Things to do
13 reasons to visit Orford Road in Walthamstow, E17
It's one of London's prettiest streets, but it has edge to it if you know where to look.
You've heard the rumours of a haven at the end of the Victoria line, and you want to see it for yourself. As well as being home to Walthamstow Market – the longest in Europe! – and near to leafy Epping Forest, Walthamstow is as close as you can get to the countryside without leaving the city.
As young Londoners moved further out of the capital in search of cheaper rents and house prices, many found themselves in E17, turning it into an evolving young suburb. It's home to the annual festival Walthamstow Garden Party, a popular London brewery and a particularly special neon treasure. But it's a place that works hard to preserve its industrial heritage, and east London pie and mash spirit. New restaurants, bars and venues are popping up in the area every month, so we've picked a few of our favourites.
RECOMMENDED: Our London area guides
It's one of London's prettiest streets, but it has edge to it if you know where to look.
This semi-industrial stretch of London is filled with small workshops and art studios. And you can get a decent breakfast.
A beautiful conservation space that plays host the Walthamstow Garden Party every year.
See original patterns, rugs and prints made by William Morris in the pioneering designer's former home.
Give it the old razzle dazzle in this salvage yard filled with the neon works of artist Chris Bracey. It has a licensed café too.
Tuck into tapas outdoors or hide from the weather in the cosy dining room. It's little piece of Spain in the middle of Walthamstow.
Don't leave without trying the buttermilk chicken burger and the restaurant's own-brand bacon jam (unless you're veggie of course).
It looks like a café, sounds like a café and serves food in café-sized portions, but the globetrotting menu at La Cafeteria is more...
A great choice of kebabs cooked on a traditional ocakbasi grill and quality mezze for the veggies.
Footy on the telly, folk club in the function room, banter at the bar, lager in the fridge. What more could you want?
Just a 10-minute drive from central Stratford, King William IV Pub and Brewery has a traditional pub and on-site brewery. If you miss your train, it just...
A big, busy pub on one of those big, busy London crossroads. Good ale, friendly staff and a varied food menu = a perfect Sunday.
Sip elaborate cocktails in this Grade II listed former cinema filled with body-swallowing leather couches.
Spot wildlife in the Walthamstow Marsh Nature Reserve or go blackberry picking in this Green Flag award-winning grassland.
Get stuffed with a full breakfast stack in this speciality coffee house: halloumi, avocado, poached egg, spinach. The works.
Have a locally-crafted pale ale in a car park at this micro-brewery and bar serving a range of bottled, cask beers and keg beers.
Give it the old razzle dazzle in this salvage yard filled with the neon works of artist Chris Bracey.
Discover Time Out original video