Marie Mitchell
(Picture: Matt Writtle)I grew up south of the river but when I was 26 I defected to the north and never went back.
We lived in Hackney and then Walthamstow, but when we wanted to buy we started looking at where we could afford. A friend had moved to Leyton, which I hadn’t really heard of, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it.
I really loved how green it was and how good the transport links were.
We moved here five years ago. It probably has the most community feel I have had in London since I moved away from home.
It feels like the London I grew up in, with kids just out playing in the streets.
Best eating and drinking
You want to go to Saffron Kitchen on Lea Bridge Road for really excellent Indian food, and Deeney’s on the High Road for toasties and a side of fries — always a side of fries.
Yardarm on Francis Road has wine and small plates, which are very good, and there is also a new bakery called Morny, also on Francis Road, for your sweet treats.
If you go up the road to Leytonstone there is probably my favourite restaurant in the whole of London, Singburi, which has some of the best Thai food you will ever taste.
Where I work out
I am a yoga and Pilates person so I go to Pause on Francis Road.
For a culture fix
We live very close to Jubilee Park and in the summer they have lots of events like modern circus and bands.
But if you want some culture, like a gallery or a cinema, you really need to walk over to Walthamstow.
To commune with nature
Where do I start? I love going to Hackney Marshes and the Olympic Park, Walthamstow Wetlands and Hollow Ponds.
The access to nature is amazing here, sometimes you just forget you are in London even though you are in Zone 3.
Grocery shopping
Marmelo Kitchen on Francis Road is a good place for pantry essentials and weekend treats like really delicious olives.
They have got delicious wines and absolutely delightful focaccia and hummus at the Yardarm shop.
And on the High Road there are some good grocers for all your fruit and veg.
Getting around
We do have a car but we tend to use the train or buses. We are on the Gospel Oak to Barking Overground line, and it’s just two stops to Blackhorse Road. Or you can get a bus to Stratford or Walthamstow.
I will walk to Clapton, Hackney or Walthamstow, and if I’m in the mood I’ll walk to Stratford, too.
Dream street
A lot of people would say Francis Road, but I actually like Brewster Road. There is a very cute park where you see the same familiar faces and I love it.
The houses are very nice bay-fronted Edwardian terraces, you look out over a cricket ground and at night there are lights in the trees and it feels very peaceful.
Something you only see in Leyton
It’s more something you hear. On match days pretty much wherever you are you can hear when Leyton Orient scores.
It’s quite fun having all the fans in their red-and-white scarves around, and they are just so die-hard.
What’s the catch
Leyton has changed dramatically, even since we have been here. There are far more trendy places opening up — it is becoming more gentrified, I suppose.
I know that I am part of that, and I do go to some of the popular places, but I also support my local cafe and shop.
Making sure the whole community is catered for is very important.
In three words
Local, community, green.
Marie’s Mitchell’s cookery book, Kin: Caribbean Recipes for the Modern Kitchen, featuring contemporary Caribbean recipes, will be published next year by Particular Books, Penguin.
Schools
Riverly and Willow Brook primary schools are both rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, while all the other local primaries get a “good” report from the schools’ watchdog.
The three senior schools and sixth-form colleges within Leyton also get “good” reports.
What it costs to live in Leyton
Average flat price: £362,945
Average house price: £652,492
Average price to rent a flat: £1,328 a month
Average price to rent a house: £1,942 a month
