Where to live Fashion designer Amanda Wakeley tells Charlotte Duck why she loves at meal at James Blunt’s pub and that the riverside views are what keeps her here I moved to London in my early 20s and have been here several decades, but I’ve always lived in Chelsea. I’ve been living on a kink in the river in Chelsea for 10 years now; it’s near the houseboats and we have a breathtaking view, which is why we live here. It’s not huge but we’re surrounded by air and light.
I love the movement of the river and watching the skill of the barges moving down it — they do a beautiful dance. There’s a lovely breeze that comes up with the tide and it feels like the air is clearer. There’s also a resident seal that comes and visits at a certain point in the tide.
We’re also near the Battersea Helipad but it doesn’t bother me; I like the movement and activity. There’s a real cross-section of people around here, as you have in any London neighbourhood. There are lots of studios in the area, from fashion to interiors, and we’re near the 606 Club, so there are musicians, too.
For a quick supper, we go to the Chelsea Ram on Lots Road. The pies at the Ram are amazing comfort eating and I often walk around the corner there with the dog. I also like the Fox and Pheasant on Billing Road, which is James Blunt’s pub.
It does amazing food but I don’t have a favourite dish as I’m a mood eater, so it depends what I fancy on the day. For drinks, we go to the Chelsea Ram, .