This blog used to be all about East London places, politics and history, but I am easily distracted and have since strayed onto other exciting topics. So I thought it’d be good to make a page with some old favourites and new treasures.

Eating and drinking

Gallery Cafe – Vegetarian cafe in Bethnal Green. hosts exhibitions, music and local groups. There’s also a charity shop, woo!

Chicchi Cafe – Wonderful Italian cafe on Roman Road, Bow (blogged)

Eat 17 – Stunning, slightly posh restaurant, Walthamstow

Meze Patisserie Cafe – Lovely Leytonstone cafe, the moussaka especially recommended (blogged)

The Star of India – Knocks the socks of other curry houses, especially for vegetarians

G Kelly Pie and Mash shop – Popular traditional eel and pie house, but with vegetarian pies! Long history (blogged)

The North Star – Proper local in Leytonstone, hidden down a street full of pretty historic cottages

King Eddie’s – Great pub in Stratford, really good food and friendly quiz (blogged)

Ichiban – Tiny restaurant in Leytonstone serving noodles and sushi. Incredibly cheap, friendly and you can bring your own drink. Open 7.30 – 10pm on Thurs, Fri and Sat only

Londek Cafe – Busy cafe serving homemade Polish food in Stratford. Try the kompot to drink! (blogged)

E Pellicci – An East End institution, proper caff with lovely staff and amazing decor, Bethnal Green

Rootmaster – The world’s only vegan bustaurant? Brick Lane

Arts Bar and Cafe at Toynbee Hall – Hidden away so usually quiet, good range of drinks, teas, food. Sometimes have events and exhibitions. Near Aldgate East.

Coffee@157 – The best cafe on Brick Lane, no buts

Singburi – Small but tasty thai restaurant in Leytonstone

Art and history

William Morris Gallery – Beautiful house full of beautiful objects. Nice gardens too, and free! Walthamstow

Dennis Severs House – An experience unlike any other, part art installation, part theatre, part museum, Spitalfields

Museum of Childhood – Toys and games from centuries ago and from your own childhood, Bethnal Green

Museum of London in Docklands – Cracking local history and some great exhibitions, on West India Quay

Geffrye Museum – In Hackney, museum documenting the history of domestic interiors, surprisingly revealing

Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge – I thought Chingford was in Essex but I stand corrected, it’s in London. Some interesting history (the stairs were made especially wide because Henry VIII was so massively fat when he had it built) and nice views onto the forest

The Women’s Library – Aldgate East. Fantastic collection of books, periodicals and objects including some beautiful embroidered suffragette banners. Run lots of excellent and absorbing exhibitions and wide range of events (see also: Suffragettes in Bow)

Wiltons Music Hall – Gorgeous semi derelict theatre and music venue near Cable St

Rio Cinema – Independent cinema in Dalston running interesting events and screening unusual films (blogged)

Whitechapel Gallery – A major gallery, great programme of events and exhibitions, near Aldgate East tube

Bishopsgate Institute – Stunning building near Liverpool Street station, puts on a lot of interesting talks and tours (blogged)

Rich Mix – Cafe, cinema, bar, music venue, Bethnal Green

Close Up Film Centre – Has a regular film night at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club and dvd rental service from its shop on Brick Lane

Stratford Circus – Performing arts centre which puts on a lot of good family stuff and has had some great (blogged)

East End Film Festival – More of a thing than a place, but always throws up something interesting (blogged) (and here)

Green spaces

Epping Forest – What can I say? It’s a forest. In London. Our nearest bits are Hollow Ponds and Wanstead Flats but you could spend hours walking around it. There are also lots of interesting historical and literary connections to investigate. (blogged)

Spitalfields City Farm – Right near all the Brick Lane hipsters! (blogged)

Hackney City Farm – Nice cafe, good variety of animals, bit more central than some of the others (blogged)

Newham City Farm – Quite a big farm if I remember correctly

Mudchute Farm and Kitchen – This is the best for my money. Lots of large animals and an area full of small cute fluffy ones as well and a wonderful cafe

Victoria Park – Huge! With a long proud history of radical activist speakers and rallies, including the suffragettes

Dancing

Unskinny Bop – Disco dancing for gays and misfits. Now with air conditioning and places to sit following the refurbishment, Bethnal Green

Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club – Just round the corner in Bethnal Green. Lots of good stuff happens here, including a Twin Peaks themed cabaret night (blogged)

Shopping

Freedom Press Bookshop – Anarchist bookshop in Whitechapel, lots of books and pamphlets on radical politics, green issues, feminism etc

The Engine Shed – Model railway shop in Leytonstone with friendly owner

Roman Road Market – Lively street market in Bow

Sunday Upmarket – Brick Lane vintage clothes and craft market with tasty food court

Backyard Market – Another Brick lane market, bit more arty and less foody than the Upmarket

Rough Trade East – Rough Trade store and cafe in Brick Lane, an easy place to lose time and money

Spitalfields Market – Some wonderful stuff, although it’s heaving after 11am so go early

Queens – A kitsch cavern, has to be seen to be believed, in Spitalfields Market

Beyond Retro – ALL THE VINTAGE CLOTHES. Nice and cheap too. Brick Lane.

London Anarchist Bookfair – Takes place every year at Queen Mary’s University, Mile End

At Work Jewellery – Lovely lovely lovely jewellery, Brick Lane

East Side Books – Brick Lane bookshop

Newham Bookshop – Independent bookshop which runs a lot of events at the Stratford Circus, East Ham

Laden Showroom – Lots of nice things from new designers, Brick Lane

Junky Styling – Designers make intriguing new items from second hand clothes. Pretty pricey, but they have a sale box by the door, Brick Lane

Prick Your Finger – Nifty knitting shop in Bethnal Green

RIP

(places I have loved which I think are no longer open)

Elche tapas restaurant in Leytonstone

Wild Cherry vegetarian cafe in Bethnal Green

The cafe in the Women’s Library