Spitalfields on a Sunday?

[MojoDojoCasaHouse]

I’m heading to London for a show with a friend next weekend. Friend doesn’t know London and relied on me to pick places on our previous visit. Not a problem as I lived in London in a previous life. Friend has found a place to eat she fancies at Spitalfields. It’s nowhere near where we are staying or where the show is. Just wondering whether Spitalfields is worth a few hours on a Sunday before we head back home. I haven’t been for about 25 years back before it was cool (DH lived in a student slum in Whitechapel).

The market at Spitalfields is one of my favourites, and there are some nice pubs around there too. Depends if you are into shopping and pubs, I guess!

It’s a massive market and quite posh these days and you can walk to brick lane and even Columbia road market for flowers if you have time. You can easily spend 2-3 hours

One of my favourites too, definitely worth a visit imo.

Brilliant. Sounds like a plan then. Sadly can’t hit the pubs as I’m driving home. Plus can’t afford London prices 😁. Friend will love the market particularly if there is crafty stuff.

Absolutely worth a visit. Husband and I used to have long boozy lunches round that way pre-kids. I miss those days!

I wouldn't bother. Its completely gentrified and not like it used to be. The restaurants there are chains, so they probably have a location closer to where you're staying.

@MojoDojoCasaHouse My eldest lives not too far from that area. It has definitely changed a lot in 25 years. I remember when it was just derelict warehouses & no one on the streets. Lots of good places for lunch now & shopping.

EternalSunshine19 definitely no branches near where we are staying. Others are even further out. There are only 3 branches of the place my friend is looking at going to.

I remember the £4 curries in brick lane with BYO from the off-licence opposite the curry house. Happy days 😁

Is it Humble Crumble? 😆 I can never face the queue for it even though it looks amazing.

You realise you have inadvertently started a game of guess the restaurant?!

So, a 3 “chain” restaurant one of which is in Spitalfields. Hmmm. Is it Padella? Or Gunpowder?

Also, Spitalfields is indeed very gentrified, but it’s still a nice place to spend a couple of hours wandering around.

Columbia road flower market not far away but check time on until, id go there first, then a mooch round Brick Lane for a bagel, the market and the Broccoli Man (look out for his broccolis on walls etc)

Definitely not crumble. Not paying for that when I can make my own with free blackberries 😁. It’s a noodle type place I think?

Biang Biang Noodles? (sorry, couldn't help joining in the guessing game lol).

If you haven't been for 25 years, you're in for a (pleasant) shock. Spitalfields is very middle class these days but cross the road over to Hanbury St / Brick Lane and you'll find the more 'old school' craft stalls at the Upmarket and Bymarket as well as more street food than you can eat in a year. Arrive hungry.