At the crossroads of the City, Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park you'll find Mile End and Bow — the bustling residential heartland of the East End. Once gritty and rough around the edges — OK, still gritty and rough around the edges — the area has picked up in recent years with new places to eat, drink and shop joining the existing arts venues, charming parks and squares. While the likes of Nandos, Tesco and Starbucks have all started to muscle-in on the area, there's plenty of other places to head to if you're after genuine local experiences.
Since 1937, pies have been served at this shop on Roman Road, each one hand-made in their in-house bakery using a recipe passed down through three generations.
Hidden away down a narrow passageway linking Grove Hall Park to Bow Road, Carmelite Cafe serves up brunches, lunches and great Nude Espresso coffee.
Escape from Mile End tube station and head north — just across Mile End Road is Tredegar Square. Small in size but surprisingly peaceful and lined with beautiful Georgian housing that the World War II bombs miraculously missed. The North side of the Square is the grandest with fine stucco and classical decoration which have hardly changed since the nineteenth century. Most of the houses still maintain their original features, such as cast-iron balconies, railings and double-hung timber sash windows. All year round it's a relaxing place to sit or stroll through and at Christmas you can join locals gathered in the square to sing carols.
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