by We moved to Ladbroke Grove in 2017. I grew up on a farm in Kent and then went to Leeds for five years. I did a year in London and then moved to Shanghai for two and a half years, then came back to London in 2012.
So, I only started living properly in London when I was 27.
My husband, Hugo, and I lived in Islington, which we loved, but we had one child and wanted more. We wanted to be closer to our support system. Hugo’s family is from west London, and all our friends lived in Ladbroke Grove so it was an easy choice.
We moved down to the countryside in July and the kids go to school there, but I’m in London every week and some weekends staying at our house in Ladbroke Grove, so it’s a nice balance.
Eating and drinking
My favorite breakfast place is Layla’s bakery at the top of Portobello. They make the best pain au chocolat in Britain, hangover orange juice, and great coffee, of course.
It’s also a serious celebrity hotspot. The last time I was there I saw Jamie Dornan and the time before that it was Simone Ashley.
Straker’s on Golborne Road, owned by Tom Straker, has the best lunch.
The food is out of this world. It’s rare to taste things put together that you’ve never tried before and blow your mind.
For dinner I would say Ladbroke Hall, a brand new restaurant on Barlby Road. It’s very vibey and makes the most amazing food and drinks. There is also a bit of an art gallery and live music.
Where I work out
I’m terrible at working out, I just don’t have the time or inclination.
But I have a personal trainer called Simba who I love working with at Fit For Life, which is a great community gym at 151 Freston Road.
For culture repair
I like the Electric Cinema on Portobello, part of Soho House.
Notting Hill Carnival is the big culture fix. Carnival is a huge part of Ladbroke Grove’s identity and I love it, I go every year. I don’t understand the people who leave for him.
My favorite is when you wake up at 5am as they open Carnival at the top of Ladbroke Grove. The first float comes down and it’s so exciting.
To commune with nature
Athlone Gardens was my favorite park, but it’s a shame they’ve torn down a lot of trees.
I was part of a campaign to save some of the trees that are still left in North Kensington, but what the council has done there is appalling.
I love Wormwood Scrubs and Little Wormwood Scrubs, which are across the road. That’s a great place to be, it feels very wild. I am very passionate about rewilding.
Grocery shopping
We are lucky to have great food here. I’m a terrible cook, so I don’t do proper grocery shopping, I buy tasty things that I can snack on.
I go to Aisling Supermarket on Holland Park Avenue for the world’s best innards, The Grocer on Elgin for pre-made soups, crazy sourdough and posh ready meals, and Jeroboams on Elgin Crescent makes the world’s best taramasalata and olives .
Getting around
I take the Tube to work and I walk a lot. Sometimes I embarrass my kids by pushing them on my scooter.
They all have scooters and bikes and it got to the point where they go so fast I can’t keep up with them, so I got my own. It is not electric work, and it is very hard work going up and down the hills of Ladbroke Grove.
Dream street
I would love to live in a duplex on Oxford Gardens.
Something you only see in Ladbroke Grove
The first day of spring when the flowers are on the trees and people are out sitting on their doorsteps or driving around in cars playing loud music with the windows down. There is a real sense of celebration.
What is the catch?
Like any part of London, it can be a bit edgy-wise. But, it’s London.
In three words
A diverse, vibrant community.
Olivia von Halle’s SS24 collection is out in February (oliviavonhalle.com)
Schools
St Thomas’s CofE primary school, Ark Brunel primary school, Colville primary school, Thomas Jones primary school and Chepstow House school are all rated Outstanding.
For secondary schools, Kensington Aldridge academy and All Saints Catholic College are excellent. La Petite Ecole Française is an independent bilingual primary school. Instituto Espanol Cañafa Blanch is a Spanish school for ages five to 19.
What does it cost
Purchase in Ladbroke Grove
Average flat price: £1,084,670
Average house price: £2,744,390
To rent in Ladbroke Grove
Average flat price, pcm: £3,040
Average house price, pcm: £4,880
Source: Hamptons & Land Registry
