Ministry of Stories and Hoxton Street Monster Supplies

Coffee Shop / Cafe Local London Place Reviews Shopping Shoreditch & Hackney Sight / Activity

Monster Supplies

Whether you’re a Vampire, Werewolf, Sasquatch or something else entirely, you will find anything you need at the amazing and wondrous Hoxton Street Monster Supplies – yes you read that correctly.

Besides, the Monster Supplies store is the only place in London (maybe in England??) where you can buy some Organ Marmalade, tubs of Mortal Terror or even jars of Thickest Human Snot! Everything about this gift shop is clever, cute and wonderfully themed!

Recently voted ‘No. 1 Kids’ Shop in London’ by Time Out Magazine, all proceeds from this kingdom of sweets and knick-knacks, go towards funding The Ministry of Stories, a charity that runs creative writing workshops for kids in East London, accessible via a secret door in the shop.

Buy their Cubed Earwax for a great cause!

 

London Zoo

Hyde Park Major Tourist Attraction Place Reviews Sight / Activity

The World Oldest Scientific Zoo

London Zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. Today it mixes modernity and history but not at the expense of the animals that live there. In the north side of Regent Park, it will keep you busy a whole day and you will really have fun either going with friends or having kids with you. Arrive early to make the most of your day and be sure to take snacks and other sustenance if you want to avoid spending a fortune on the food on sale at the zoo. Don’t miss Penguin Beach were charismatic penguins love to show off.

 

 

Somerset House

Major Tourist Attraction Place Reviews Sight / Activity

Art Temple

Somerset House is one of London’s most innovative museums. Find there a formidable art gallery, a beautiful fountain court, a terraced café and a classy restaurant. The new Embankment Galleries explore connections between art, architecture and design with series of temporary exhibitions. Family workshops take place on weekends and holidays. Somerset House is a major sight in London, with its classic architecture (two spectacular five-storey period staircases that you don’t want to miss!) and its quirky exhibitions.

In summer Somerset House hosts an outdoor film screen and a wonderfully atmospheric ice-rink in winter. This winter the ice-rink should appease the most discerning music snobs with all kind of tunes till late in the evening.

Portobello Road Market

Major Tourist Attraction Shopping Sight / Activity

Bric-a-brac West Market

Portobello Road Market is probably the world’s best known street market with a history stretching back over 150 years. It goes through the Notting Hill area carrying everything from farm fresh produce to vintage clothing and accessories. Hundreds of traders sell all sorts of everything, old and new, and there’s plenty of delicious street food from all around the world. Be sure to pop into the hidden gems behind the stalls where you will find endless rows of cafés and antique shops. And don’t forget to stop at 142 Portobello Road where William Thacker’s (Hugh Grant’s) in his shop Travel Book Co. met Julia Robert. It has never been a bookshop but it was Nicholls Antique Arcade, then a furniture store called Gong, and now a gift shop.

Note that the market is opened on Good Friday but closes on other bank holidays and for the famous Notting Hill Carnival.

 

The Fish House

Local London Mile End & Victoria Park Village Place Reviews Restaurants / Gastropub / Takeout

Fish & Chip Break

 

In the heart of Victoria Park Village The Fish House is an affordable place to eat a casual fish and chip. Most locals opt for carry-outs, but if you choose the restaurant you’ll get a more creative menu, where mains of grilled swordfish with a fragrant salsa, or pan-fried hake fillet with chorizo and butter beans, could precede a classic English pud (banana split, bread and butter pudding). You can’t go wrong with fish from the white-tiled takeaway section; choose from cod, scampi, haddock, rock, plaice or skate, generously battered and deep-fried.

 

 

 

G Kelly Pie and Mash

Bethnal Green and Spitalfields Local London Place Reviews Restaurants / Gastropub / Takeout

This Is East-London

Do you really want to experience East-London ? Well first, you better stop going in over-priced touristic ‘traditional’ places and start by the real places! G Kelly Pie and Mash is an old school white-tiled cafeteria for East End classic dishes, pie and mash and jellied eels. That’s is a true east-enders restaurant, don’t expect colourful or well-designed plates but something authentic. Not everyone will enjoy the east-ender service but we are talking about real experience.

 

 

Rosa’s Kitchen

Bethnal Green and Spitalfields Local London Place Reviews Restaurants / Gastropub / Takeout

Thai cuisine

You can find branches of Rosa’s kitchen in Soho, London Field and in Spitalfields. All their restaurants get busy for dinner but their service is always quick. They offer real Thai cuisine made with quality ingredients in a great atmosphere. I would warmly recommend the Spitalfields one as their staff is friendly and caring. Besides it’s not far from us! I won’t be able to recommend you one dish more than another considering that all of them are constantly a delight. The best would probably to go for a bit of everything to share.

Satan’s Whiskers

Bars / Pubs Bethnal Green and Spitalfields Local London Place Reviews

A Killer Cocktail

The name could scare you off, the outside as well actually. However if you finally take the plunge and step inside you won’t be disappointed! Satan’s Whiskers (named after a devilish cocktail, containing Italian Vermouth, French Vermouth, Gin and Orange Juice, Grand Marnier and Orange Bitters) is an excellent cocktail place. The staff will try to understand what you like the most to make sure the cocktail you order suits you.

The decor is stunning, between taxidermy and old french vintage poster you can enjoy a laid-back night with a really cool hip-hop soundtrack from the 90s. This is definitely the perfect place to go for a first night date! 😉

 

The Last Tuesday Society

Bars / Pubs Place Reviews Shoreditch & Hackney Sight / Activity

A Museum of Weirdness

The Last Tuesday Society is a unique unpretentious cocktail bar in the centre of East-London.

Even in London it’s not that difficult to find some cool unpretentious places. But that’s not every day you can enjoy a drink between a cobra and a lioness.

On Mare Street, The Last Tuesday Society will make you step in a quirky world, where after few cocktails you won’t remember if you are in a taxidermy museum or in an actual bar. Downstairs you have a real museum which is an interesting journey into an incoherent jumble of random funny things.

 

The Book Club

Bars / Pubs Local London Place Reviews Shoreditch & Hackney

Cheesy Club and Hip Cafe

 

I just love that place! Breakfast, brunch, exhibition, live music and DJs! The Book Club is in Shoreditch and offers pretty much everything. Go there for some late drinks and dance with a friendly crowd on cheesy tunes. It’s not a pub, it’s not a club and it’s different than the others dancing-bar that you will find around. The atmosphere is always warm and cheerful. If you like dancing on The Wham!, the Spice Girls and the early Black Eyes Peas that the place to go. And if you are more a hip-dancefloor lover just go downstairs where that’s the music and DJs are more on-trends.