With East London quickly becoming the hub of all things trendy and dare we say it, hipster, there are now more things than ever to do in this often overlooked part of London. Here’s a quick round up of the places you really should go to if you find yourself in the good ol’ east end.
1. Brick Lane market (Every Sunday)
The best day to visit Brick Lane is undoubtedly a Sunday. The big street market is crammed full of food stalls, vintage finds, jewellery and all the art prints one could hope for. The Old Truman Brewery is perfect for any foodie and is also home to stalls with lots of independent fashion brands. Don’t forget to stop off at Beigel Bake for their infamous bagels too!
91 Brick Lane, Spitalfields and Banglatown E1 6QL
2. The East End Thrift Store
Housed in a warehouse down an alleyway, the East End Thrift Store is a hole in the wall treasure trove full of bargain vintage finds. Racks are filled with faux fur, jumpers, jeans, jackets and all the garish shirts one could ask for. It’s worth liking the Facebook page to keep up to date with the regular £1 sales they have where, yes, everything is only £1. Alternatively, their regular £10 fill-a-bag is just as tempting. But be warned, don’t let the musky smell of old clothes get in the way of finding that one of a kind piece.
Unit 1a, Waterman’s Building, Assembly Passage, London E1 4UT
3. Victoria Park
If strolls around the park are more your type of thing, Victoria Park is one of the prettiest in London to go to. With a small café serving locally sourced food in the centre of the park and a huge lake that you can take a picnic round, it really is one of the best kept secrets of East London. Its location also means it surrounds Regent’s Canal which snakes back to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Grove Road, Bow, London, E3 5TB
4. Sawmill Café
A quirky, shabby chic café in the heart of Stratford, Sawmill is quickly becoming one of the local hits in the area. Serving all the cake your heart could desire, great coffee and some of the best Eggs Royale this side of London, it is easy to see why there’s usually a queue out of the door almost everyday.
51 West Ham Lane, Stratford, E15 4PH
5. Gerry Raffles Square
This cultural quarter in the middle of Stratford is home to the Theatre Royal, Stratford Circus and Picturehouse amongst a small selection of bars and restaurants. Obviously, you could catch a movie in the cinema but with regular top theatre productions, comedy shows and art exhibitions on, why not try something a little different? Theatre tickets start from as little as £10, so you may as well catch that Saturday matinee! And sneak in a Caribbean cocktail at the adjoining Theatre Workshop bar.
Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, E15 1BN
6. Westfield Stratford City
Europe’s biggest shopping centre had to get a mention in this list. Housing 250 shops and 70 restaurants for all your dining needs as well as a bowling alley, cinema and a casino, this mall really isn’t like any other. Prepare to get lost and spend much more than you probably anticipated …
3 Grove Crescent Road, Stratford, E15 1AZ
7. King Edward VII Pub
Known by locals as the ‘King Eddie’, this 19th century, grade II listed building houses one of the best pubs in East London. Regular deals on drinks, local ales and a gastropub menu that boasts a mean Sunday roast, means this little pub is the perfect place to go after a long day. Although tiny, it houses an old saloon style bar and also has outdoor seating for those brave enough to bare those chilly evenings.
47 The Broadway, Stratford, London, E15 4BQ
8. Roof East
The rooftop of a multi-storey car park doesn’t really sound like the best evening out but trust me, the crazy golf, open air cinema, yoga lessons and bar are definite bonuses. As well as having a bird’s eye view of the London skyline and Olympic Park, this rooftop bar is certainly worth paying a visit. Roof East isn’t open during the Autumn/Winter months but is re-opening in Spring 2017!
Floors 7 & 8, Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, E15 1XE
Feature Image: @roofeast on Instagram