Natasha Zone’s Onezone app is a go-to hub for restaurant inspiration, booking and sharing
(Picture: Matt Writtle)Fitzrovia is in the heart of London but always feels like a secret that only a lucky few know really well. It’s quieter than Soho, fresher than Marylebone and a five-minute walk from Mayfair.
Right between Oxford Circus and Regent’s Park, it offers the best of both worlds.
Art galleries are popping up on every corner and some of the largest tech businesses in the world, such as Meta, have moved in. There is the pulse and energy of the best city in the world alongside the greenery and gardens of a royal park.
Moving here was the best decision I’ve ever made. When I first started onezone, a discovery app uncovering the best places to eat and drink, I lived by myself in Zone 4.
Being out from morning to night every day, building the business, I was exhausted and barely using my flat as anything but a walk-in wardrobe.
Moving to Fitzrovia really did change my life. I have more energy, I have more time and I feel like I’m actually living life. I worry less, I walk so much more and I wake up feeling grateful that I took a risk that has paid off.
Best places for eating and drinking
The restaurant scene is shining. We have Carousel, Lisboeta, Circolo Popolare and so many more. Favourites? I’d have to say Arcade; the new kid on the block offering a vibrant food hall for everything from regional Thai curries to Indonesian street food and Middle Eastern shawarma. Carousel delivers for date night every time thanks to small plates, natural wines and an open front allowing for summer evenings of people watching.
Mortimer House is chic, sleek and the perfect setting for a breakfast meeting. HT Harris is a local institution famed for its focaccia sandwiches and fresh pasta. Then there is Kaffeine; the tiny coffee shop that I can see from my window. The London Edition is the place for high ceilings, marble floors and a beautiful cocktail bar that will always make me feel like I’m in a movie scene.
Where I work out
I’m a hardcore Barry’s Bootcamp advocate so you’ll find me at the Central or Soho branches of Barry’s every morning. Running a start-up, I spend all day making decisions, finding solutions and answering questions so it’s an incredible release to walk into a room and have someone tell me what to do. It’s the one hour of my day when I zone out.
For a culture fix
Fitzrovia is becoming a hub for up-and-coming young artists, with minimalist
Edel Assanti opening opposite my front door. Thanks to a steady stream of new restaurants, galleries and businesses, the community is always evolving. It is creating a culture that is unique and personal to the neighbourhood.
To commune with nature
When I need to switch off for a few hours, I head to Regent’s Park. Something about it is special and it has helped me to discover the power of open space. Take a wander through the rose garden or a walk by the lake and maybe you’ll feel the same, too.
Grocery shopping
Honey & Co is a business I’d love to shout out as a weekly must-visit for cookies, jams, tagines and more. It’s husbandand-wife-owned, they have a super talented team of chefs and a bite of the Middle Eastern-inspired pastries will have you hooked. The pair’s grocery store, Honey & Spice, is in Warren Street and you can eat in or takeaway.
Getting around
Fitzrovia is also a great area for transport. You have Oxford Circus, Goodge Street and Great Portland Street Tube stations on your doorstep.
Dream street
I think the dream street is actually a dream square, Rathbone Square, and a penthouse overlooking it. One Rathbone Square is the London HQ for Facebook. It even created its own postcode for the square; W1T 1FB. It’s a source of inspiration, a super cute space and I love the story behind it.
Something you only see in Fitzrovia
The BT Tower from my bedroom.
What’s the catch?
You’ll never want to leave.
In three words
Up and coming...
Visit onezone.app
Schools in Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia has several primary schools nearby rated outstanding or good, including All Souls CofE Primary School and Soho Parish CofE Primary School. Portland Place School is an independent option.
For secondary education, Ark King Solomon Academy, an all-through school, is rated outstanding by Ofsted.
What it costs
Buying in Fitzrovia
Average property price: £1,298,010
Renting in Fitzrovia
Average one-bed home, pcm: £2,820
Average three-bed home, pcm: £5,580
