Day Out In London - Victoria Coach Station to Columbia Road
Discussion
Hello all, I am taking a trip to London this Wednesday to visit a specialty record shop in Bethnal Green called VDS London, but other than that my itinerary is wide open. I've got 12 hours between stepping off at Victoria bus station and the coach back leaving at 10pm. As you can imagine, even if I walk there and back adns pend 3 hours there that's still a good 6 hours to kill.
I'd quite like to visit one of those retro arcade bars and I've been to all the big museums near Exhibition Road but other than that I'm wide open. Pubs, bars, good value food, small museums, interesting spots, I haven't got a clue.
Any suggestions welcome, particularly record shops and a shop that sells formal men's hats
I'd quite like to visit one of those retro arcade bars and I've been to all the big museums near Exhibition Road but other than that I'm wide open. Pubs, bars, good value food, small museums, interesting spots, I haven't got a clue.
Any suggestions welcome, particularly record shops and a shop that sells formal men's hats
Ok, had a look at your walk, these are on the way:
Breakfast - I'd avoid chains (sorry Crosstown). As you leave the coach station you'll be on Elizabeth Street, walk down the street (away from the main road) and you'll come across a number of small independent bakeires/cafes. Chestnut bakery is pretty well-known but that road has a few, it's getting into the heart of Belgravia so very well to do. Lots of nice cars up and down side streets as well parked to have a mooch at.
THE best coffee place in my opinion is right opposite the Train station main entrance, Hermanos Coffee. Tiny shop across from the bus stops, two brothers own it and run a few of them but they get all their coffee direct from Columbia. Not expensive and so much better than anything nearby. Grab one.
You can then walk straight down past the Royal Mews (think you have to pay to go in) to Buckingham Palace and the Mall. You've got both St James Park and Green Park one either side. St James is far prettier and worth a walk round. Ducks, Swans etc in the lakes. Very picturesque.
You're then heading to Trafalgar Square, both eh National Gallery and portrait gallery are at the back and free I believe.
From there you can walk straight down the Strand or dive up one street and walk through Covent Garden taking a stroll. Worth walking through the Piazza and the market there, lots of little antique stalls.
Somerset House is on the Strand also, you can pop in and walk round the square, not sure what's there right now but the building is stunning.
You can then head down Fleet Street where you'll go past the Royal Courts, next to them (well a little down the street, same side) is The Old Bank of England pub, which is actually the old bank of England. Worth going in as it's all preserved inside (if it's open). Fleet Street itself is pretty dead now but all the buildings used to house the newspapers obviously.
If you walk a little down Fleet Steet you'll get to a side passage Cheshire Court on the left, down which is one of the only remaining 17th Centruty Chop Houses (pub). It's as it was inside an well worth popping in.
From there you're heading up into Farringdon and out towards East London where my knowledge is patchy but hopefully that's a bit useful for the first few hours!
Breakfast - I'd avoid chains (sorry Crosstown). As you leave the coach station you'll be on Elizabeth Street, walk down the street (away from the main road) and you'll come across a number of small independent bakeires/cafes. Chestnut bakery is pretty well-known but that road has a few, it's getting into the heart of Belgravia so very well to do. Lots of nice cars up and down side streets as well parked to have a mooch at.
THE best coffee place in my opinion is right opposite the Train station main entrance, Hermanos Coffee. Tiny shop across from the bus stops, two brothers own it and run a few of them but they get all their coffee direct from Columbia. Not expensive and so much better than anything nearby. Grab one.
You can then walk straight down past the Royal Mews (think you have to pay to go in) to Buckingham Palace and the Mall. You've got both St James Park and Green Park one either side. St James is far prettier and worth a walk round. Ducks, Swans etc in the lakes. Very picturesque.
You're then heading to Trafalgar Square, both eh National Gallery and portrait gallery are at the back and free I believe.
From there you can walk straight down the Strand or dive up one street and walk through Covent Garden taking a stroll. Worth walking through the Piazza and the market there, lots of little antique stalls.
Somerset House is on the Strand also, you can pop in and walk round the square, not sure what's there right now but the building is stunning.
You can then head down Fleet Street where you'll go past the Royal Courts, next to them (well a little down the street, same side) is The Old Bank of England pub, which is actually the old bank of England. Worth going in as it's all preserved inside (if it's open). Fleet Street itself is pretty dead now but all the buildings used to house the newspapers obviously.
If you walk a little down Fleet Steet you'll get to a side passage Cheshire Court on the left, down which is one of the only remaining 17th Centruty Chop Houses (pub). It's as it was inside an well worth popping in.
From there you're heading up into Farringdon and out towards East London where my knowledge is patchy but hopefully that's a bit useful for the first few hours!
It's a nice walk, the way Google suggests looks OK. Maybe walk one way and then tube back (it would be quick Bethnal Green >>> Oxford Circus >>> Victoria)
You're starting close to the Regency Cafe on Regency St- good breakfast/honest food. Worth the 20 to 30 min wait IMHO. The end is close to E Pellicci (which I've never had chance to visit, but worth a look) and Beigel Bake on Brick Lane.
It's nice round Columbia Road, but other than a few shops there's nothing much to see. There are parts of Brick Lane worth a visit - the Trueman Brewery has Rough Trade in it.
Avoid Leicester Square and Oxford Circus. If you head towards Belgravia from VCS it's nice, I like the walk to Kings Road via Elizabeth St
You're starting close to the Regency Cafe on Regency St- good breakfast/honest food. Worth the 20 to 30 min wait IMHO. The end is close to E Pellicci (which I've never had chance to visit, but worth a look) and Beigel Bake on Brick Lane.
It's nice round Columbia Road, but other than a few shops there's nothing much to see. There are parts of Brick Lane worth a visit - the Trueman Brewery has Rough Trade in it.
Avoid Leicester Square and Oxford Circus. If you head towards Belgravia from VCS it's nice, I like the walk to Kings Road via Elizabeth St
Edited by 12TS on Tuesday 18th April 12:32
Thanks for all the suggestions gents, I am starting to fill the day already
1. Eat brekkie at home
2. Get off coach.
3. Visit Lock & Co and see if they have a hat that doesn't make me look like a midget. Note down the size and style and return at a later date to buy it as I can't justify that amount of money on a hat right now
4. Walk C5_steve's route and pop in the National Gallery on the way. I will have to restrain myself on that one, I am one of those people who feel compelled to examine every exhibit and reads every plaque. I spent a full hour just in the silverware room at the V&A!
5. Beigel's bake for a quick lunch.
6. Go and buy some records, jfis89's suggestion of Flashback looks nice as does World of Echo.
I'm starting to think that Four Quarters in Elephant and Castle might be too much of a diversion just to play some Outrun.
1. Eat brekkie at home
2. Get off coach.
3. Visit Lock & Co and see if they have a hat that doesn't make me look like a midget. Note down the size and style and return at a later date to buy it as I can't justify that amount of money on a hat right now
4. Walk C5_steve's route and pop in the National Gallery on the way. I will have to restrain myself on that one, I am one of those people who feel compelled to examine every exhibit and reads every plaque. I spent a full hour just in the silverware room at the V&A!
5. Beigel's bake for a quick lunch.
6. Go and buy some records, jfis89's suggestion of Flashback looks nice as does World of Echo.
I'm starting to think that Four Quarters in Elephant and Castle might be too much of a diversion just to play some Outrun.
jfis89 said:
Other record shops worth visiting nearby are World of Echo (same street as VDS), Flashback on Bethnal Green Road, Stranger than Paradise, Rough Trade East, Yo Yo. Worth checking their sites out to see what they sell as they’re all a bit different
By the way, do you happen to know which ones of those allow you to have a listen? I know most shops are fine but some can get arsey about it.BritishBlitz87 said:
jfis89 said:
Other record shops worth visiting nearby are World of Echo (same street as VDS), Flashback on Bethnal Green Road, Stranger than Paradise, Rough Trade East, Yo Yo. Worth checking their sites out to see what they sell as they’re all a bit different
By the way, do you happen to know which ones of those allow you to have a listen? I know most shops are fine but some can get arsey about it.P.S. it's not really my thing but there's definitely video game bars around East London so worth a google if you want to try and fit that in.
Edited by jfis89 on Tuesday 18th April 15:41
Beigal Bake is a must. The queue will be long but moves faster than you think. A salt beef beigal and an apple danish will sort you right out. Plenty to look at in/ around Brick Lane.
Not hats, but the umbrella shop on New Oxford Street near the British Museum is fantastic - https://www.james-smith.co.uk/history/
If you visit the umbrella shop 7 Dials food market in Covent Garden has a cheese restaurant with a Yo Sushi style conveyor belt (of cheese!) https://www.sevendials.co.uk/stores/pick-and-chees...
Not hats, but the umbrella shop on New Oxford Street near the British Museum is fantastic - https://www.james-smith.co.uk/history/
If you visit the umbrella shop 7 Dials food market in Covent Garden has a cheese restaurant with a Yo Sushi style conveyor belt (of cheese!) https://www.sevendials.co.uk/stores/pick-and-chees...
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