Today we interview Arabella, a fashion passionate from the countryside who travels to London every week for her gorgeous photoshoots.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself

Well, first of all, my name is Arabella. I’m 24 years old, I have three poodles, a parrot, and a degree in Publishing. My main passions are clothing & style, travelling, photography, exploring new places and of course, Instagram! I also spend a lot of time asking people if I can stroke their dogs!

2. Where do you live in London and what do you like/dislike about that area?

I don’t actually live in London! I live in rural Oxfordshire. Generally, I only have to be in London a maximum of three days a week and so for me, it doesn’t make sense right now. I’m very happy where I am, straddling the two worlds – the countryside and the city! Of course sometimes I do wish I could walk out of my door and be in London, but it’s only 50 minutes on the train which isn’t bad at all! I love that the countryside is so quiet and that everyone is so friendly. If you go out for a walk and pass someone, they’ll say hello, even if you’ve never met. However, living out of London can be very inconvenient for morning events – if I’m invited to a breakfast event, that means a peak train fare of £80 and a 5am wakeup.

3. If you could choose one place in London to live in, what would it be?

I really love the areas around Kings Road and Sloane Square. Somehow they have a laid back, town-like vibe despite being in the middle of a huge city. I’ll keep on dreaming!

4. What restaurants would you recommend?

Ohh this is a difficult question. I’d have to say my favourite restaurant of the moment is N.A.C. – the truffle mac n cheese, coconut iced coffee and the cookies are all my favourites! It’s quite small and often very busy – so if you give it a try on a weekday at lunchtime, expect a little queue, but gosh it’s worth it!

5. Where do you like going out on a weekend?

Like most people, I love going for brunch at the weekend. My two favourite places are 202 on Westbourne Grove or The Chiltern Firehouse. If I’m not in London, I’ll walk the dogs through the countryside or get ahead with some work. I also love visiting National Trust properties – I think I’m secretly a 75 year old woman.

6. If you could choose to have one superpower, what would it be and how would you use it in London?

My super power would be to click my fingers and teleport. I don’t totally hate the tube, but it’s such a hassle. Imagine just being able to teleport from place to place – no tube changes!!

7. Are there any hidden gems you know about that you would like to share?

It’s definitely not so much of a hidden gem, but it’s somewhere that’s not so well known; Ottolenghi. Their little orange and chocolate cakes are heaven! I’d like to go there more often but somehow it always slips my mind and I forget it exists!

8. If you could change 3 things about London, what would they be?

I would make London closer to me in Oxfordshire, less expensive and I’d make the people a bit more polite – too many times I’ve been the only person who’s offered my seat a person less able to stand, in a tube carriage full of able bodied men. I know sometimes people simply don’t look up and so don’t notice, but a lot of the time I see people glance up and choose not to offer. It’s a shame!

9. Other than London, is there any other city in the world you think is a must? Why?

Well, I’d definitely say Singapore, but then I’m probably biased. I have family living in Singapore and we visit for 3 weeks every year. The city is so vibrant – an incredible mixture of old and new. There are so many cultures all together, it’s wonderful, and from what I’ve experienced at least, everyone is so polite, friendly and respectful. I feel very safe when I’m there, even if I was walking home at 3am alone! Singaporeans have two main passions; shopping and food – which also happen to be two of my favourite things, so it’s ideal!