Tripadvisor is stepping into new creative territory with Common Ground, a YouTube series that reimagines what travel storytelling can be. Instead of beaches somewhere on a tropical resort far away and bucket-list esxapes, the company brings the focus closer to home, exploring culture, identity, and connection through the streets of London’s Shoreditch. The series pairs well-known British personalities from different paths of life and follows them as they walk, talk, eat, and discover what connects them.
There’s no script, just real moments and real experiences, from real people. Stories that jump from childhood memories to big life questions. It is about stepping outside your own bubble and opening yourself up to someone else’s. As Tripadvisor’s Adam Ochman puts it, “It’s less about distance, more about discovery.”
Episode 1: Breaking Bread & Breaking Walls with Monica Galetti & Daisy May Cooper
In the first episode, Michelin-starred chef Monica Galetti and comedian Daisy May Cooper meet in the beating heart of Shoreditch, and from their first moment, their dynamic is chaotic. The two roam Redchurch Street, dive into a pottery class that goed wrong and fall into conversations that switch from playful teasing to raw honesty in a matter of seconds.
What makes this episode special is how naturally the walls come down. Monica, known for her precision in the kitchen, lets loose in Daisy’s world full of humour and storytelling. On the other hand, Daisy, opens up about the reality behind her comedy. Their differences quickly becomes the glue that brings them together.
Everything finishes over dinner at Legado, where Monica reminds Daisy, and all of us, that “food is the biggest connector. It breaks walls.” By the end you see what she means. Two worlds, two energies, one shared table. The two leave closer than when they arrived in Shoreditch.
Episode 2: City Roots, Country Truths with Professor Green & Jimmy Doherty
Episode two brings together rapper and mental health advocate Professor Green with farmer and broadcaster Jimmy Doherty. The pair behins at Strongroom Studios, a place where Green has spent years shaping his music and navigating the layers of his own identity. The conversation starts like you would expect, some laughter, a few jabs about living in the city bs country life, but this changes as they head towards Spitalfields City Farm. It’s here, surrounded by animals and community volunteers, that the real heart of the episodes happens.
What starts with a conversation about sustainability becomes a conversation about something deeper. The talks move to legacy, belonging and the disconnect many people feel between who they are and where they come from. Green opens up about mental health in a vulnerable way. Jimmy, on the other hand, responds with a reflection drawn from a life lived on the land, the land where food grows.
They finish at Blacklock Shoreditch, shading a meal and leaning into empathy. The message is clear and simple. Sometimes the biggest divide is just a misunderstanding, and a conversation is enough to bridge this misunderstanding, to unite two worlds.
Episode 3: Finding Light in Everyday with Big Zuu & Tilly Lockey
The third, and for now last episode brings the energy and emotional load through the meeting of Big Zuu, a chef, rapper and TV personality with motivational speaker Tilly Lockey. From the moment they meet, their day in Shoreditch feels special, there’s a lot of laughter, storytelling and special moments.
They hit East London landmarks like the Old Blue Last and Brick Lane before stopping at vegan favourite KingCooksDaily, but the food and scenery are just a backdrop to a raw, none scripted conversation about purpose and perspective. Tilly shares her journey as a double amputee in a way that leaves Big Zuu speechless. Her words are powerful: “I wasn’t meant to be alive, so every day is something to be grateful for.” It’s a line that stays with you long after the episode ends. By the time they say goodbye to each other, the viewers are left with the feeling that Common Ground is something genuine, real connections and real stories told in a meaningful way.
With Common Ground, Tripadvisor is reshaping how travel can be talked about. The focus isn’t on being abroad, somewhere far away, but focuses on the stories exchanged. The series focuses on the idea that discovery can happen everywhere, in your own city, your own neighbourhood and even in your own street.
