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Alastair Reid Schanche

Alastair is a features writer at London X London. He joined the team in late 2022 hot off the back of a five-year stint in Shanghai where he wrote for Time Out and ran a very niche blog about Chinese food.

He’s unable to shake his addiction for Sichuan noodles, but will be found devouring London’s other glorious cuisines when he’s not warming seats at the Prince Charles.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for straight people. Here’s our guide to the best LGBTQ+ Valentine’s Day ideas in London. If you’re here, you probably care enough about Valentine’s Day, so we’ll spare you the nonsense about it being purely commercial.  In fact, for the queer community, there are plenty of things going on that seem …

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In Battersea and looking for a coffee? We’ve got you covered with this guide to the best cafes in Battersea.  With the arrival of the new Battersea Power Station revamp and one of London’s nicer parks, plus a Peace Pagoda and a few beautiful riverside walks to choose from, you’re probably going to be finding …

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London’s got a new kid on its sushi block. Read on for our review of Shiro. Somehow the arrival of a new member of the Aqua Group (which boasts Aqua Shard, Nuevo and Kyoto, as well as Hutong) has passed relatively under the radar so far.  Which is surprising for a brand that runs some …

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Guinness have announced a brand new microbrewery is coming to Covent Garden. The question is, will it taste better than at your local? Big news for Guinness drinkers. Global booze peddler Diageo has announced that they will be opening a giant Guinness Factory in London later this year.  The Guinness Factory, as it will be …

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There’s a brand new London to Berlin sleeper train running from May 2023. Here’s what you need to know. Happy days for green travellers. You’ll soon be able to get from London to Berlin on a sleeper train. The journey, made possible by linking Brussels to Berlin by sleeper service, will take 16 hours.  That …

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Planning a day out with someone with ASD? We’ve got you covered with this guide to brilliant ASD-friendly spots in London. When it comes to ASD, planning a day out can be the difference between having a great time, or a very stressful one. Knowing where to go can also make a big difference.  Luckily, …

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The capital’s clowns are gathering to pay homage to the man who put their trade on the map. Laugh a minute or worst nightmare? Your call.   If you’re feeling the winter blues setting in, you might be interested in a London tradition that could brighten up your week, provided gaggles of clowns aren’t your idea …

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Bored in London? Discover 16 stellar ways to spend the perfect day in the capital. London’s never short of fun things to do, but sometimes you need some inspiration We’ve all been there. You wanna get out of the house and hang out with your pals, but you don’t know what to do. Sometimes it …

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London’s first Museum of Homelessness to open is set to open up at a permanent location in Finsbury Park later this year.  A new museum that will put the experiences of homeless people at the heart of its exhibitions is set to open in Finsbury Park later this year. The Museum of Homelessness will be …

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