A little help from the London Folk please

[KeepCalm]

Hello!

DH and I find ourselves in London this wkend.

We have a show on Fri night but haven't booked anything else as my Health was casting a shadow over the trip.

We normally stomp about all over the place when we're down but this time we're staying docklands and need some suggestions for the weekend please.

I second the Hawksmoor recommendation. Better than Butler's Wharf Chop House and not as touristy. Hawksmoor do a fabulous Sunday Roast but you need to book (all their branches are frequently booked out for Sunday lunch). But for really serious meat lovers, go to Goodman at South Quay (just near Canary Wharf). The smell of meat as you walk in is overwhelming and they do the most amazing steaks (although it comes at a price). You can sit outside to eat by the dock if the weather is nice.

But if you're keeping costs down, you can get some amazing street food all over London these days. My favourite is the beef bourguignon burger (topped with melted raclette - it's to die for!) from The Patate at Victoria Park Farmer's Market on Sundays 10am-4pm.

Some of these are brilliant but we really only have today and tomorrow so Sunday is out

@HeyMicky I haven't quite managed a swimsuit or massage with the old one boob situation yet so didn't bring anything suitable

I'm not sure it's the best weather forecast for the weekend ☹️ Have you got the app Citymapper - really good for telling you how to get around in case you can't walk.

St Paul's Cathedral is always amazing if the weather is awful... it's so incredible inside.

How about a special afternoon tea?

If you're meat lovers Blacklock Soho is excellent too

Managed the garden at 120 Fenchurch and leadenhan market before back to the hotel to rest before tonight's show.

Tomorrow we're meeting friends at Spitalfield and brick lane.

Thanks everyone x

@redbedheadd will download it now but am not horrendous at finding my way about. I try to get down once a year. Just this year am a lot slower and more tired. Which is annoying!!

Have you done the airline from Royal Victoria to North Greenwich? Brilliant views, it’s lovely as a round trip.

Hope you're enjoying your visit so far OP. Not the best weather unfortunately so fingers crossed it will be less wet tomorrow. At least Spitalfields is under cover so that will give you some options if it rains.

If you need a coffee stop, Nude Espresso on Hanbury St / in Spitalfields itself does fabulous coffee (I live walking distance from here and buy all my coffee beans here). Finding bad coffee in this area is a challenge though as there are lots of outstanding independent coffee shops so it's hard to go wrong.

Tons of good food options in the area. Too many to list, you'll be failing over them. We're very spoiled in E1 for food and coffee.

Make sure you have a poke around the backstreets between Spitalfields and Brick Lane (i.e. Fournier St, Princelet St) to have a look at the beautiful old weavers' houses. Tracey Emin has a house here. As do Gilbert and George (12 Fournier St) the well known local artists. As you walk north up Brick Lane, The Tea Rooms will be open I think (lots of antiques in here and a break from any bad weather). Next to them is a covered market (for handicrafts etc) down this alley (used to be called the By Market, not sure if it still is) which tends to be open on Sat and is another place to shelter from any rain. As you get to the top end of Brick Lane (where the beigel shops are), if you go left you'll end up at Boxpark (where there is a little seating area if you need a rest). If you go straight over the road from Brick Lane, you'll end up on Redchurch St which is one of Shoreditch's more well known 'hipster' streets. The Owl & The Pussycat here has a pub garden at the back (again if you're looking for a sit down). Fabulous shoe maker Tracey Neuls has a shop here and Browns East (cutting edge fashion is also here). Lots of interesting little boutiques - Aesop are very happy to let you try out all their skincare and T2 (Aussie tea chain) always have various teas available to try for free. For brunch (or a pitsop), Albion are excellent. They also have a deli for takeaway pastries, coffee etc. I should stop now or this will become a monster essay but hope this helps a little if you're looking for places to chill out in a little or get a break from the weather (if it rains).

I've lived in London 11 years and still use Citymapper religiously to check fastest routes at any given time x

@Needallthesleep I have but DH hasn't. We're just getting the clipper back to the hotel now though as am getting past being out

@HundredMilesAnHour that's fab thank you. Shall take it all on for tomorrow!

@redbedheadd have downloaded! We only had to go from Canary Wharf to O2 tonight so even we managed that

@HundredMilesAnHour Lucky you! I lived in that area for years and loved it so much. Incredibly happy memories of Bethnal Green. One of my favourite places on earth. I'd go back like a shot but DH hates the city so we moved out.

@HundredMilesAnHour starting from Nude

Thank you

Make sure you grab a bagel from Brick Lane, you want to go to the one with the white shop front, it’s the better of the two!

You're very welcome @KeepCalm. I'm glad the sun is finally out for you (even if it is a bit windy). I was thinking of you earlier when I was out and about near Brick Lane.

Top tip - if you use fresh coffee at home, buy a bag from Nude Espresso and then they give you a coffee for free (so saves £3 or so). I recommend their East blend. It's my absolute favourite.

@woodcutbirds So sorry your DH won't let you move back. I love Bethnal Green (I'm somewhat obsessed with feeding the squirrels in the park by the tube). The area is continuing to really take off. A cool new craft beer bar and pizza joint opened just literally last night near the railway arches on Cambridge Heath Road. Across the road from them (in 5 of the arches), there's a new coffee shop, bar and taproom that opened just a month ago. An acrobatics (?!) gym/studio just opened round the corner plus another new coffee shop. The area is changing so fast. I fall over hipsters everywhere I go. Great for the local economy and the quality of food/drink. But still struggling with a massive homeless problem which seems to have got visibly worse recently. There's a lot of fairly brazen drug taking. And the usual Police checking bushes in the park for hidden weapons. Never a dull moment in East London. I love it.

It's open squatters weekend this weekend, look up open squares.org, all the posh garden squares that are normally locked flung open for the normal folk to nose around.

I want to go but am working (sulk)!

I meant squares not squatters, bloody autocorrect!

I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you all so much for all your help.

We've had a lovely wkend without a set plan but been able to visit places mentioned on here alongside a show, seeing friends and managing the stupid restrictions my health places on me.

You guys are ace thank you all

So glad you've had a lovely weekend! You definitely deserve it after everything you've been through.

Come back to London soon and we'll all have more ideas for you. Maybe even some sunshine

Thank you @HundredMilesAnHour we love London and try to come as often as we can. This was first time by train and won't be the last 🤞🏻