Five of the best in the east
Seen the sights of London and want to connect with what’s really happening? Head to the East End, writes Brian Johnston.
Successive waves of immigrant communities have made their mark on the East End, artist communities thrive in the area, and the arrival of hip hotels and architectural renovations are creating a contemporary buzz.
Visit
Dennis Severs’ House (dennissevershouse.co.uk) showcases the life of a wealthy Huguenot silkweaving family, and Geffrye Museum (geffrye-museum.org.uk) four centuries of domestic interiors. The V&A Museum of Childhood (vam.ac.uk) has one of the world’s best collections of childhood objects. Local artists sell their work at Spitalfields Market (spitalfields.co.uk), which is slowly changing as hipster cycle shops and fashion brands move in. Recently restored Christ Church Spitalfields (ccspits.org) has a beautiful Georgian interior designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor.
Eat
Get your dose of upmarket British seafood dishes such as mackerel or turbot at Michelin-starred Angler Restaurant, or your flame-grilled hunk of meat and accompanied shared dishes at the Chop House, both at South Place Hotel (southplacehotel. com). Kings Stores Pub (kingsstores.co.uk) does good hearty pub fare, while Ottolenghi Spitalfields (ottolenghi.co.uk) is a popular eastern Mediterranean eatery. Hit Brick Lane for curries and Beigel Bake (beigel bake.com) for salt-beef beigels.
Look
Soak up the street vibe and brilliant street art and graffiti in Shoreditch, Hoxton and Spitalfields. Saunter down trendy Redchurch St for upmarket boutiques, Fournier St for many examples of 18th-century houses, and Brick Lane for curry houses and Old Truman Brewery (trumanbrewery.com), converted to pop-up galleries and lively eateries. The Sunday Columbia Road Flower Market (columbiaroad.info) is a colourful spectacle. The latest in youthful nightlife is in Dalston.
Must
South Place Hotel (southplacehotel.com) has joined with Walk Eat, Talk Eat (walkeattalkeat.com) to create a bespoke food trail that explores its culinary and immigrant history. The 31⁄2-hour guided wander through Shoreditch and Hoxton stops to sample local foods, from baked doughnuts and sausage rolls to smoked haddock croquettes and Bangladeshi desserts. Tour company owner Charli Matthews also knows about the artistic community, street art and eclectic markets.
Sleep
The ultra-hip, high-energy South Place Hotel (southplacehotel.com) is the perfect example of the contemporary hotel scene. It has low lighting and a decor in shades of grey punctuated by sudden splurges of colour and curious artworks. The rooftop bar is a trendy nightlife spot. Rooms are large, beds enormous and bathrooms wallowworthy. Located in Moorgate, the hotel is a 10-minute walk from Spitalfields.
Tip
Hanbury St, Bacon St and the alleys off Brick Lane provide great examples of street art. Look up when walking in the East End: the shopfronts are often topped by Victorian facades. – Traveller.com.au