The Best of Walthamstow with Artist Jason Drake
Today we're excited to share a guide to Walthamstow, one of London's most creative neighbourhoods, written by our good friend and local artist Jason Drake. From art and culture to food and drink, Jason takes us on a journey through the hidden gems of this vibrant East London area. Let's explore Walthamstow through the eyes of a true local.
Jason Drake
Hello! I'm Jason. I was born in Sri Racha (the hot sauce), raised in Norwich (known for its mustard) and can now be found in Walthamstow (famous for dogs). Essentially, I’m a hotdog.
Instagram / jasondrake.co.uk
Introductions over let's get down to (local) business. In this short whistle-stop tour of my small segment of the borough of Waltham Forest, I want to big up some of my favourite spots to sip, munch, relax, shop & get inspired. It's safe to say Walthamstow has something for everyone and this blog is a small homage to my area. Waltham Forest was the Borough of Culture in 2019 and the whole borough is really creative; you can’t move for street art, local makers and artists as well as bakeries, markets and coffee shops.
Walthamstow is perfectly positioned for anyone travelling down from Norwich and Norfolk, as it's the first place you get to, off the M11. If you're travelling by train, you can get from Liverpool Street to Walthamstow Central or Wood Street via the ginger line, aka the London Overground in 20min. However you arrive, Walthamstow is sure to give you a warm welcome. In fact, its original etymology is 'Welcome Stow' and it's certain to live up to its name. Should you want to leave Walthamstow (why, I don't know) the transport links are brilliant - you can get to Oxford Street in 25 minutes on the Victoria Line.
I'm going to go in on my favourite places right on my doorstep, which are all within a 5 minutes walk of eachother, and then I’ll share a list of places to check out in other areas of Walthamstow, which combined is more than enough for a weekend!
Spots to Sip:
Walthamstow has loads of pubs but hands down, my favourite is Rose & Crown. An authentic boozer, with a real local feel and an ever-changing selection of real ales and local lagers, it's well worth a visit. As a bonus, it has a theatre upstairs and often has live music at the weekends.
With more independent coffee shops than you can imagine, Wynwood is another local treasure. Grab and go or sit in and watch the world go by, surrounded by local artists' work.
Trades Hall - so much more than just a bar, this working men's club has an irresistible charm and often hosts amazing tribute bands, sensational karaoke nights and comedy gigs. Definitely see what's going on when you're visiting.
Munch:
A personal favourite, Buhler & Co, an amazing spot for brunch. All the food is vegetarian and the breakfast is hard to resist! Or if you have a sweet tooth, the french toast is incredible! For pizza like no other, it's got to be Sodo Pizza. It's a lovely restaurant, full of character and The Wicker Man is my personal favourite.
Fancy some Vegan Indian food? Look no further! SpiceBox is for you. A colourful interior with delicious food and you can even buy their cookbook! At the weekends, they have your brunch, lunch and dinner covered. Lock in anyone!?
Relax:
Lloyd Park is one of the prettiest parks you can hope for. With amazingly well-tended gardens, a moat with a resident tortoise (I kid you not) and an excellent skate park, it's totally worth a visit. Every Saturday there's an amazing food market with East London's finest street food businesses including food from almost every continent. Also can recommend the cafe near the playground which sells amazing ice cream.
Feeling like you want a good stretch or some holistic bodywork, East of Eden is the studio for you. Tucked away on a cobbled street, it is a calm, quiet sanctuary for any weary traveller.
Shop:
There are lots of interesting shops on Hoe Street, which runs very close to Lloyd Park. Particular shops of note; for all your gifting needs Every Space is a great local business which has two shops, almost next to each other. One is dedicated to all things green - plants! It also has a florist at the back. And next door, is the gift shop, with tones of treats for everyone, for the young, the old and the confused. They stock items from lots of local businesses as well as further afield, so you're sure to find the perfect gift.
Get inspired:
At the south entrance of Lloyd Park is the resplendent William Morris Gallery, which sits in the house he was born in. And what a house. They have regular exhibitions, that are all free. They have a well-stocked gift shop and a new addition to the gallery is Deeney's - an incredible cafe which specialises in haggis toasties (don't knock it til you've tried it!).
If you feel like doing something with your hands, book into a workshop at SkandiHaus, which is a pottery studio that will teach you all you need to know about making your own beginner's pot. They'll fire them for you and you'll be able to come back a month later, to do all the things you couldn't fit in from this blog and to pick up your make!
Now, this recommendation is future-proofed - Soho Theatre (from Soho, Soho) is building a brand new, 1000 seater theatre space which will specialise in comedy. At the moment this is still in construction but soon it will be a real landmark for comedy and theatre, so watch this space!
So that's the area, just outside of my front door, but that small wander through my neighbourhood doesn't even scratch the surface of what there is to explore in E17 (that's right, East 17 is the postcode here and yes, this is where the band are from - yet another reason to visit, am i right!?)
Hope it tempts you to come down and see what all the fuss is about. Happy Exploring!