Whether you are a born and bred Londoner or passing through on a day trip to the capital, there is plenty of hidden hotspots in East London worth adding to your weekend agenda. Home to our Anthology Stratford Mill community, the local boroughs are full of gems just waiting to be discovered and after you’ve made your way through this list you will certainly be eager to find more.
From secret bars to a hidden tropical oasis, we have rounded up a few of East London’s best kept secrets not to be missed!
Hidden pursuits
You might well be familiar with Lee Valley, famous for undergoing major development to transform The Lower Lee Valley into the centrepiece of the London 2021 Olympic and Paralympic Games. What you may not be aware of is that the Lee Valley is still a dedicated area to sporting pursuits today. At Lee Valley Park you will find a wealth of indoor and outdoor sporting activities that will inspire people of all ages to pursue a new sporting hobby. On offer to try out is white water rafting, cycling at the VeloPark, golf and footgolf, ice skating and even horse riding. There really is something for everyone at Lee Valley Park.
A moment of peace and quiet
Sometimes it is necessary to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and carve out some time to take a moment of mindfulness. A perfect spot for a breather is the hidden East Church Garden which used to be home to the Church of St. Dunstan. Whilst this hidden location provides the perfect setting for reflection, it in fact has a very turbulent past.
Originally built in 1100, the Church of St. Dunstan was severely damaged in 1666 by the Great Fire of London. Following its renovation and reconstruction throughout the 1300’s, the Church was then badly destroyed again during the Blitz of 1941. Following the bombing in World War ll areas of the Church were in such despair it was decided not to rebuild St Dunstan’s and in 1967 the City of London decided to turn the remains into a public garden.
Vintage Heaven
Now the minute we hear of Brick Lane, the first place our mind goes to is those bagels. However, something that a lot of people don’t know is that Brick Lane is home to the largest underground
Vintage Market, featuring vintage specialists from across the UK and Europe who sell their gorgeous clothing, accessories and more, all hidden below The Truman Brewery.
If you are in the mood to ‘shop til you drop’ then you’ll be bound to find some pre-loved bargains amongst the hundreds of stalls to choose from.
A hidden tropical oasis
The Barbican Conservatory provides visitors with an immersive experience into a tropical botanical wonderland housing more than 2,000 species of plants and trees, as well as birdlife and exotic fish inside a glass conservatory. Lose yourself for the day among the wonderous flora and fauna, providing a haven of tranquillity. This is the ideal hidden spot for nature lovers!
A winning combination
For a night out with a twist take a visit to Loading Bar’s Stratford venue, Escape Bar, which is the place to be on a Friday night and might not be exactly what you were expecting. This bar provides its visitors with a choice of more than 100 board games, card games and PlayStation 4 and Xbox consoles resulting in plenty of fun beating your friends while enjoying a game-themed cocktail or two!
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If living in this fantastic part of London appeals to you then our Stratford Mill development could be your perfect next move. With 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom homes available, arrange a viewing by contacting team on: 020 3936 3178 /stratfordmill@anthology.london