Guidebook for Greater London
Essentials
Waitrose & Partners
366 Holloway RdNicest (but not cheapest) supermarket
Tesco Express
179 Shoreditch High StOne of the cheapest supermarkets
Essential local shop: the newsagent who sells everything you will ever want and need. They also own the excellent pharmacy opposite.
42 Exmouth Market
Essential local shop: the newsagent who sells everything you will ever want and need. They also own the excellent pharmacy opposite.
Great health food shop. There is also a branch near Tottenham Court Road
72 locals recommend
Planet Organic - Islington
64 Essex RdGreat health food shop. There is also a branch near Tottenham Court Road
Co-op Food
116-118 Pitshanger LnThis is the closest grocery shop and has all the essentials.
Drinks & Nightlife
Friendly bar with sports screens and table football - they do good coctails and very tasty tapas. Happy hour 16:00-19:00 daily
32 locals recommend
Cafe Kick
43 Exmouth MarketFriendly bar with sports screens and table football - they do good coctails and very tasty tapas. Happy hour 16:00-19:00 daily
This pub is a gem - with eccentric decor (a fibreglass rhino head, autographed baseball photographs, twinkling fairy lights, a plaster of Paris Egyptian dog, old maps of Islington and a roaring fire)
15 locals recommend
The Three Kings
7 Clerkenwell CloseThis pub is a gem - with eccentric decor (a fibreglass rhino head, autographed baseball photographs, twinkling fairy lights, a plaster of Paris Egyptian dog, old maps of Islington and a roaring fire)
Gorgeous tiny pub in a converted Georgian coffee shop, serving beers from the independent St Peter's Brewery in Suffolk. Opening: Mon–Fri 11.00–23.00 (after 17:00 on weekdays, it gets v busy)
59 locals recommend
The Jerusalem Tavern
55 Britton StGorgeous tiny pub in a converted Georgian coffee shop, serving beers from the independent St Peter's Brewery in Suffolk. Opening: Mon–Fri 11.00–23.00 (after 17:00 on weekdays, it gets v busy)
Pleasant pub with excellent food - recommended place for a Sunday roast.
18 locals recommend
The Wilmington Public House and Dining
69 Rosebery AvePleasant pub with excellent food - recommended place for a Sunday roast.
Best gusto pub in the area in my opinion. Airy, well decorated and with nice friendly local vibe.
8 locals recommend
The Easton
22 Easton StBest gusto pub in the area in my opinion. Airy, well decorated and with nice friendly local vibe.
The Bowler Pub and Kitchen
28-32 Bowling Green LnThis is probably the best pub to watch football on the big screen.
Food Scene
La Porchetta
265 Muswell Hill BroadwayGood, reasonably priced pizza and they do take-away.
Excellent Indian food - very amiable staff, reasonably priced and they do take away
7 locals recommend
Cinnamon Tree
14 Exmouth MarketExcellent Indian food - very amiable staff, reasonably priced and they do take away
For something a bit special Moro is a real treat - renowned for high-quality Spanish/North African food, simply cooked and presented with a twist. Unpretentious but exceptional! Booking essential.
131 locals recommend
Moro
34-36 Exmouth MarketFor something a bit special Moro is a real treat - renowned for high-quality Spanish/North African food, simply cooked and presented with a twist. Unpretentious but exceptional! Booking essential.
Great food and nice modern decor - not the cheapest so recommended for breakfast. Their coffee is roasted in the basement. WEBSITE: caravanonexmouth.co.uk
91 locals recommend
Caravan Exmouth Market | Takeaway & Coffee
11-13 Exmouth MarketGreat food and nice modern decor - not the cheapest so recommended for breakfast. Their coffee is roasted in the basement. WEBSITE: caravanonexmouth.co.uk
Excellent Fish restaurant in lesser-known local square. WEBSITE: fishcentral.co.uk
26 locals recommend
Fish Central
149-155 King SquareExcellent Fish restaurant in lesser-known local square. WEBSITE: fishcentral.co.uk
This is a lovely, hippy/arty cafe serving homemade salads and cakes on the top floor of the arts centre.
10 locals recommend
Candid Cafe
3 Torrens StThis is a lovely, hippy/arty cafe serving homemade salads and cakes on the top floor of the arts centre.
I love this young and cool place for generous portions of lovely burgers, pancakes and other comfort food. It's one of 5 or 6 but it feels like a one off.
120 locals recommend
Rita's Bar & Dining
35 Stoke Newington RdI love this young and cool place for generous portions of lovely burgers, pancakes and other comfort food. It's one of 5 or 6 but it feels like a one off.
Good Thai food - generous potions, super fresh (you can see them cook it) to take away or eat in - if you eat in you can also take your own drink.
49 Exmouth Market
49 Exmouth MarketGood Thai food - generous potions, super fresh (you can see them cook it) to take away or eat in - if you eat in you can also take your own drink.
In a lovely space (industrial, airy with a courtyard) - this is a popular lunch place with a small, daily-changing menu of locally sourced food.
Open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri; 10am-4pm Sat
8 locals recommend
The Clerkenwell Kitchen
31 Clerkenwell CloseIn a lovely space (industrial, airy with a courtyard) - this is a popular lunch place with a small, daily-changing menu of locally sourced food.
Open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri; 10am-4pm Sat
This is my favourite restaurant - I cannot recommend it highly enough. Excellent middle eastern food, like nowhere else. Great value, exceptional food and a minute from the flat.
14 locals recommend
Berber & Q - Shawarma Bar
46 Exmouth MarketThis is my favourite restaurant - I cannot recommend it highly enough. Excellent middle eastern food, like nowhere else. Great value, exceptional food and a minute from the flat.
Sightseeing
Well worth the hour or so to see the historic sites of the neighbourhood including the Clerks Well. (Wed 11am & Sat at 2pm outside main entrance of Farringdon Station) WEBSITE: footprintsoflondon.com
11 locals recommend
78 Cowcross St
78 Cowcross StreetWell worth the hour or so to see the historic sites of the neighbourhood including the Clerks Well. (Wed 11am & Sat at 2pm outside main entrance of Farringdon Station) WEBSITE: footprintsoflondon.com
Nice little museum of Charles Dicken's house - gives you an idea of his family life and the area he wrote about.
93 locals recommend
Charles Dickens Museum
48-49 Doughty StNice little museum of Charles Dicken's house - gives you an idea of his family life and the area he wrote about.
This 16th century gatehouse was formerly the southern entrance to the Priory of the Medieval Order of St John and contains furniture, painting, silver, and medals relating to the Knights Hospital
19 locals recommend
The Museum of the Order of St John
26 St John's LnThis 16th century gatehouse was formerly the southern entrance to the Priory of the Medieval Order of St John and contains furniture, painting, silver, and medals relating to the Knights Hospital
Grave of JOSEPH GRIMALDI 1778-1837 Clown
Also blue plaque at 56 Exmouth Market: Grimaldi lived here 1818-1828
Joseph Grimaldi Park
11 Collier StGrave of JOSEPH GRIMALDI 1778-1837 Clown
Also blue plaque at 56 Exmouth Market: Grimaldi lived here 1818-1828
Arts & Culture
I love this theatre! One of the world’s leading dance venues, it has a varied programme of international dance performances, from contemporary to flamenco, ballet to hip hop: WEBSITE:sadlerswells.com
253 locals recommend
Sadlers Wells Theatre (Stop UB) station
I love this theatre! One of the world’s leading dance venues, it has a varied programme of international dance performances, from contemporary to flamenco, ballet to hip hop: WEBSITE:sadlerswells.com
The Barbican is a huge arts centre offering a world-class programme of dance, film, theatre, visual arts and music. It is also home to the London Symphony Orchestra.
WEBSITE: barbican.org.uk
509 locals recommend
Barbican Centre
Silk StreetThe Barbican is a huge arts centre offering a world-class programme of dance, film, theatre, visual arts and music. It is also home to the London Symphony Orchestra.
WEBSITE: barbican.org.uk
Music education and performance centre in the 18th Century Grade 1 listed Hawksmoor church. One of the homes of the London Symphony Orchestra.
15 locals recommend
LSO St. Luke's
161 Old StMusic education and performance centre in the 18th Century Grade 1 listed Hawksmoor church. One of the homes of the London Symphony Orchestra.
This has to be one of the most impressive museums in the world. With some 8 million works, it illustrates and documents human history and culture. And it's FREE
1546 locals recommend
British Museum
Great Russell StreetThis has to be one of the most impressive museums in the world. With some 8 million works, it illustrates and documents human history and culture. And it's FREE
The second largest library in the world. This is a MAJOR research library in a stunning building with great cafe and exhibitions.
430 locals recommend
The British Library
96 Euston RdThe second largest library in the world. This is a MAJOR research library in a stunning building with great cafe and exhibitions.
Wellcome Trust
215 Euston RdExcellent exhibitions, smashing cafe and great bookshop.
This is a newly restored, beautiful, romantic old music hall. There are lots of music, comedy, theatre things on here and a couple of really nice bars to get a drink and you can even get married there!
162 locals recommend
Wilton's Music Hall
1 Graces AlyThis is a newly restored, beautiful, romantic old music hall. There are lots of music, comedy, theatre things on here and a couple of really nice bars to get a drink and you can even get married there!
Everything Else
Post Office
Rosebery AvenuePostoffice - for stamps, currency and ATM machine
Traditional London street market - from fruit and vegetables to batteries, mobile phone accessories and rucksacks, all at bargain prices. Open 10-3 on weekdays.
Leather Lane Dental Practice
50 Leather LnTraditional London street market - from fruit and vegetables to batteries, mobile phone accessories and rucksacks, all at bargain prices. Open 10-3 on weekdays.
FOOD MARKET: A wide variety of street food stalls, including Ghanaian, Thai, Mexican, Turkish, Jewish, Vegetarian, Spanish & Bengali cuisine. Weekday lunchtimes. Most dishes around £5.
219 locals recommend
Exmouth Market
Exmouth MarketFOOD MARKET: A wide variety of street food stalls, including Ghanaian, Thai, Mexican, Turkish, Jewish, Vegetarian, Spanish & Bengali cuisine. Weekday lunchtimes. Most dishes around £5.
Nice and very local park - good for picnics, reading, ball games and there's a kids playground ajoining it and an outdoor gym. Can get busy on sunny workday lunchtimes.
18 locals recommend
Spa Fields Park
91 Skinner StNice and very local park - good for picnics, reading, ball games and there's a kids playground ajoining it and an outdoor gym. Can get busy on sunny workday lunchtimes.
A general market selling all types of goods & foods. On Sunday (10am-2pm) the farmers market sells local meat and cheeses,fruit & vegetables, eggs, jams, ciders, wines and fruit juices.
136 locals recommend
Chapel Market
Chapel MarketA general market selling all types of goods & foods. On Sunday (10am-2pm) the farmers market sells local meat and cheeses,fruit & vegetables, eggs, jams, ciders, wines and fruit juices.
Entertainment & Activities
Public pool and Turkish baths - recently refurbished 1930s building
30 locals recommend
Spa Experience Old Street
1 Norman StPublic pool and Turkish baths - recently refurbished 1930s building