What’s not to like? No matter how many great cities I visit, London remains one of my favourites. The fact that it’s only a quick train ride from where I now live, so I can go as often as I like, doesn’t diminish the attraction. And gin, well who doesn’t love gin?
Our trip started on the 09:58 to Paddington. Possibly the most famous station in the capital, thanks to a certain bear, it’s a beautiful space, designed by Brunel and opened in 1854. I love train stations almost as much as airports, they have the same whiff of possibility in the air. One day I’ll just hop on a train and keep going as far as I can. And write a blog about it!
We then changed onto the tube, not my favourite means of transport, especially on a day when the whole Bakerloo line was suspended due to signalling problems. We got a seat, which was a plus, but really, who wants to travel around London underground where you can’t see anything? It’s such a waste in a fabulous city.
It was a relief to come back up to the surface at Liverpool Street, another lovely old station. It opened in 1874, is Britain’s third busiest station and, of course, appears on the Monopoly board.
Our home for the weekend was the CitizenM in Shoreditch, just a short walk from the station. It’s a great hotel, but obviously designed for people who are a bit more tech savvy than us. Everything in the room was controlled from an i-pad, which Tony very nearly threw out of the window (luckily the window didn’t open). What’s wrong with good old switches?
I’m not sure about the significance of the strange stuffed toys (there was one on our bed too) but the location was perfect and breakfast was quality. Really good coffee should never be underestimated, especially when slightly hungover!
Now, Shoreditch is known for hipster cool, so you may be wondering why on earth we decided to stay there? Gin and curry is the simple response. We were joining a gin tour for the afternoon, followed by a meal in Brick Lane, otherwise known as Banglatown.
We had a bit of time in hand before joining our tour, so we went for a wander around the area. You can tell you’re somewhere ‘trendy’ because of the amount of street art, whole buildings are covered with it. Some of it is beautiful, some less so…
It’s a bit grungey in parts, despite the ongoing gentrification.People watching is also great fun here, there are some, shall we say, eye-catching outfits on display.
The area around Brick Lane and Spitalfields was the stomping ground of Jack the Ripper back in the 1880s. We stopped for a drink at the Ten Bells opposite Spitalfields market, where some of his victims had their very last drinks. It probably hasn’t changed that much since then. It’s a proper old boozer, complete with tiled walls and copper topped tables. London excels in places like this.
We joined our Gin Journey along Bethnal Green Road at the Sun Tavern. Running in several cities around the UK, you join a group and are chauffeured around to 5 locations, sampling 5 different gins neat and in a cocktail, while learning more about your favourite tipple, which originated as a herbal tonic in the Middle Ages. Line your stomach before embarking.
After consuming a fair amount of gin, it was time to mop it up with some poppadoms. Out of a smorgasbord of curry houses on Brick Lane I’d chosen the Bengal Village based on longevity, awards and reviews. We weren’t disappointed. It was crowded with people enjoying their food – we chatted to the people sitting on either side of us (we were talkative, it could have been the gin!) and they were all raving about what they’d eaten. Paneer and prawns are my recommendation. It was the perfect end to the day.
On Sunday morning we set out on an epic walk to the Olympic Park and back, almost 10 miles but totally worth the effort. There’s nothing better than sauntering around the back streets of London when the sun’s out.
We wandered through Columbia Road flower market, which smelled absolutely amazing. Cut flowers, plants, herbs, succulents are all piled high on Sunday mornings from 8am. Further along Hackney Road, we joined the hordes walking their dogs, running, cycling around Victoria Park. Known to locals as Vicky Park or the People’s Park, it’s been one of the capital’s most popular open spaces since it opened in 1845.
The Regent Canal runs along the southern edge of the park, and a short stroll eastwards takes you past new apartment blocks into the heart of the Olympic Park, our ultimate destination. Covering 560 acres, it’s almost impossible to imagine that prior to the 2012 Olympics, this area was largely derelict. Eight years later, the construction continues, with cranes as far as the eye can see.
The star sights of the Park, obviously, are the Olympic venues – the Stadium, now home to West Ham Football Club, the Copper Box, the Aquatic Centre and the ArcelorMittel Orbit which is just weird looking, I’m still not sure what it does. But for me the canalside paths were the main attraction, joining the locals in their Sunday morning strolls. No tourists. No selfie sticks. My kind of London.
Steph's Travels 