeling of living in a small London village! There’s actually nothing I don’t really like about my neighbourhood except that it’s one of the most expensive places of London!
3.If you could choose one place in London to live in, what would it be?
I am not going to lie, I would not move from where I am!! I love my neighbourhood and that’s the place where I feel the best in the city! But if I had to pick up another corner of the city to live in, I would probably choose Primrose Hill, Richmond or Shoreditch. I love the fact that those places have a strong identity and reveal the true beauty of London: How eclectic this city can be!
4.What restaurants would you recommend?
Being vegetarian, there’s a place I love in Notting Hill, it’s called Nama and has the most amazing vegetarian dishes I ever had! It’s tasty and healthy! It’s a really small place where the tourists don’t usually go and that definitely is one of my best spots of the neighbourhood!
5.Where do you like going out on a weekend?
It depends on my mood and the weather! I am not really a museum person, I love to go outside, taking time to enjoy a cup of coffee or looking at the buildings and houses! I have been to many places in London and really would like to discover new places: I’ve heard about Brixton and Highgate which definitely will be on the list of my new weekend adventures!
6.If you could choose to have one superpower, what would it be and how would you use it in London?
It can probably sound really simple but I would love to have the ability to fly! I would love to see the city from above and be able to go from places to places in a second! It would also helps especially when you take the tube to go home after a looooooong day at work and have to wait for the third train to come because the first two were just overcrowded!
7.Are there any hidden gems you know about that you would like to share?
I share all the places I love on my Instagram, there’s actually nothing secret about my hidden gems lol! But for those who don’t know that cute shop yet, I recommend to grab a biscuit and a coffee at Biscuiteers in Notting Hill! This is probably, for me, the cutest shop in London! Everything is homemade and the cakes are just so colourful and beautiful!
8.If you could change 3 things about London, what would they be?
The price of the rent, the price of the transportation and the price of food!
9.Other than London, is there any other city in the world you think is a must? Why?
New York and Paris! New York for its energy, its architecture and the contrasts from boroughs to boroughs! And Paris for the beautiful buildings and green spaces and of course: The food!!!
To see more of his wanderings and to know more about the beautiful Notting Hill area, check out his blog at www.MrSwaggy.net!
