My project, Windows into the Past, and my Instagram account were mentioned in a Times article on 21 March 2025 by Matthew Davis, titled ‘Stoke Newington Named One of the Best Places to Live in London 2025’. The piece explores Stoke Newington’s amenities, historical sites, and attractions, recognising it—according to The Times—as one of the best places to live in London this year. It’s great to see my work featured in this context.

The article is part of a comprehensive guide published by The Sunday Times, which showcases 72 locations across the UK. Stoke Newington is ranked 4th in the list of 7 locations in London, just after East Dulwich, with Walthamstow (E17) named the regional winner.

Here’s the excerpt from the article:

For a slice of history alongside your daily sourdough bread, look out for DIY blue “plaques” in the shop fronts along Church Street, charting the retail details of each store from the 19th century until today. They’re the handiwork of a local historian Amir Dotan, whose Instagram account, @stokenewingtonhistory, chronicles everything from the wallabies once found in Clissold Park to the latest news on the art deco town hall – now on Historic England’s at-risk register.

Here’s one of the ‘DIY blue “plaques”‘ mentioned in the article. The personalised shop history paper plaques I created were displayed in the windows of 51 shops on Stoke Newington Church Street—nearly half the street—in the run-up to Christmas 2024.