Guidebook for London
Drinks & Nightlife
I think this is the best pub in London. Sadly so do lots of other people now, so these days it can be full. The huge Ewok Village makes it the best outside drinking establishment in the area. Serves Thai food in the evenings: very good quality, but portion sizes could be bigger.
171 locals recommend
The Faltering Fullback
19 Perth RdI think this is the best pub in London. Sadly so do lots of other people now, so these days it can be full. The huge Ewok Village makes it the best outside drinking establishment in the area. Serves Thai food in the evenings: very good quality, but portion sizes could be bigger.
You can see this by walking to the top of the hill behind the house. Sometimes the music is good. The views of london are also impressive and I've heard the ice rink is a good one.
330 locals recommend
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace WayYou can see this by walking to the top of the hill behind the house. Sometimes the music is good. The views of london are also impressive and I've heard the ice rink is a good one.
Food Scene
Supposedly the best vegetarian indian food in London, although I've actually never seen another vegetarian indian. The food however very good & much better than that I've found in more famous areas like brick lane. I wasn't expecting vegetarian indian to be as good as those with meat, but it surprises. Avoid before chef arrives when it opens and it doesn't currently have an alcohol license, so you can need to bring some with you.
48 locals recommend
Jai Krishna
161 Stroud Green RdSupposedly the best vegetarian indian food in London, although I've actually never seen another vegetarian indian. The food however very good & much better than that I've found in more famous areas like brick lane. I wasn't expecting vegetarian indian to be as good as those with meat, but it surprises. Avoid before chef arrives when it opens and it doesn't currently have an alcohol license, so you can need to bring some with you.
There are dozens of restaurants on Stroud Green Road. I'm putting this one here as you won't see it walking home and it does particularly good food.
91 locals recommend
Salvation in Noodles
122 Balls Pond RdThere are dozens of restaurants on Stroud Green Road. I'm putting this one here as you won't see it walking home and it does particularly good food.
This is my preferred place for takeaway pizza. The atmosphere may not be as good as some of the others, but the food is excellent.
36 locals recommend
La Porchetta
265 Muswell Hill BroadwayThis is my preferred place for takeaway pizza. The atmosphere may not be as good as some of the others, but the food is excellent.
There are at least 20 Restaurants along this road. Most popular are italians. but there also Caribbean, Indian, Chinese, Nepalese, Turkish, Thai, Vietnamese etc.
649 locals recommend
Tesco Metro
361 Bethnal Green RdThere are at least 20 Restaurants along this road. Most popular are italians. but there also Caribbean, Indian, Chinese, Nepalese, Turkish, Thai, Vietnamese etc.
I haven't eaten here, but it has been recommended by a previous guest and is hidden around the corner.
11 locals recommend
Il Piccolo Diavolo
147 Stroud Green RdI haven't eaten here, but it has been recommended by a previous guest and is hidden around the corner.
Best breakfast in the area. Cafe Caramel on Stroud Green Road is a cheap alternative. Can get quite busy.
59 locals recommend
The Corner One
85 Jamestown RdBest breakfast in the area. Cafe Caramel on Stroud Green Road is a cheap alternative. Can get quite busy.
This doesn't appear when I search for it, so I've picked a nearby road to attach it to. I think it does the best coffee, although the drinking cups can be odd. It is called Vagabond. It is on the little road opposite Stroud Green Post Office and partially hidden by bushes.
Osborne Road
Osborne RoadThis doesn't appear when I search for it, so I've picked a nearby road to attach it to. I think it does the best coffee, although the drinking cups can be odd. It is called Vagabond. It is on the little road opposite Stroud Green Post Office and partially hidden by bushes.
Parks & Nature
This is on what used to be an overground rail line. Trains no longer run and the tracks have been removed, but you will see occasional platforms when you walk along. At one end is highgate (including northern line station) and at the other is finsbury park. Ways onto and off the walk are dotted along the path. Despite starting in Zone2 it feels remote enough as to be out of town. I think the small deer are an urban myth though.
114 locals recommend
Parkland Walk
Parkland WalkThis is on what used to be an overground rail line. Trains no longer run and the tracks have been removed, but you will see occasional platforms when you walk along. At one end is highgate (including northern line station) and at the other is finsbury park. Ways onto and off the walk are dotted along the path. Despite starting in Zone2 it feels remote enough as to be out of town. I think the small deer are an urban myth though.
This isn't the nicest park in London, but it is a good compromise between being a nice park and not too busy. There is an outdoor gym near the 'american garden' and most of the inner road is pedestrianised, so it is excellent for running & cycling.
275 locals recommend
Finsbury Park
Station PlaceThis isn't the nicest park in London, but it is a good compromise between being a nice park and not too busy. There is an outdoor gym near the 'american garden' and most of the inner road is pedestrianised, so it is excellent for running & cycling.
This is the best park in London and offers some of the best views in London. Some of the central london parks may be more manicured, but they are also full of tourists and lack the relaxed feel. You can get there almost entirely avoiding big roads by walking there along the Parkland Walk. Alternatively it is 2 stops away from Crouch hill Station (go to Gospel Oak Station and the heath is behind the lido). There are swimming ponds and it is on the way to Golders Green Coach Station.
1215 locals recommend
Hampstead Heath
This is the best park in London and offers some of the best views in London. Some of the central london parks may be more manicured, but they are also full of tourists and lack the relaxed feel. You can get there almost entirely avoiding big roads by walking there along the Parkland Walk. Alternatively it is 2 stops away from Crouch hill Station (go to Gospel Oak Station and the heath is behind the lido). There are swimming ponds and it is on the way to Golders Green Coach Station.
Everything Else
Venue of the 2012 Olympics. A beautiful building and an excellent pool. In fact there are two pools and you can often swim in the 50m one. You can get there from the house easily by cycling or underground (1 stop to Highbury and Islington and then 5 stops to Hackney Wick). Very much worth doing if you saw the 2012 Olympics or like architecture.
141 locals recommend
London Aquatics Centre
Venue of the 2012 Olympics. A beautiful building and an excellent pool. In fact there are two pools and you can often swim in the 50m one. You can get there from the house easily by cycling or underground (1 stop to Highbury and Islington and then 5 stops to Hackney Wick). Very much worth doing if you saw the 2012 Olympics or like architecture.
Sightseeing
When it was originally built it was too wobbly to walk on. Now you can walk across the river and the views are as good as any of the bridges. It offers excellent views of St Paul's cathedral to the north and connects you to the Tate Modern (most of which is free currently).
129 locals recommend
Millennium Bridge
When it was originally built it was too wobbly to walk on. Now you can walk across the river and the views are as good as any of the bridges. It offers excellent views of St Paul's cathedral to the north and connects you to the Tate Modern (most of which is free currently).
Getting Around
There are coaches from here to Stansted Airport and luton Airport. The 210 bus from near the house goes to it. This is often a preferable route to travelling into town and back. It is also cheaper.
30 locals recommend
Golders Green station
North End RoadThere are coaches from here to Stansted Airport and luton Airport. The 210 bus from near the house goes to it. This is often a preferable route to travelling into town and back. It is also cheaper.
Trains go here from Stansted Airport. It is only 2 stops from Finsbury Park. On a nice day you can even walk.
45 locals recommend
Tottenham Hale station
Trains go here from Stansted Airport. It is only 2 stops from Finsbury Park. On a nice day you can even walk.
Heathrow is just one trip on the Piccadilly Line from Finsbury Park. The journey is quite boring, but it is much easier and cheaper than the Heathrow Express route. Being far enough away also avoids all the aircraft noise that afflicts west London.
221 locals recommend
Heathrow Airport
Heathrow is just one trip on the Piccadilly Line from Finsbury Park. The journey is quite boring, but it is much easier and cheaper than the Heathrow Express route. Being far enough away also avoids all the aircraft noise that afflicts west London.
This is just 1 journey on the Victoria Line from Finsbury Park. From there you can get to Gatwick Airport and walk to Victoria Coach Station.
349 locals recommend
Victoria Station
15 Victoria StreetThis is just 1 journey on the Victoria Line from Finsbury Park. From there you can get to Gatwick Airport and walk to Victoria Coach Station.
Essentials
This store isn't very modern & it can be a bit chaotic, but it tends to have everything at decent prices. There are lots of smarter smaller shops nearby, but they tend to overprice things.
649 locals recommend
Tesco Metro
361 Bethnal Green RdThis store isn't very modern & it can be a bit chaotic, but it tends to have everything at decent prices. There are lots of smarter smaller shops nearby, but they tend to overprice things.