Like collective animals, celebrities have a tendency to stick together. They seem to adhere to an unwritten class system that depends on their profession (or lack of one) and dictates where they live. Here’s where to find wag central, pop stars eating out and fashion heaven.
Zone 1: The Fashion Pack
Young, achingly hip fashion designers like Christopher Kane have their workspaces out East in Shoreditch, girl of the moment Agyness Deyn and wannabes like Daisy Lowe live in Primrose Hill, while the more established members of the pack stick around Notting Hill and its surrounding mega-expensive West London enclaves. Fashionistas don’t eat (and finally someone was honest enough to say as much to the press when heiress and haute couture fanatic Daphne Guinness stated she would “eat when I’m dead” during London Fashion Week) therefore they’re much more likely to be found sucking on straws at The Long Bar at The Sanderson Hotel or The Light Bar at St Martin’s Lane Hotel than chowing down a hearty steak and chips at the local gastropub. Then there are the places us mere mortals will never get into, like Bungalow 8 and The Box. What goes on in there? A bunch of bored-looking people who bump into each other nightly sit and stare at one another, I bet.
Zone 2: Hollywood
One can learn a hell of a lot about a post code by its inhabitants. Belsize Park thinks it’s as cool as Primrose Hill, hence being home to Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, who think they’re far cleverer than anything they’ve ever done suggests. Consider the local eateries, that include Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Pizza Express and Ask, not that La Paltrow would ever deign to walk past these for fear of contaminating her salubrious aura (she can head to the Macrobiotic Café on Regents Park Road to purify it though). And while it may be heart-warming to know Thandie Newton chooses to live in Queen’s Park, that changes once you read her interview in the local North West London glossy, sandwiched between property pages that show homes in the area are now affordable to you only if you’re an investment banker. Or a movie star.
Just because they’re Hollywood royalty doesn’t mean they are original, which is why transatlantic A-listers like Mila Kunis and Brad Pitt visit celebrity favourite, tried-and-tested Nobu when in town. Think of this scenario as the starry equivalent of the American tourists who stick to McDonald’s when they travel, for fear of trying something displeasing, or unusual.
\n\nZone 3: Pop Stars
Eager estate agents are claiming Highgate to be “the new Primrose Hill”. Perhaps it is, as both Kate Moss and Sienna Miller have moved to the area. Then again, Deptford is supposed to be the new Shoreditch, much to the amusement of the locals. Pop stars residing in zone 3 neighbourhoods include Liam Gallagher and Nicole Appleton in Hampstead, and the once moderately interesting singer Jamie T in Wimbledon. Oh, and Kim Wilde was born in Chiswick.
People in pop generally eat a bit more than their fashion and movie cohorts, so you might see the likes of George Michael, Marvin Humes of JLS and err, Avril Lavigne leaving The Ivy of an evening, or on the other hand, Victoria Beckham exiting J Sheekey after pushing a forkful of peas around her plate all night long.
Young popettes like The Saturdays, Sugababes, and pretty much every other British girl band shop at Oxford Street’s Topshop, but the allure of this high street store that masquerades as high fashion boutique worked on Beyoncé too – she spent £5k here during one whirlwind visit.
Zone 4: Wags
The wealthy footballer and accompanying wag of today choose to live in fortress-like homes in sleepy areas like Chigwell and Totteridge & Whetstone, both of which can boast of having some of London’s most expensive streets. Local Whetstone residents have spied David Ginola popping into the local Boots for hair products.
Mahiki is beloved of footballers and their wags, as are the usual dining suspects The Ivy and Nobu - they’re a predictable bunch, celebrities. But wags are best known for shopping, and it’s designer all the way baby. Sloane Street, Harrods, Harvey Nicks…anywhere that stocks Roberto Cavalli and Juicy Couture essentially, not forgetting River Island for those bargain essentials, and Uggs, to be worn with absolutely everything.
\n\nThe Suburbs: Telly & Reality Stars
The entire cast of The Only Way Is Essex come from a part of the country that is under hot debate, is it a London suburb or part of Essex? What’s certain is that the beauty industry is booming around Buckhurst Hill, aspiring nail artists take note.
Despite their disparate postcodes, the peeps from Made in Chelsea and The Only Way Is Essex hang out at the same clubs now that they’ve had success as erm, people doing stuff (badly) in front of a camera. Toff buffoon Spencer has been partying with Lauren Pope at Mahiki, the playground where the Z-listers meet. Funky Buddha is another favourite, where TOWIE’s super vain Mark Wright is frequently to be found attempting to cosy up to the ladies. Camden’s Gilgamesh is popular with people who think that all that glitters is stylish, which is why you’ll find soap stars aplenty here eating lobster and sushi, and somewhat more oddly, Lauren Pope celebrated her birthday with Jordan and Lauren Goodger at Zilli Fish in Soho. Still a notch up from a hamburger with Chris Martin though.
