ARTFULLYSHOREDITCH
By Lauren Keith
After picking up a haul of plants and
freshly cut flowers from Columbia
Road Flower Market (above), it’s
easy to walk to the markets all along
Brick Lane with pop-up food stalls
and vintage clothes headquartered
around the Old Truman Brewery but
stretching nearly the full length of the
street. There’s tonnes of great street-art
around Brick Lane and Shoreditch – the
pieces may not be permanent, but
there are several sites where artists put
their latest paste-ups. There’s also a
roving community garden that’s a bar
and was the site of a street art festival a
few months ago. You can see the art
through a guided tour (super-interesting
and informative) or go on your own.
Columbia Road Flower Market:
http://www.columbiaroad.info
Brick Lane: http://www.visitbricklane.org
Community gardens:
http://www.nomadicgardens.weebly.com
HACKNEY MARSHES
By Tasmin Waby
Even before I bought a narrowboat,
I was a bit obsessed with the River Lea.
It’s a lovely cycle or long walk from
industrial Limehouse to the wilds
of Hackney Marshes. Checking out
the narrowboats moored along the
towpath, you start to notice how
different they all are. A detour into
quickly gentrifying Hackney Wick for
street art and a waterside brew is also
good on a sunny day, perhaps at
Crate Brewery, No. 90 Bar
& Kitchen or the more low-key
Stour Space. And then there are
ample foraging opportunities on
the Marshes themselves.
Crate Brewery:
http://www.cratebrewery.com
No. 90 Bar & Kitchen:
http://www.number90bar.co.uk
Stour Space: http://www.stourspace.co.uk
BOW
By Doug Rimington
Roman Road has some fantastic places
for food. I like Mae & Harvey for
breakfast or brunch – it’s a tiny place
which is always popular. My favourite
is waffles with beans, egg and
avocado. For dinner, perhaps Vicolo
Pizza London or Bacaro for good
value Italian. If I were feeling fancy, I’d
go to Symposium for pork fillet with
roast potatoes (the wine list is
amazing). Further down Roman Road,
you’ll find proper East End cafés, and,
if music is your thing, settle in at
Muxima for tapas, live gigs and
various slightly arty activities while
enjoying its hotch-potch decor.
Mae & Harvey:
http://www.maeandharvey.com
Vicolo Pizza London:
http://www.vicolopizzalondon.co.uk
Bacaro: http://www.bacaro387.co.uk
Symposium:
http://www.symposiumlondon.co.uk
Muxima: http://www.muxima.co.uk
EAST
SUNRISEOVER
THE CITY
By Christina Webb
It’s worth getting up before dawn
to experience sunrise over the city
(below), before the crowds get to it.
And what better way to see in the day
than with a yoga session? There’s
something really special about the
classes held in the garden at the top
of the Walkie Talkie building.
Breathe in, stretch, and, before you
know it, the sun has started to appear
over the skyline. I find it the perfect way
to relax, and an antidote to time spent
exploring the busy streets below. After
yoga, I devour a well-deserved
breakfast (pastry, cereal, yoghurt, and
so on), included in the ticket, and that’s
my restorative start to the day!
http://www.skygarden.london
LOST IN THE BARBICAN
By Hazel Lubbock
I’ve literally never found the entrance
to the Barbican immediately upon
arrival. But criss-crossing the network
of walkways connecting this immensely
ugly (to some) and utterly brilliant
(to others) estate is half the fun. You
(or at least, I) always get a different
view of the Brutalist icon, and can peek
into people’s homes along the way.
There are always exhibitions, films and
performances to check out here.
And, on Sundays, you can bliss out in
the tropical-vibe Conservatory. This
place really is a concrete jungle, and
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
http://www.barbican.org.uk
CENTRAL
PHOTOGRAPHS: MATT MUNRO/ LONELY PLANET, ROBERT GARRIGUS/ ALAMY PHOTOGRAPHS: ISSY CROKER/ LONELY PLANET, DAVID WILLIAMS/ HYBRIDDAVE.COM/ GETTY IMAGES