Tag: Brick Lane

Streets, Murals and Rooftops of London

During our stay in England we found time to escape for a couple of day trips up to London. For Anthony is was all about retail and restaurants for me bars and buildings. Fortunately we each found what we were looking for.

I love walking around the streets of the City and up to Brick Lane it brings back so many memories from when I used to work in London. I remember working in quite a few of these older buildigs. I used to be a legal secretarial temp so had many jobs over 16 years. Although the old buildings are still standing there are many skyscrapers and new streets that I can’t always get my bearings. Not just buildings either but all of the old pubs are still there and I have definitely been in a few of those for after work drinks on a Friday.

Views from a Rooftop Bar

Walking to Brick Lane we saw that another fantastic building had materialised since our last trip, we discovered it was a new Hilton. I could see there was a rooftop bar with a balcony so we decided to head up and take a look. The bar is called Floratica and is decorated with stunning lights and plants. We sipped on cocktails looking out at the panaramic views of London rooftops.

Zoom in and there is St. Paul’s in the distance
From one roof top to another
The Gherkin on the right

After finishing our drinks we set out for Brick Lane, for me to see any new murals and Anthony to head to his favourite shop.

Murals and Sculptures


The first CR emblem I’ve seen

Mural on large garage door in Fashion Street

You Are Enough by Neequaye Dreph Dsane

Summer Moon” by Ugo Rondinone

Commemorating Bangladesh’s 50th anniversary of independence – 2021
Mohammed Ali Aerosol
Bob Marley

Fabulous mural by Benzi Brofman – an in demand Israeli graffiti artist – who paints murals world wide.

Doors and Knockers

Like many people I’ve always had a thing for doors and as we walked down Princelet Street, I wasn’t disappointed. On closer inspection I saw the intricate designs of the door knockers, they were so intriguing.

Princelet Street, Spitalfields is a quiet unassuming street and I didn’t think too much about it until I googled No. 4, The Red House. The street itself dates back to the 1700’s and the houses were occupied mainly by poorer Londoners and migrants fleeing religious persecution and other atrocities. In the early 18th century the street saw many occupants who worked for the famous Truman Brewery. Nowadays No. 4 is rented out for events and films. I found much of this information on a blog called Memoirs of a Metrogirl. It’s a most interesting read.

No. 4 Princelet Street
It doesn’t seem like it’s been painted since the 1700s, staying as authentic as it can.

All these houses are Grade II listed heritage houses and if you’re in the market for a move to London they sell for approximately £2,800,000. No. 18 looks like it could do with a new door.

By now it was almost time for dinner and Anthony had set his heart/stomach on a French restaurant he had found on Google. It was called Chez Elles. As per usual he ordered Deep fried Veal Sweetbread with gazpacho sauce and then the Steak tartare and for me it was French Onion Soup followed by Confit Duck. It was a great choice of restaurant, very quaint and decorated like an authentic French Bistro.

As we won’t be back to London for quite a while (I hope!) we had a grand day out, finding something for both of us. You can’t go wrong with a day out in London can you?

Joining in for Natalie’s Weekend Coffee and PPAC and of course Dan’s Thursday Doors which once again I’ve missed the deadline!

East to West London in a Day

On a freezing cold day we travelled up to London by train for the first time in two years. From Basildon to Fenchurch Street Station takes around 30 minutes. From here we walked around to Tower Hill and instead of hopping on the tube we caught a taxi to Brick Lane! We could have walked really. Our first stop was my dear hubby’s favourite clothes shop Son of a Stag where he buys his jeans. While he was shopping I had a quick walk around to see if there was anything interesting to see.

Can you spot me in the corner?

From here we walked to Liverpool Street to catch a bus to New Bond Street, but first we stopped for lunch. We decided on The Ivy City Garden. A truly magnificent restaurant, exactly like a garden inside. Our lunch was sublime.

Roasted Scallops topped with crispy prosciutto on pureed potato in a red wine sauce
Salmon and smoked haddock fish cake on a pea and herb sauce and poached egg on top

Outside this restaurant was a building I had never seen before, in all the years I had worked in London! It was just amazing.

This building first opened in 1895 to cater for the growing demand for luxury Turkish bath houses. This is now a private cocktail bar and you need an appointment to look around. The turquoise tiles are still beautiful to look at.

We then caught a bus to our next destination, enjoying the ride through the streets of London. As it was “the eleventh day of Christmas” the lights were still up.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

I was quite happy to wear a mask as it was getting colder by the minute, but at least the sun was shining. Masks are compulsory in the UK now but I don’t see any enforcement of this going on.

After walking down New Bond Street and South Molton Street it was time to head back. What a long walk we had before we could find the correct bus stop, then we found the road was closed and had to revise our plan. It was wonderful to walk though as I could stop frequently and take photos.

New Bond Street
South Molton Street
Oxford Street

We had planned on having dinner at a favourite tapas restaurant near Fenchurch Street, but sadly this was not open. I had also made us get off the bus far too soon and we ended up having to walk another 20 minutes to our last stop! We walked around in a complete circle at one point due to the signal dropping out from Google maps. Dear hubby kept saying “you must know these streets, you worked here long enough”. Everywhere is so different now and there were certainly no high rise buildings when I worked there 30 years ago!

We had a brilliant day though and will be planning another day trip very soon.

~ Until the next trip ~

My A to Z Travel Challenge – L is for London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Part One

East London and the City

London, the city I was born in, worked in and lived for a while. It is one of my favourite cities and even though there must be hundred of blogs about London, these posts are about my memories of London. We try to visit at least a few times when we go back to the UK to see my parents, either taking the train which is around a 30 minute journey or drive up.

I found a wonderful website called Just Park . It’s a site where people rent out their parking spaces for a day at a time. We have never paid more than £10 a day, which is a bargain considering the astronomic cost of parking in London. If we take the train, we buy a travel card for the day and this lets you use, trains, tube and buses. The train for us takes us into Fenchurch Street Station and from here we walk to the tube or bus stop. I have found that google maps is brilliant for telling you what number bus to take and when it will arrive.

So much has changed over the last twenty years I find it hard to know my way around like I used to. Tall architecturally designed buildings now dominate the city with centuries old churches nestled in between.

By Day

  • St. Paul’s Cathedral
  • Tower of London
  • Plantation House
  • Monument to the Great Fire of London
  • The Walkie Talkie Building
  • St. Mary Aze
  • Leadenhall Street
  • Royal Exchange

The iconic red London double decker bus is the best way to see London especially if you are at the top in the front! We did manage this during one visit only to be turfed off shortly down the road due to the “Save the Planet” protests.

By Night

  • The Gherkin from the Heron Tower
  • The Gherkin with St. Mary Axe
  • Alleyways
  • and Pubs

Nowadays there are so many places to eat in the City, whereas many years ago it was really just pubs and cafes. The food is always good wherever you go giving London the gourmet reputation it deserves.

  • A fine bottle of Pouilly Fume
  • Crab Cakes
  • Seafood pasta
  • Obscure captioned poster!
  • Oops! Can you pay?
Lunchtime at Davy’s Bar, underneath the arches in Crutched Friars

Brick Lane

As I’ve written before my dear hubby is mostly interested in shopping and is always on the lookout for shops that sell a particular denim or certain item of clothing that has caught his eye. Brick Lane is where his favourite shop is located, Son of a Stag. It sells mostly jeans but there are also other quirky designer items. I usually sit on the bench inside and know I’m in for a long wait, while he discusses weight and thread count with the sales assistant. We’re normally here for 45 minutes but then have to go back to collect said item after it has been altered.

  • “I won’t be long”
  • “How does it look”

Street Art around Brick Lane

The old Truman Brewery, said to be founded in or around 1666 by Joseph Truman. Now it is home to East London’s arts and media centre. Housing bars, restaurants, galleries and shops.

Back to their roots

During one of our trips up to London my mum and dad came with us to show us where they used to live. My Dad came from Bethnal Green and my Mum from Hackney. We also visited the church where they got married.

  • Aged 10
  • Aged 84
Still has the same smirk!
  • Mum’s old housing estate
  • Outside St. Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch
  • Still going strong after 64 years

St. Leonard’s Church (also known as Shoreditch Church) dating back to approximately 1740. This church was mentioned in the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons” – “when I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch”.

Prospect of Whitby, Wapping

Still in the East is the district of Wapping, sitting on the banks of the River Thames and near St. Katherine’s Docks and Tobacco Wharf. This area is now a much desired place to live. The Prospect of Whitby used to be one of my favourite pubs and I decided to revisit on one of our trips.

It dates back to around 1520 and is probably one of the oldest taverns in London. I don’t think anything has changed much over the years!

There is so much more to see of East London and the City especially the markets. You don’t always have to do the touristy stuff to have a good time in London.

Some of the fabulous markets to visit if you have time

Petticoat Lane
Columbia Street Flower Market
Leadenhall Market
Old Spitalfields Market
To name but a few!

I hoped you enjoyed my trip through East London

Next up – Part Two, North and West

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