A Three-step Hidden London
It’s not breaking news, we know, but how could one resist the temptation of speaking, with a pinch of pride of one’s discovering skills, of the hidden places of one of the most interesting cities in the world? Like no place else, London goes along with this game. Its amazing racial and cultural melting pot makes it a perfect home for local street markets, pubs, lovely small parks and essay cinemas that just a few lucky tourists visit. Just walking around Whitechapel, Lower Thames and Oxford St we found out three absolutely delicious places.
London is one of the most vintage-full cities of the world. We could give you many addresses to visit for your vintage treasure hunt, but instead we have chosen Hanbury Hall Market because, although it’s central (at 22 Brick Lane), you’ll find it cradled in the midst of small alleys that hide it from the hectic city life, especially if you arrive from Whitechapel. The market has been set up inside an old church; now, in place of candelabras and worshipers, you can find cloth hangers and hipsters looking for vintage dresses. Within, between flannel shirts and faded jeans, you’ll find a lovely café corner with patty-cakes, tea and coffee.
Have you ever heard about the small park of St. Dunstan in the East? You’ll reach it in a half-hour walk from Brick Lane. If you use the tube, step off on Monument; after exiting the station, find Lower Thames St, that will lead you straight to the park. When entering, it will be like finding yourself in the secret gardens that inspire the urban fantasy writers and movie directors. Between the ruins of the church, the beauty destroyed by the bombings of the II World War, it seems like being far away from the city.
To finish our tour we couldn’t but add a pub. Bourne & Hollingsworth, 28 Rathbone Place, in the artistic neighborhood of Fitzrovia, is so tiny you could miss it if you blink while walking past. It’s a quirky basement bar with a beautiful shabby-chic styling and mouth-watering cocktails. Some of them come in chintzy tea cups with cucumber sandwiches on the side. Londoners love it, do you?
