Joe’s guidebook for Stratford
Points of Interest
A massive shopping centre with plenty of shops, food and has a cinema on the top floor. You can either walk there in about 15-20 minutes, or catch buses 25, 86, 425 and 308.
1214 locals recommend
Westfield Stratford City
157 Montfichet RdA massive shopping centre with plenty of shops, food and has a cinema on the top floor. You can either walk there in about 15-20 minutes, or catch buses 25, 86, 425 and 308.
Take a leisurely stroll around the park and along the canal, including the Olympic stadium, VeloPark, and Aquatics Centre. Walk further west from the park to visit Hackney.
755 locals recommend
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Take a leisurely stroll around the park and along the canal, including the Olympic stadium, VeloPark, and Aquatics Centre. Walk further west from the park to visit Hackney.
Get off at North Greenwich station to climb the O2, or take the gondola lift over the Thames River.
631 locals recommend
The O2
Peninsula SquareGet off at North Greenwich station to climb the O2, or take the gondola lift over the Thames River.
This beautiful park comes alive during summertime. When you exit the Cutty Sark DLR station, you can visit the Cutty Sark ship, or walk down the pathway in Old Royal Naval College where Les Miserable (2012) was filmed.
When you get to the park, towards the back is a hill leading up to the Royal Observatory, and all up the hill you can see the cityscape of Canary Wharf in the distance.
736 locals recommend
Greenwich Park
This beautiful park comes alive during summertime. When you exit the Cutty Sark DLR station, you can visit the Cutty Sark ship, or walk down the pathway in Old Royal Naval College where Les Miserable (2012) was filmed.
When you get to the park, towards the back is a hill leading up to the Royal Observatory, and all up the hill you can see the cityscape of Canary Wharf in the distance.
If you just want to get out of the flat for a quick wander, visit the West Ham Park for a leisurely stroll or a jog.
56 locals recommend
West Ham Park
Upton LaneIf you just want to get out of the flat for a quick wander, visit the West Ham Park for a leisurely stroll or a jog.
Neighbourhoods
For the latest trends in food and drinks, I recommend visiting Shoreditch. Travel to Liverpool Street Station via the Elizabeth line from Maryland or Stratford station - have a look around Spitalfields Market, Boxpark and Brick Lane.
If you like your meats, try Smokestak for a casual dining affair, or Hawksmoor for the best steak in London. Want a nice cocktail in an interesting setting, go to The Breakfast Club on Artillery Lane and ask to see the mayor, but if you're on a budget, Simmons has a generous happy "hour" for 2 for 1 cocktails. Food with view? Make sure to book ahead for Duck & Waffle on the 40th floor. Ask me for more recommendations!
620 locals recommend
Shoreditch
For the latest trends in food and drinks, I recommend visiting Shoreditch. Travel to Liverpool Street Station via the Elizabeth line from Maryland or Stratford station - have a look around Spitalfields Market, Boxpark and Brick Lane.
If you like your meats, try Smokestak for a casual dining affair, or Hawksmoor for the best steak in London. Want a nice cocktail in an interesting setting, go to The Breakfast Club on Artillery Lane and ask to see the mayor, but if you're on a budget, Simmons has a generous happy "hour" for 2 for 1 cocktails. Food with view? Make sure to book ahead for Duck & Waffle on the 40th floor. Ask me for more recommendations!
Have a bowl of udon noodles from Koya or lobster at Burger & Lobster before catching a West End show. And to the west, there's the fashionable Carnaby Street and the start of the Oxford Street shopping area. You can get there via the Central/Elizabeth Line and getting off at either Tottenham Court Road or Oxford Circus stations.
576 locals recommend
Soho
Have a bowl of udon noodles from Koya or lobster at Burger & Lobster before catching a West End show. And to the west, there's the fashionable Carnaby Street and the start of the Oxford Street shopping area. You can get there via the Central/Elizabeth Line and getting off at either Tottenham Court Road or Oxford Circus stations.
Essentials
If you want more than what Tesco Express and Sainsbury's Local, Morrisons is a full supermarket with everything you need for your meals. Please use the reusable shopping bags in your room.
250 locals recommend
Morrisons
The GroveIf you want more than what Tesco Express and Sainsbury's Local, Morrisons is a full supermarket with everything you need for your meals. Please use the reusable shopping bags in your room.
Loon Fung Stratford
33 - 34 The MallA decently sized Chinese/East Asian supermarket in Stratford Centre.
If you book online, the ticket prices start at £6.99.
50 locals recommend
Vue Cinema Westfield Stratford City
2 Montfichet RdIf you book online, the ticket prices start at £6.99.
Next to the station is the Stratford Shopping Centre, where you can get all your takeaway needs - McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, Wendy's, and Subway. There is also a food court where you can get Taiwanese fried chicken, bubble tea, chicken wings, and more.
For healthy and beauty supplies, there's Boots, Superdrug, and Holland & Barretts.
45 locals recommend
Stratford Shopping Centre
54A BroadwayNext to the station is the Stratford Shopping Centre, where you can get all your takeaway needs - McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell, Wendy's, and Subway. There is also a food court where you can get Taiwanese fried chicken, bubble tea, chicken wings, and more.
For healthy and beauty supplies, there's Boots, Superdrug, and Holland & Barretts.
Stratford Post Office
26-28 BroadwayThe post office is outside of the Stratford Shopping Centre near McDonald's.
Food scene
The Spitalfields Market is full of food vendors offering different cuisines from all corners of the globe. Not far is the Old Truman Brewery where you'll find more street food - my favourite is The Orange Buffalo for their Buffalo chicken wings.
117 locals recommend
Spitalfields Market
65 Brushfield StThe Spitalfields Market is full of food vendors offering different cuisines from all corners of the globe. Not far is the Old Truman Brewery where you'll find more street food - my favourite is The Orange Buffalo for their Buffalo chicken wings.
On Wednesdays and Thursdays lunchtimes next to the West India Quay DLR station (take the DLR line from Stratford station towards Canary Wharf), head to KERB food market (https://www.kerbfood.com/markets/west-india-quay/). I recommend visiting Bian Dang and get their Beast meal, or if you're vegetarian - their fried mushrooms are to die for!
Kerb West India Quay
On Wednesdays and Thursdays lunchtimes next to the West India Quay DLR station (take the DLR line from Stratford station towards Canary Wharf), head to KERB food market (https://www.kerbfood.com/markets/west-india-quay/). I recommend visiting Bian Dang and get their Beast meal, or if you're vegetarian - their fried mushrooms are to die for!
City advice
Getting around
Buses
There are 4 buses that will take you directly to Stratford station from the flat - 25, 86 (and N86), 425, and 308.
The stop for buses 25, 86 and 425 are at the southeast corner of Romford Road and Vicarage Lane/Water Lane intersection, whereas 308 at the northeast corner, but the latter is less frequent.
You can also take bus 25 further westwards to the City, but will take a considerable amount of time.
Getting around
Jubilee line
Stratford station is well-connected to many sights in London.
Jubilee Line can take you to
- North Greenwich for the O2
- Canary Wharf
- London Bridge for Borough Market, Tower Bridge, Southbank
- Waterloo for London Eye
- Westminster
- Green Park for Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park
- Baker Street for The Regent's Park
- Wembley Park
Getting around
Elizabeth line
The newest line in London. To arrive at my place, make sure to take the Shenfield branch (not Abbey Wood). The closest station from my flat is Maryland (zone 3), but is also walkable from Stratford (zone 2).
Notable stops:
- Liverpool Street for Shoreditch
- Tottenham Court Road for Soho and the West End
- Bond Street for Oxford Street shopping
- Heathrow Airport, may need to change at Paddington Station
Getting around
Central line
Can be very busy during peak hours, so if you can take the Elizabeth line, it will be faster (and cooler during Summer).
- Liverpool Street for Shoreditch
- St Paul's
- Tottenham Court Road for Soho and the West End
- Oxford Circus for Oxford Street
- Notting Hill Gate for Notting Hill
Getting around
Getting to/from the airports around London
London City Airport - take bus 25, or walk for 15 minutes to Stratford High Street for the DLR line
Stansted Airport - there's a National Express bus from Westfield Shopping Centre that will get you to the airport in an hour
Heathrow Airport - take the Elizabeth line from Maryland to Paddington, and switch to the Heathrow branch of the same line
Gatwick Airport - take the Elizabeth line to Farringdon and switch to the Thameslink line towards Brighton
Luton Airport - take the Elizabeth line to Paddington and hop on the National Express bus