I’m an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in London who has reported stories in both the UK and Australia. My portfolio showcases a mix of travel writing, lifestyle features, and some of the most memorable stories I’ve worked on — blending my love of exploration with a commitment to impactful storytelling.

Highlights

Stories I have written over the years

Ayo’s Substack •

Sydney or London? The Truth From Someone Who’s Lived Both

London and Sydney are both global metropolises — buzzing with energy, diverse cultures, and, for lack of a better phrase, unreal vibes.It’s no surprise, then, that in London you’ll find clusters of Australians in Clapham, Battersea, and now Hackney. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Brits gather around the ever-popular Bondi Beach. A win-win cultural exchange.As someone who grew up in Hackney, East London and has spent three years living in Sydney, I’ve had a taste of both worlds. Here’s what I think each c...
Daily Mirror •

Seven-year-old girl was given 3 months to live after repeatedly rubbing her legs

A mum whose young daughter was given a devastating cancer diagnosis is in a race against time to save her life.

Nicola Caton's daughter Isla is just seven years old and has been fighting the disease since she was two.

Her family, from Stratford, East London, have been searching all over trying to find the right treatment and clinical trial which would help her, after a doctor gave her just three months to live.

For mum Nicola, this has been five years of seeing her daughter battle the aggress...
Ayo Lana •

Stepping back into the unknown

The unknown is something we say we want to explore but rarely ever do. The thrill of wanting to know is more significant than actually wanting to do it. Venturing into the unknown is no easy feat. We don’t approach the unknown because, simply put, it is scary.


Leaving the comforts you are accustomed to and all you know is a daunting prospect. Whether it be jumping into a new career or trying something out for the first time, the unknown provides no specific answers and rarely the ones you’d e...
MyLondon •

'I visited London's best place to live but I think somewhere else is better'

Everybody thinks where they live is usually the best place to live. It's an opinion steeped in subjectiveness and always will be; it can't be helped. Then, there comes a time when the experts will share their opinions.

The experts, in this case, are The Sunday Times. In its 11th year, it put together another series of the Best Places to Live in the UK and London had six neighbourhoods gracing the list. Hackney was one of them (I found myself smiling) as well as Woolwich and Notting Hill.

At th
Ayo Lana •

Navigating Grief and New Beginnings in Perth

A year in Perth has come to an end, filled with ups and downs.


Diving into the unknown was something I feared but ultimately had to embrace. When you’re travelling, it brings constant doubt which can fester and grow, especially in times of tragedy.


Two weeks before my 30th birthday in August, I received a text informing me that my father had passed away in Nigeria. Anger, shock, and regret engulfed me like waves crashing over rocks. It’s a strange feeling to know your dad is no longer her...
MyLondon •

'I was a basketball player - now I'm a Savile Row tailor making celebs' suits'

Some people in life know instantly what they want to be when they grow up. Others will have different paths till they eventually find what is right for them. Then, you have those who excel in the different things they do and through some unfortunate events, eventually find what they want to do.

That is what 47-year-old Kabiru Abu's life could be described as. The dad-of-two born in Nigeria, moved to London to to continue his IT studies as well as taking exams in project management and business
MyLondon •

Market trader of 40 years who knows every face on the high street

If you were to walk down Seven Sisters Road and past the Enkel Arms pub you would hear passers-by repeatedly shouting "Hey Keith, how you going mate?" It is no understatement to say that may be one of the most common phrases uttered.

Outside the pub is a market stall run by Keith West. An ever-present figure on the road for the last 40 years, his friendly face and instant charm have seen him selling fruit and veg to Holloway locals that have become like family. Customers walk by, young and old,
MyLondon •

Mum and 6 kids living in mouldy 2-bed home so cramped they sleep on the floor

A West London mum and her six kids living in a two-bed house have slammed their housing association for its constant "neglect" of their needs. Sabrina Andrew, 35, a teaching assistant who works 40 hours a week, moved into her home in East Acton in 2010. At the time she only had two children but since then her family has grown.

Sabrina is currently on maternity leave as she takes care of her six-week-old newborn but her living situation has not changed. Sabrina and her family have had to navigat
mirror •

'Luxury £1.5m shopping hub' lies abandoned with one shop left six years later

A £1.5m luxury shopping district now lies abandoned with empty buildings, smashed windows and graffiti as locals claim that the plan was always going to fail.

Hackney Walk was paid for by City Hall in the wake of riots in 2011 which caused severe damage to neighbourhoods throughout London.

High-end brands such as Gieves and Hawkes, Zadig and Voltaire, Matches, Present, Nicole Farhi, and Nike all moved in but after opening in 2016, within the next couple of years most of these brands had left.
MyLondon •

'Secret' London village people only find when they can't afford famous neighbour

Peckham, Hackney, and Tottenham are all areas that have seen record development in recent years. Once your neighbourhood has been given the 'up-and-coming' label, it puts it on an upward trajectory where house prices rise, new blocks of flats appear and trendy cafes replace old-school haunts.

But one such place that has gone under the radar is Highams Park in Waltham Forest - and that's how locals like it. The East London neighbourhood is nestled next to its more famous neighbour but the locals
MyLondon •

London café never charging more than £1 for tea & customers queue out the door

London is never in short supply of cafés. You're never too far away from a frothy cappuccino or a bacon sandwich.

Whether it's a greasy spoon or an Insta-worthy spot, there is something for everyone. Then, there are cafés that attract young families, kids and dogs.

That is the case for Humphry's. Located in the beautiful Highams Park, it looks unassuming from the outside with its simple white exterior but on the inside, it is a vibrant café filled with laughter and chatter from people of all a
MyLondon •

Once thriving Roman Road market nearly empty as 'Yuppies' move in

East London is famed for its working-class roots and people getting their hands dirty to make their way up in life. Whether they were slugging it out in Hackney or flogging their goods in Whitechapel, the East End was always associated with poverty and overcrowding. Regardless, people loved it.

That was never more clear than with Bow in East London. To be classified as a 'Cockney' you needed to be born within earshot of St Mary-le-Bow, it was a badge of honour. The likes of Ray Winstone, Danny
MyLondon •

Neighbourhood was 'a dump' but is now so gentrified it looks totally different

Over the last few weeks MyLondon has been visiting some of London's "most gentrified" neighbourhoods to look at the impacts - good and bad - that huge changes to their character are having on the people who live there. This week we visit Hackney Wick...

“Change is a part of life, nothing you can do about it,” says Husein Husein with a smile, leaning back on the sort of old-school blue chair in a café you rarely see anymore. Husein, 52, who is known as H to his customers, has been serving people
National Council for the Training of Journalists •

Community reporter wins award for impactful report on the reality of living in a new London housing estate

New housing developments are the bread and butter for reporters up and down the country.
But for community news reporter Ayokunle Oluwalana, his impactful way of reporting on the realities of living in a new estate in Croydon led him to receive a monthly editorial award by Reach PLC.
The 27-year-old, who works at MyLondon, initially received a press release about a new Pocket Homes development in Hackney.
The development from Pocket Living stood out to Ayokunle. Standing at 6’5” and with the fla...
MyLondon •

I used my last £300 to make bum-shaped candles. 2 years later I've earned £422k

When the pandemic hit Gaby Jones was one of the hundreds of thousands of people who lost their job after the hospitality industry was decimated. Doing some soul searching to find her next career step, it ended up being somewhere a little more external that she drew inspiration from.

The 26-year-old from Chiswick, who had been working in luxury events, had a lightbulb (well, candle) moment. She explained: "My boyfriend and I were sat in Wagamamas in Parsons Green and weren't sure what was next f

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