We chat to motivation speaker, coach, author and inspirational business woman Lurata Lyon to find out why she considers London her real home, discover her favourite places and hear her incredible story.

"There is not much I don’t love about London" explains Lurata, one of the cities busiest and most inspiring women." This has been my home for so many years that no matter where I go, I always look forward to getting back to my 'Home Sweet Home London'. The city itself is so vibrant, easy to navigate and multi-cultured, catering to any nation from food to traditions. It’s a city that never sleeps, and regardless of where you live, there’s always a corner shop, pub and restaurant nearby."

It’s a cold afternoon when we meet in Covent Garden but Lurata greets us with the biggest hugs, and that's something you’ll always notice - her warmth and incredible smile, which makes her backstory even more surprising. "When I was a teenager, I was a victim of human trafficking and organ harvesting in Yugoslavia during the war. This experience taught me that being a victim is not a choice but being a survivor and a successor is our choice."

“Nelson Mandela was my inspiration when I was being held in a small dark room, which was like a grave, as if I was buried alive. The thought of him being in prison for so long, gave me hope to keep going too. Two American UN Police Officers Brian and Peter gave me refuge during the war and almost risked their own positions just to help me but I also give thanks to all the people involved to raise awareness and stop human trafficking, regardless if they are in the public eye or not. Some are very well known including Angelina Jolie, Julia Ormond, Ashton Kutcher, Emma Thomson, Carla Stephens, Ricky Martin and William Hauge."

Being such an incredible women , we were keen to hear about some of the other people who have become an inspiration to her. “My mother is my absolute hero. She always led life by example, and I am so grateful and happy to have a mother like her. I also admire Amal Clooney for supporting prisoners of war and their human rights. Malala for her amazing strength and the continuous work she does for women globally. We have so much in common from overcoming similar injustices to wanting to be the change we wish to see in the world. I recently got to share my life story with Davina McCall and thank her for being so open about her own story and inspiring others to speak up and make a change in their life. We never know what other people are going through, so it is important to be kind and respectful to one another.”

Today she works as an international motivational speaker and coach for public speaking and presentation skills. “The aim of my business is to help audiences explore how they can make better connections in their professional life and their personal life, how to overcome obstacles so they are happier, and how to be more positive and have better outcomes. In addition to being a motivational speaker, I am also on the advisory board of the charity where we have been helping refugees in Ukraine reach safety.”

A lady who loves the city lifestyle, she is now based in Hammersmith but spent 5 years living in Singapore and has set up and run her own businesses worldwide. “All areas of London have something different to offer but ever since I arrived in London I have always been based in  West London and because of that I just continued to grow some roots and never really left. The city has so many amazing parks and green roads covered by huge trees that mesmerise you during our changing seasons - from colourful blossoms in spring, to calming green leaves in summer and multiple-coloured leaves in autumn.” 

With such a rich choice of culture on our doorsteps I enjoy all different cuisines but the places that you might want to try in Hammersmith are The Hampshire for Indian cuisine where the service and the food are amazing, Alma Café for coffee or a quick bite which has a home from home kind of feel, and the food stalls on Friday which are insane. In Shepherd’s Bush, try The Crown & Sceptre for Thai food,or head to Knightsbridge for Ciro’s Pomodoro which has an amazing atmosphere every night with live music. The overall experience is electric and they also serve gluten free pizza which can be hard to find in restaurants. Another super cute destination is Hollywood Road in Chelsea with great pubs and restaurants set up outside along the small road. The atmosphere is very contagious, with locals and their cute dogs to admire.

I don’t go to clubs as such, but I do enjoy the London Bar scene with Park Chinois and The Arts Club just to name a few. The staff are so friendly and accommodating at Harry’s Bar in Knightsbridge and the drinks are made to perfection. Soho House on Greek Street is one of my favourite places to hang so if you get a chance to visit, do it. And, for a cheeky drink and a total experience do visit Dukes London Bar in Mayfair. James Bond martinis will be served in front of you with great demonstration and solid information on how to make the best martini.

The Natural History Museum is my go-to place when I wish to escape reality. Not only is it located in the most beautiful building in the heart of Kensington but the amount of things to see and do inside and outside depending on the time of the year, is like a fairy tale. Did I mention that is free too? Well now you know. Tate Modern has over a hundred years of art so if you are creative and enjoy creativity it’s a must. I am not an expert but in my humble opinion London has so many galleries, museums and attractions. My first museum experience was at Madame Tussauds and what an experience that was. The most unique thing I’ve done was worship a Roman God at the London Mithraeum - an impressive experience based around the ancient Roman Temple of Mithras underneath the Bloomberg Offices in the heart of the city.

I also have a great passion for martial art training and I recommend that everyone give it a try. It’s not because I am aggressive, but rather the opposite - we all have a beast in us that we continue to tame and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu does just that. It teaches you how to think and react under pressure, along with the discipline to respect  yourself first and then others. I highly recommend Roger Gracie Academy in Hammersmith. You will get a chance to be trained by great teachers including Roger Gracie himself, a 10 times world champion, and his father, the legend Master Mauricio Gomes, a 7th dan Master in Jiu Jitsu. Are you coming to try it? Come ask for me and I will be your 1st training partner. I promise to look after you.

Looking to the future, we wanted to know what was next for Lurata. “After more than a decade of keeping my experience to myself, I decided to write my life story to raise awareness and give hope to others who may be faced by difficulties and challenges from life in general. I want to inspire and empower others to find lessons from their testing moments of life. It’s an autobiography, however the message is that you can go through anything in life and, if you choose to be a survivor, not only will you survive but you will succeed from very thing that was meant to break you.”

“Writing the book was a very cathartic experience, allowing me to create space for the present experiences and the future. I have been writing the book for a very long time, but now feel I am ready as to pursue my highest calling and publish. The title I have chosen is “Unbroken” by Lurata Lyon and I hope it will help the audience understand the story in more detail and allow me to help others and do more charity work. I am in the process to finding the best book agent to help me publish my first book, while I continue to work on my second and third. I am also on the lookout for the best screen writer, film direct and production company to make my life story into a film. Who here would love to see my story on a big screen? Find me on Instagram @luratalyon to connect with me and I will keep you posted when the book is out. I enjoy my coaching and development business but most of all I thrive on stages sharing my story my lessons with the audience. Helping them overcome their obstacles. As I always say: If it’s meant to be it will be, if not I will make it happen.”

Find out more about Lurata on her Instagram and get in touch with us if you'd like to tell us about your favourite places in London.