Street & Conversation with… Katie Wilson
Katie Wilson is a British photographer who shoots mostly portraits and food. After previously living in Australia for 12 years, she’s been back in London for about 15 years. Currently living in East London, Katie loves the interesting food scene the area has to offer.
Do you have a favourite cultural spot in London?
Sir John Soane’s Museum. I wish it was my house. You can hire the whole house for a dinner party – which I haven’t done but it would be amazing.. one day.
Do you have a favourite restaurant in London?
I couldn’t pick one! I’ve got so many favourites. Two that I love that are so reliably fantastic are 40 Maltby Street in Bermondsey. It is just exceptionally good, very low key fantastic food and paired with beautiful wines and casual too. Towpath in Dalston on the canal, it’s again just really nourishing, lovely food.
What makes London special to you?
I think what’s special about London is that it’s accepting, that anybody can come here and give it a go. You can come here and I don’t think you’ll be judged. I’m not from here but I feel like a Londoner. Someone can arrive yesterday and feel like a Londoner. We’re accepting and open in a way I wish the rest of the country was.
Do you have a unique or whacky thing you like to do in London?
I quite often go from East London to Marble Arch to get a kebab from Ranoush. Which is quite a mission but always worth it.
Do you have a favourite green space?
You can’t beat Hampstead Heath. It’s the only place in London where you can get away from all traffic noise. I have also enjoyed discovering local green spaces as as consequence of walking and cycling during lockdown with my boys, like Lincoln’s Inn Fields, The New River Walk in Canonbury, and ‘Hackney Riviera’ in Hackney Marshes is fun on a sunny day.
Do you have a favourite tube line?
I’ve got a least favourite – the Northern line. My favourite is going to have to be Victoria because you can sneak down from Highbury and Islington to anywhere. It’s the gateway to the East. Jubilee is incredible too but I don’t get it that often. It goes through Parliament so it’s quiet, cleaner and more modern.