One thing you need to know about London: there is not only an expensive London! There are lots of things going on out there for a mortal’s budget. For this an many other reasons, THE EAST IS THE BEAST! If you want to find different kinds of attractions, people, food, street art, night outs and vintage stores, you don’t want to miss going there!




Moving from A to B

As soon as we put a foot on the ground, a Hamlet doubt pops-up in our brain: to ride or not to ride. Don’t think too much, the 24/7 red bikes are there to make your journey easier, to keep that butt fit and to enhance a proper feeling of the city. As easy as it gets, The “Boris bikes” (nicknamed after London’s Mayor Boris Johnson) work with cards from abroad at the docking station terminals (more than 700) and It costs £2 for 24 hour bike access: the first 30 minutes of each journey are free, but you have to dock it before the watch hits 30, and then you can get another one for another 30 and so on for the whole day. In this way you can have a £2 per day transport which totally smashes the £4.80 single ticket without oyster or the £2,30 with the oyster card. But if you want to hire a bike for a full day or longer, it may be cheaper to rent it from one of London’s many bicycle hire companies. Done, now we have sorted the transport issue… LET’S RIDE!

Whitechapel

As I told you before, the compass leads to the East! Arty, fashion, vintage, trashy, cosmopolitan, foody, never ending.. the place to stay for Dionysus (if he was still alive). East London has figured prominently in London’s art scene. If you want to be up to date with London’s underground art the first stop should be WHITECHAPEL (Cycle Superhighway CS2 or underground District and Hammersmith & City lines). Not only the place for Jack the Ripper’s crimes, but also the most innovative art venue on this area: the Whitechapel Art Gallery. While the neighborhood has gentrified, it gained citywide and even international visibility and support. In the current century it won popularity thanks to the Rhythm Factory bar, restaurant and nightclub of the punk rock scene, frequented by The Libertines, Zap!, Nova, The Others, Razorlight, and The Rakes.




Best (all day) Brunch

But our airplane peanuts are not everlasting. Let’s bike a few more minutes through the London Borough of Hackney and stop at Hoxton, where we can be delighted at any time at the well known Breakfast Club (Check out for the weekly screen films in their cosy back room) or just walk in the Hoxton Street Market, which is supposedly open from Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 6pm. When you see a glass cube building while riding or hanging around at the Hoxton Square, you just need to know that was the White Cube, a contemporary art gallery owned by Jay Jopling, which sadly closed at the end of 2012 :(.




Brick-Lane

You normally would like to spend the whole Sunday at Brick Lane. I understand, it happens the same to me. The atmosphere, the people, aroma, foods from everywhere, coffee, brunches, the sun-day. There’s such a wide mix of etnias. Brick Lane is THE street on the east, mostly hindu, it is in the heart of London’s Bangladeshi community, you’ll pass by plenty good restaurants and smaller markets. WOW!!! There is so much to do here. The streets are full of graffiti. But not only the walls are arty, you can find the Rough Trade Record Label store (at 91 Brick Lane) where some days it’s possible to enjoy a variety of bands playing and obviously purchase their work in audible formats for home.

If you could resist the market in the main street with all that tastes and flavors from all over the globe I will strongly recomend you to go to the 155 Brick Lane’s (this is worth my article, believe me) Britain’s first and best Beigel shop. There is some awesomeness found on this traditional bagels. Running late? Well, I have great news for you: The shop is open all day long! To fix all of your late night drunk cravings, either for a fresh Salmon and cream cheese bagel for only £1.60 or a juicy munchie hot salt beef with mustard (believe me it hits!). Don’t leave before taking a piece of the fabulous cheesecake for the way back.

It’s all about coffee in this world capital, so if you want to enjoy a proper flat white or cappuccino you can jump to Brick Lane Coffee, 157 Brick Lane and grab a mug. The size doesn’t matter here (only here!), it is a small but comfy place to go with your laptop and get free wi-fi while having the best coffee in town.

You can’t go back home without getting new clothes. No you can’t. So, let’s search for some vintage stores around brick lane. Here you will find all over the week,from monday to saturday, but on Sunday it’s possible to look up all over the street at the market for clothing, books, food, everything! THIS IS A MUST. I’m sure you will need to contact your airline company for an extra luggage or return home like a layered onion.




Fish & Chips

For the most hungry ones, or for fish lovers, and by fish I mean the best fish and chips you will get to eat in your life, not exactly in Brick Lane but really near, located in Shoreditch, by Liverpool Street Station, you will find Poppies, the famous, classic #1 Fish and chips joint, where you can have cod or haddock fish and classic salt and vinegar fries! You won’t regret going there! Later you can check the Spittafields market and get some antique bargains.


Wanna have some fun?

Love the area? Remember two names: Dalston and Stoke Newington, both are full of surprises. These are really cheap and super fun areas for going out. Since everything is quite close, people usually go from one place to the other, having a drink on each spot. So, let’s grab some and enjoy the unique view from the Dalston Roof Park (The Print House, 18-22 Ashwin Street,) and don’t worry if the great sunset view makes you feel a little dizzy, just jump to the supergay, superfunny, superoriginal DALSTON SUPERSTORE! (117 Kingsland High St). Where the best fauna can be hunt.

Dalston Roof Park

Dalston Superstore


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