Plenty of shops have sprung up to cater to Greek ex-pats. Georganta recommends the Hellenic Book Store in Kentish Town for books on Greek history, language and culture; Korres on the King’s Road specialises in natural Greek toiletries and cosmetics. And while most Greeks in London cook authentic food at home, they can also be spotted in As Greek As it Gets in Earls Court, which specialises in meat delicacies served with genuine souvlaki flatbread.
What Georganta most misses about Greece is not the heat but the light. ‘Here it is very dark. Even on a light day. But I love cold weather so I love London. You have a beautiful sky – in Greece it is always blue, changing only to a different kind of blue. Here, there are all these interesting cloud formations.’
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Foteini’s London
Anglo-Hellenic League
Organisers of cultural events.
(www.hellenicbookservice.com).
As Greek As It Gets
Restaurant serving traditional favourites, including pastitsio (mince, macaroni and béchamel sauce).
233 Earl's Court Rd, SW5 (020 7244 7777).
Athenian Grocery
Fresh and tinned Greek delicacies.
16A Moscow Rd, London, W2 (020 7229 6280).
The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sophia
Moscow Rd, W2 (020 7229 7260).
Hellenic Book Service
Books on all aspects of Greece.
91 Fortess Rd, NW5 (020 7267 9499/www.bibliagora.co.uk).
The Hellenic Centre
Lectures, exhibitions, language courses, dancing and even a bar.
16-18 Paddington St, W1 (020 7487 5060/www.helleniccentre.org).
Korres
Stocks high quality, reasonably priced cosmetics.
124 Kings Rd, SW3 (020 7581 6455/www.korres.com).
www.apokrisi.net
Lists Greek events in the UK (particularly London).
