We’ve moved onto an ISLAND in middle of London with no bridge – pals say we’re ‘bonkers’ but we’re pocketing £20k a year
A COUPLE has told how they moved onto an island in the middle of London to save £20,000 a year on rent.
Sacha Pritchard, 24, and Matt King, 28, left their one-bed Chiswick flat to move onto an island with no bridge - meaning they have to get a boat to and from their home.
Although it’s not all been smooth sailing with the pair experiencing their first “dip in the wash” on moving in day.
Only a month ago the couple found themselves balancing their belongings on the boat, wearing life jackets donated by existing island residents, heading to their soon-to-be home until they nearly tipped in.
Luckily they both managed to regain their balance, hold onto all of their possessions and continue making their way across the current.
Sacha described how they quickly realised they "have a moat around the house" which adds a sense of security despite its drawbacks.
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Matt told how they made ten trips on their tiny boat with Sacha adding that “everything” visible in the room “was brought over by boat - even the rather large Christmas tree”.
She added: “I actually don’t know what my life has become, we are looking forward to the summer and the better weather.”
Now, the pair have a one-bedroom "shack" to call theirs, with a fully-fitted kitchen, living-dining area and a tidy-looking and quaint bathroom.
The l-shaped living area space is the main area the couple spend their time in, featuring the kitchen, dining space and sofas.
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They have even slotted a wooden desk in the far corner, which would seem more fitted to an old man's study alongside a padded green chair if it were not for the light flooding through floor-to-ceiling windows.
The couple revealed everyone they knew warned them they were making a "massive mistake", but it didn't deter their plans.
It did take three months to agree to the “massive commitment” and “sacrifice” of island living but Sacha and Matt soon got used to the idea.
Sacha told the Sun: “We were exhausted from tiny box living in central London and the stupid amount of rent.
“We felt constricted and needed a change, sick of the intense London routine.
“We had an opportunity here unlike anything and we just thought we have to jump with two feet.”
She also admitted it takes a “certain type of person” to live there and how her “city girl” roots did not exactly forecast “seaworthy” success.
Yet, when the Sun headed down to meet the pair they confidently battled the strong current to moor up, while throwing around boating jargon as if they'd lived there all their lives.
Their confidence seems to have derived from their “adventurous” spirit alongside a few setbacks that made them feel like they were taking part in a “comedy sketch”.
They told how they battled palm-sized spiders which took over the house right before their renovation.
And how they were forced to handle the boat in extreme weather as storms hit the capital.
They even gave a terrifyingly detailed recount of a recent treacherous trip across the water where Sacha travelled alone and needed to use “full revs” in the “middle of the stream”.
When questioned whether she felt scared, she responded that she did wonder whether she “might have to turn around for a split second” but knew the neighbours were only a “stone’s throw away”.
Most of the residents have known about a vacancy on the island via word of mouth, ensuring the welcoming community spirit has been extended as far as the eye can see with all residents jumping to action in response to a message on their Whatsapp group or sound of distress.
The pair have joined the tight-knit group which includes a man in his seventies, a young baby, a family who have lived on the ait for multi-generations and even a handful of cats and dogs.
Grinning from ear-to-ear, the freelance marketing executive and financial adviser said they feel “unbelievably blessed”.
Luckily the pair, who rent the property off a family member, have not been stuck on the island but have warned their bosses just in case they need to work remotely for a day or two.
Their morning commute retains some similarities to normal life, with the pair admitting they sometimes need to “de-ice” the boat before setting off for work.
When the weather takes a turn for the worst, the ropes can freeze solid, the steering wheel needs to be defrosted, the engine must be warmed to prevent stalling and the key for the ignition can get stuck.
Matt and Sacha still “brave the elements”, heading to the gym in the early morning multiple times a week.
He explained how they have had to “adapt” with the “additional effort” as there is no comfort or convenience living on the island.
Sacha was quick to chime in, saying that she used to “avoid getting her hands dirty” or “endure any form of bad weather”.
She added: “I now wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s been an amazing experience, most people should try it.
“It’s like no feeling, coming back after work, back to your private island in London.
“You can’t be on your phone as you travel home across the water, you absorb what you are seeing around you, the beautiful nature, it’s just a lovely way to finish the day.
“I originally thought the boat would be the worst part of the journey but that's certainly the best part of the commute.”
Despite their friends thinking the young couple now live too far to visit, especially during the harsh winter months, the pair would “not change it for the world”.
Matt explained how the experience has already brought the pair “closer together”, believing that they are “lucky” to share the day-to-day with one another.
To top it all off, Matt admitted how they can now afford to have their heating on all of the time.
A stark contrast to the £80 a month they used to pay to live more centrally, which saw the pair don beanie hats and jumpers, only turning the heating on for the shortest amount of time.
The frivolities of island life include Gary the Goose who visits regularly, having a buoyancy aid attached to their keys, the weekly film club run by a BAFTA winning editor and to alert all residents if there’s an incident.
They’ve even been warned to never wave at someone first when riding in their boat as it is not “good etiquette”.
Sacha added: “We first thought, let’s give it a couple of years and see, because we will either love it or hate it.
“Literally on the first day we loved it.
“Viewing what we’ve built with the incredible neighbours around us, I don’t think we will want to leave.
“The ideal situation would be to have a bridge but since moving in we realised it’s ideal, the remoteness makes it feel very safe, people have to come over with intent.
“We have a moat around the house!”
It’s not just Sacha and Matt who have been taken aback by the newness of remote living, with Sacha’s TikTok account gaining nearly 10,000 views in seven days.
Still adjusting to their new found social media presence, Matt said: “I just can’t believe one of our best videos was me taking the bins out. It’s hilarious.”
They are not the only influencers on the island with their nearby neighbour, Aimee Sims, 36, posting videos on YouTube.
Having lived on the ait for nearly 10 years, Aimee is a seasoned pro when it comes to the realities of remote living - in fact she has recently bought a bus to convert for weekends away.
Her home, which she shares with a dog called Lemon and a couple of cats, even offers a hot tub in the garden.
While not at work helping to restore historical buildings, Aimee spends most of her time on the island or in the nearby park.
Despite the 36-year-old appearing at ease in her island home, she had never stepped foot on a boat before moving into her rental property.
Aimee told the Sun: "Before this I was living in a house share in Kingston.
"Everywhere is just so expensive, so grotty.
"When I first got offered the chance to move here, I was excited, although the lesson on how to use the boat was kind of done in 10 minutes and it was like okay, you're good, carry on."
She spoke of how community is the "biggest thing round here", with her neighbours offering tips and advice.
From mooring into the current to ensuring she has a jerry can of petrol on the boat, Aimee seems to have everything covered.
Having lived on the Thames for nearly a decade, she has not come out entirely unscathed,
She said: "Two months ago, I was dropping someone off and the steering cable on the boat just broke.
"No one can live here and not get into some trouble.
"There's ladders nearby so we can save ourselves if we end up in the water, it's especially dangerous as there is a weir not too far away down stream where people have died before.
"The emergency services have worked with us so they know the island, we even have an evacuation plan and makeshift emergency alarms where a resident can press a button and everyone gets alerted."
Despite describing the living style as "not for the faint-hearted", Aimee suggested how seeing "sunsets and sunrises" on "the daily", makes the experience feel unique and hard to replicate.
She added: "It's just such a fun way to show people that there's a different way of living in London.
"I have absolutely no regrets, I am open to that slightly different lifestyle, that bit of adventure."
Still new to the island plot and social media, Sacha and Matt have been shocked by their local stardom.
One video which has garnered over 350,000 views so far, led to a fan recognising the couple on the day the Sun headed to visit.
Sacha said: “I think that’s mental, it’s the first time it’s happened.
“We are just trying to keep it real, show people all the things we didn’t know about.”
While Matt expanded: “Everyone we know keeps asking us how we do certain things, making videos just seemed a great way, an easy way to not have to keep repeating ourselves.
“Although I have already had people from work spot the videos, I didn’t expect that so soon.”
Their newfound stardom is still in its early stages, however the pair told the Sun how they have already had a thought about specific brand deals.
Sacha’s dream is to partner with Amazon to have post delivered by drone while Matt hopes for a Ninja BBQ as open-flames are banned on the ait due to fire risk.
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Their account name londonislandliving pretty much sums up the couple’s experience as they “relearn everything”.
Island “experts” with have offered their advice which the pair have taken in their stride and now look to share with the TikTok community.
