Influencers in London are increasingly brazen, posing on private doorsteps, disturbing restaurant diners, and filming in Tube stations, leaving residents frustrated. In Notting Hill, the colourful houses have become a hotspot, with influencers flocking to streets like Tara's for photo shoots.
Residents Driven to Move
Tara, an artist living in a baby pink house in Notting Hill, says she is “being driven literally mad.” Her once-peaceful street is now a hotbed of influencer activity, with people photographing her through her window while she works. “Sometimes I’ve turned around and I’ve had maybe 15 people opposite, just looking at me and taking photographs of me working,” she says. Complaints to the council and police have been ineffective. Around 20 times a day, she asks people to stop, and while most are polite, “sometimes they’re really foul and tell me to f*** off.” The constant noise has made her consider moving.
Damage and Disruption
Peter Lee, a 77-year-old pensioner living in a distinctive pink house, suffered £2,000 worth of damage to his front steps after influencers danced on them in high heels. A professional camera crew once filmed former Made in Chelsea star Binky Felstead swinging from his railings without permission. When Lee asked them to stop, they told him it was “distracting” for the model. “It’s my house!” Lee said. Despite the damage, he finds it “quite amusing.”
Greenwich Park Cherry Blossoms Overrun
In Greenwich Park, cherry blossom trees are surrounded by hundreds of influencers, blocking pathways with tripods. Locals report that influencers shake branches for action shots, damaging them. “Some are hanging off having been snapped,” one resident said on a Facebook group.
Restaurants and Tube Stations Affected
Restaurants like The Dover in Mayfair face influencers requesting free meals in exchange for posts. Owner Martin Kuczmarski always declines, saying it creates a “fake image” and is unfair to paying guests. On the Tube, an influencer at Oxford Circus was seen death-staring commuters who walked in front of her shot. “This is the fresh hell we live in,” the article concludes.
