Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Our favourite cafes and restaurants.
The curry capital of London. Go to small restaurants without touts. Or look places up first and check them out based on reviews.
878 residents recomanen
Brick Lane
Brick LaneThe curry capital of London. Go to small restaurants without touts. Or look places up first and check them out based on reviews.
A fun local cafe by the duck pond. Great coffee and good for weekend brunch. Open 7 days a week and they also sell bread, olive oil, and ice-cream.
1666 residents recomanen
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadA fun local cafe by the duck pond. Great coffee and good for weekend brunch. Open 7 days a week and they also sell bread, olive oil, and ice-cream.
Known for really good burgers. Has some rather unusual kinds of meat. Wins awards
102 residents recomanen
The Greedy Cow
8 Grove RdKnown for really good burgers. Has some rather unusual kinds of meat. Wins awards
Run by volunteers at the local community centre. Vegan food. Good coffee. Beer and wine. Often has concerts or stand up comedy. Wifi.
90 residents recomanen
Gallery Cafe
21 Old Ford RdRun by volunteers at the local community centre. Vegan food. Good coffee. Beer and wine. Often has concerts or stand up comedy. Wifi.
Monmouth coffee - the best. Also sells excellent bread loaves. Good cakes too. http://www.loafing.co.uk/
38 residents recomanen
Loafing
79 Lauriston RdMonmouth coffee - the best. Also sells excellent bread loaves. Good cakes too. http://www.loafing.co.uk/
A great local gastropub with good food and a jolly atmosphere. They often run special evenings and menus.
123 residents recomanen
The Empress
130 Lauriston RdA great local gastropub with good food and a jolly atmosphere. They often run special evenings and menus.
Excellent vegan restaurant, great food. Has nice garden at the back. Don't be put off by the orange plastic chairs. Particularly great chips (french fries).
E3 Vegan
Excellent vegan restaurant, great food. Has nice garden at the back. Don't be put off by the orange plastic chairs. Particularly great chips (french fries).
Symposium
363 Roman RdGreat wines and ice-cream and good Italian food.
Absolutely our favourite local restaurant. Lovely people, good prices, great Sunday roast and we love their cocktails. Eat food like this in Central London and you will pay a lot more. Opens evenings and lunch times at the weekend. Book a table by the window.
Palmers Restaurant
Absolutely our favourite local restaurant. Lovely people, good prices, great Sunday roast and we love their cocktails. Eat food like this in Central London and you will pay a lot more. Opens evenings and lunch times at the weekend. Book a table by the window.
A good local pub. Specialises in seafood. Has games and quiz nights.
49 residents recomanen
The Victoria
110 Grove RdA good local pub. Specialises in seafood. Has games and quiz nights.
Our local pub, just round the corner. Has good lunches. Gets packed if there is a football or rugby match on. Has board games. Nice staff.
The Crown
Our local pub, just round the corner. Has good lunches. Gets packed if there is a football or rugby match on. Has board games. Nice staff.
The ultimate and authentic English fish and chips. People come from far away for a cod supper. They also do pies. All wrapped up in paper, as it should be.
8 residents recomanen
Britannia Fish Bar London
101 Grove RdThe ultimate and authentic English fish and chips. People come from far away for a cod supper. They also do pies. All wrapped up in paper, as it should be.
Ever Sunday 10-4 pm. Food producers, bread, beer, coffee, cheese. Food trucks galore. Great for a picnic lunch.
65 residents recomanen
Victoria Park Market
Gore RoadEver Sunday 10-4 pm. Food producers, bread, beer, coffee, cheese. Food trucks galore. Great for a picnic lunch.
A posh fish and chips takeway. You can also sit inside in the restaurant. We love it.
104 residents recomanen
Fish House
128 Lauriston RdA posh fish and chips takeway. You can also sit inside in the restaurant. We love it.
One of the last remaining East End pie and mash shops. They have vegetarian options. If you are feeling brave, try the jellied eels.
15 residents recomanen
G Kelly
526 Roman RdOne of the last remaining East End pie and mash shops. They have vegetarian options. If you are feeling brave, try the jellied eels.
Cafe boat moored on the canal. There is a collection of small cafes grouped together. Nice in warm dry weather as there is outside seating.
42 residents recomanen
Barge East
White Post LaneCafe boat moored on the canal. There is a collection of small cafes grouped together. Nice in warm dry weather as there is outside seating.
Roman Road Art Cafe
426 Roman RdVery popular with the Insta brigade, and usually there is a queue outside.
Essentials
For stocking the larder, posting letters, pharmacy etc.
Ginger Pig
99 Lauriston RdThe best organic butcher in London, free range eggs also
Bottle Apostle wine shop features self-service wine sampling, wine tasting events and excellent wine purchasing advice. Sample wine from the self-service dispensers. Great selection.
36 residents recomanen
Bottle Apostle
95 Lauriston RdBottle Apostle wine shop features self-service wine sampling, wine tasting events and excellent wine purchasing advice. Sample wine from the self-service dispensers. Great selection.
Our local supermarket for all the basics. (If you are staying for a long time, most of the supermarket chains in the UK do home delivery, and this saves carrying everything home. Feel free to borrow the shopping trolley and shopping bags which are by the coat rack in the hall.
Tesco Express
Our local supermarket for all the basics. (If you are staying for a long time, most of the supermarket chains in the UK do home delivery, and this saves carrying everything home. Feel free to borrow the shopping trolley and shopping bags which are by the coat rack in the hall.
Sells all the fruit and veg you will ever want and open till late each evening.
Whole Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
407 Roman RdSells all the fruit and veg you will ever want and open till late each evening.
Breadery
Makes outstanding bread, croissants, sourdough and run by two lovely young people.
The best butcher in East London. Family run and owned, friendly, very good (and much cheaper than the Ginger Pig.)
Peckover Butchers (Brian Roberts)
195 Roman RdThe best butcher in East London. Family run and owned, friendly, very good (and much cheaper than the Ginger Pig.)
Massingham Chemist
197-199 Roman RdWe would not go to any other pharmacy, decent honest folk and very helpful
Best Food Centre London
417 Roman RdA small local supermarket that is open till late and very convenient.
Best of the local post offices, for stamps, parcels. Also sells packaging materials.
Roman Road Post Office
Best of the local post offices, for stamps, parcels. Also sells packaging materials.
Sightseeing
Places to visit in Tower Hamlets.
Best Sunday morning outing - old flower market with arty shops, street music and good food in small cafes
1660 residents recomanen
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadBest Sunday morning outing - old flower market with arty shops, street music and good food in small cafes
One of those obscure museums that you wonder why you did not visit sooner. Free entry.
418 residents recomanen
Museu de la Infància V&A
Cambridge Heath RoadOne of those obscure museums that you wonder why you did not visit sooner. Free entry.
Commemorates a time when the East End had no schools for poor children. It is housed in a group of three canalside buildings which once formed the largest “ragged” or free school in London
17 residents recomanen
Ragged School Museum
46-50 Copperfield RdCommemorates a time when the East End had no schools for poor children. It is housed in a group of three canalside buildings which once formed the largest “ragged” or free school in London
The Olympic Park - and you can walk to it from our house! The Olympic pool is here and fabulous for swimming sessions.
755 residents recomanen
Parc Olímpic de la Reina Elisabet
The Olympic Park - and you can walk to it from our house! The Olympic pool is here and fabulous for swimming sessions.
Voted London's best park many times - running trails, a boating lake (open Easter to October 10 - 5 and about 10 quid a boat), skate park, rose gardens, loads of music and other festivals. Love it!
61 residents recomanen
Victoria Park
Grove RoadVoted London's best park many times - running trails, a boating lake (open Easter to October 10 - 5 and about 10 quid a boat), skate park, rose gardens, loads of music and other festivals. Love it!
Worth a visit. Great views of London from the top and you can also go down the helter skelter.
ArcelorMittal Orbit
Worth a visit. Great views of London from the top and you can also go down the helter skelter.
Galeria Whitechapel
77-82 Whitechapel High StExcellent gallery with changing exhibitions.
If you want to learn about how rapidly the docklands have changed beyond all , this is the place for you.
217 residents recomanen
Museu dels Docklands de Londres
Hertsmere RoadIf you want to learn about how rapidly the docklands have changed beyond all , this is the place for you.
A family outing, especially good for city children who may not have been up close with a sheep before this.
140 residents recomanen
Parc i Granja de Mudchute
Pier StreetA family outing, especially good for city children who may not have been up close with a sheep before this.
London's only lighthouse and a millennium-long artwork are on this hidden spit of land beside the Lea River inlet. The Wharf is home to artists who live in converted shipping containers and share their environs with, among other things, chewing gum-based art, the 1,000-year Longplayer project, and the strange culinary institution that is Fat Boy's Diner.
14 residents recomanen
Trinity Buoy Wharf
64 Orchard PlLondon's only lighthouse and a millennium-long artwork are on this hidden spit of land beside the Lea River inlet. The Wharf is home to artists who live in converted shipping containers and share their environs with, among other things, chewing gum-based art, the 1,000-year Longplayer project, and the strange culinary institution that is Fat Boy's Diner.
Arts & Culture
Local venues from cinemas to theatre.
Local community cinema, arts centre and cafe. Brilliant. Right near Brick lane too... take the no 8 bus from outside the house
260 residents recomanen
Rich Mix
35-47 Bethnal Green RdLocal community cinema, arts centre and cafe. Brilliant. Right near Brick lane too... take the no 8 bus from outside the house
A small locally run arts centre. Often has interesting exhibitions. Free entry.
10 residents recomanen
The Ecology Pavilion Mile End Park
125 Grove RdA small locally run arts centre. Often has interesting exhibitions. Free entry.
Cinema Genesis
93-95 Mile End RdSurprisingly inexpensive cinema, cute bar. A local hangout.
Everything Else
Our local sports centre - pool, gyms, lots of classes. Nice walk up the canal to get there
71 residents recomanen
Parc Mile End
Clinton RoadOur local sports centre - pool, gyms, lots of classes. Nice walk up the canal to get there
London Buddhist Centre
51 Roman RdMeditation centre - lovely
Local church which is also used for exercise classes include morning bootcamp and Zumba. Ask Mary as she has tried them
The Parish Church of Saint Barnabas Bethnal Green
Grove RoadLocal church which is also used for exercise classes include morning bootcamp and Zumba. Ask Mary as she has tried them
our nearest airport - 15 minutes by cab. Really convenient
180 residents recomanen
London City Airport
Hartmann Roadour nearest airport - 15 minutes by cab. Really convenient
Saigon Nails & Beauty
Owned by a local resident, this is the best nail bar in the area.
Clothing Care
Our go to dry cleaner. Never had any problems with them.
Mile End Climbing Wall
Haverfield RoadA good local climbing wall, and you can rent shoes.
Open air lane swimming. Clean and tidy and you need to book. Lovely location in a park and just by Broadway market with small shops and cafes and a street market.
591 residents recomanen
Camps de Londres
London Fields West SideOpen air lane swimming. Clean and tidy and you need to book. Lovely location in a park and just by Broadway market with small shops and cafes and a street market.
Drinks & Nightlife
very interesting local east end pub, right on the canal, you can take your beer outside and sit on the grass with the rest of East London's arty types and gangsters in the summer.
116 residents recomanen
The Palm Tree Pub
127 Grove Rdvery interesting local east end pub, right on the canal, you can take your beer outside and sit on the grass with the rest of East London's arty types and gangsters in the summer.
A bar that serves great guinness and is three minutes walk from our house.
129 residents recomanen
The Crown
144-146 Hatfield RdA bar that serves great guinness and is three minutes walk from our house.
Beer garden with a large indoor area. Good breakfasts and lunches and especially nice in good weather as it is right on the park.
People's Park Tavern
Beer garden with a large indoor area. Good breakfasts and lunches and especially nice in good weather as it is right on the park.
Nice pub that also holds events. Right on the corner of Victoria Park.
75 residents recomanen
Royal Inn on the Park
111 Lauriston RoadNice pub that also holds events. Right on the corner of Victoria Park.
An atmospheric local venue that hosts a varied and interesting programme. Off the beaten track and memorable.
162 residents recomanen
Wilton's Music Hall
1 Graces AlyAn atmospheric local venue that hosts a varied and interesting programme. Off the beaten track and memorable.
Shopping
There are lots of small local shops in our area. Here are a couple of our favourites plus a mega shopping centre, one tube stop away,, which has everything you could possibly need and plenty that you really don't.
Run by the Buddhist centre, sells secondhand clothes and bric a brac. Friendly and a for a good cause.
6 residents recomanen
Lama's Pyjamas London
83 Roman RdRun by the Buddhist centre, sells secondhand clothes and bric a brac. Friendly and a for a good cause.
On the oldest known trade route in Britain, the road to Colchester famously taken by Boudicea on her way to burn the Romans in London. Friendly, sells everything. Tue & Thu 10am-3pm, Sat 9am-4pm
65 residents recomanen
Mercat de Roman Road
536 Roman RdOn the oldest known trade route in Britain, the road to Colchester famously taken by Boudicea on her way to burn the Romans in London. Friendly, sells everything. Tue & Thu 10am-3pm, Sat 9am-4pm
SNAP
465 Roman RdA quirky card and gift shop that is great for gifts.
An East End Institution, family-run Denningtons does lovely flowers, weddings, plants. Excellent for funerals, but we hope you will not need to use them.
Denningtons florist
An East End Institution, family-run Denningtons does lovely flowers, weddings, plants. Excellent for funerals, but we hope you will not need to use them.
Depending on your viewpoint, either the most amazing treasure trove of everything you could want to buy, or hell on earth. Try mornings if you must. It is very useful.
1214 residents recomanen
Westfield Stratford City
157 Montfichet RdDepending on your viewpoint, either the most amazing treasure trove of everything you could want to buy, or hell on earth. Try mornings if you must. It is very useful.