London's Markets - Miss Alice

Question of the week: can you tell us about one of your favourite London markets?

"When I'm looking to stock up on cheap, quality fruit and veg, I head up the District line to Queen's Market, near Upton park tube station, which I'm glad to say is still fighting off plans to re-develop the space as posh flats instead of leaving it as a thriving local market.

When I'm looking for a real foodie treat, though, you can't beat Borough Market: London's ultimate farmer's market - it's over-crowded and recommended everywhere for a very good reason!

Personal favourites include The Tomato Stall's oak roasted tomatoes (perfect with some fresh mozzarella from L’Ubriaco's, either cold as antipasto, or over pasta) and Flour Power City's Potato & Rosemary Sourdough bread. Oh, and the guy who sells nothing but multi-year-matured unpasteurised cheddar, and the middle eastern stall with the perfect harissa, and Pie Minister's pies, and Dark Sugar's truffles, and ... you get the picture!

You'll find Borough Market between London Bridge tube station and the river, and it's open Thursdays: 11am - 5pm, Fridays: 12pm - 6pm and it's busiest day, Saturdays: 8am - 5pm

For Queen's you'll want Upton Park station, and they trade Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9 - 6"
- Miss Alice

* Photo by tonylanciabeta, used under Creative Commons.

London markets - Cornelius O’Boyle

Question of the week: can you tell us about one of your favourite London markets?

"On a crisp Saturday morning in autumn, there’s no better London market to explore than Ridley Road Market. Today, it is best known for its exotic African bush meats and fruit, as well as African fabrics, arts & crafts, and other produce. But the market also still contains many stalls reflecting Dalston’s rich history as a centre for various immigrant Jewish, Greek and Turkish communities. And the great thing about Ridley Road Market is that, because it is slightly off the beaten path for the average tourist, the market has maintained its authentic atmosphere as a place serving the needs of its local communities. This is a genuine “outside of Zone 1” London experience!

Getting there is much easier, now that the mainline station of "Dalston Kingsland" is part of the "Overground" line on the London Underground. Alternatively, you can take Bus number 243 from Old Street Tube Station and ride up Kingsland Road to get a good view of a large part of the East End of London."
- Cornelius O’Boyle

* Photo by bareknuckleyellow, used under Creative Commons.

London markets - Kris

Question of the week: can you tell us about one of your favourite London markets?

"If you're looking for something to do near the flats around lunchtime, head to Leather Lane and check out the market - it's the closest market to the flats, and it has something for everyone! Stalls range from fruit & veg, to bags, to toiletries, and it was voted the best market for fashion by Time Out! (Daddy Donkey was also recommended as one of the best burritos in London - but go early as there's always a long line!)

Leather Lane starts later than most markets - it really gets going around 11am, and things tend to wind up around 2pm, as a lot of people from the surrounding offices visit during their lunch hour. It runs Monday through Friday (except Bank Holidays).

To get there from the flats: Turn left out of the gate, turn right on Clerkenwell (as if you were going to the London Centre), then it's the third street on the left. You'll be able to recognize it by all of the stalls on both sides of the street (and the street sign on the corner). When the market is on the street is blocked off from traffic, so don't be afraid to wander down the middle and take everything in."
- Kris

* Photo by jenlen, used under Creative Commons.

London day trip - Kris II

Question of the week: Can you recommend a second London day-trip?

"Of the many palaces in London, my favourite is Hampton Court. Building started in 1514, by Cardinal Wolsey, who lost the palace (and his life) to Henry VIII in 1530. Much of Hampton Court still looks similar to the way it did in Tudor times, the kitchens especially. Henry's children Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I all spent time at Hampton Court, as did the Stuart kings. After the Restoration, William and Mary made major changes to one wing of Hampton Court, providing it with the 'split personality' it still has today (half-Tudor, Half-Baroque).

For me, the best part about visiting Hampton Court is that I always seem to discover something new - the hedge maze is wonderful, but there's also a 'real tennis' court, where you can watch people play tennis as it was played since the 16th century. (Lawn tennis is a relatively recent, 19th century, invention.) If you go on the right weekend, you can see people cooking in the Tudor Kitchens, and taste what they make! Also, if you're looking for something to get you in the Halloween spirit, there have been many reports of hauntings - the most famous ghost is that of Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth wife; people staying at the Palace have reported screams coming from the Haunted Gallery, and many people have reported that the room 'doesn't feel right'. It is believed that Catherine was dragged back to her rooms through the gallery after she was sentenced to execution for treason in 1541.

Hampton Court is easy to get to - take the train from Waterloo! Hampton Court is the last stop, so when the train doesn't move any more, get off and start your adventure!

Check out http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/ for more info."
- Kris

* Photo by Fred Dawson, used under Creative Commons.

London day trip - Miss Alice II

Question of the week: Can you recommend a second London day-trip?

"From the modern to the historical, gracious Kenwood House in North London is a total contrast to yesterday's Dockland's trip. The house is by neoclassical architect Robert Adams, the grounds influenced by the great English landscape gardener, Humphry Repton, while the galleries display works by Rembrandt, Turner, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Vermeer. Even the location is classy, between Hampstead Heath and Highgate Cemetery, with panoramic views back over London, in case you need to be reminded that you are not out in the countryside after all.

You may want to plan your visit to Kenwood House around the tour schedule at Highgate Cemetery(select 'visitors' and scroll down), in order to get the most out of your time in this historic area.

You could also stop off at the 18th century Flask Tavern on your way between to two, to raise a glass to Hogarth and Marx, both of whom were reputedly regulars here. "
- Miss Alice

* Photo by dezzography, used under Creative Commons.

London day trip - Miss Alice

Question of the week: Can you recommend a London day-trip?

"As Prof. O'Boyle wrote on Monday, the Thames Barrier is both a masterpiece of engineering and a beautiful construction. However, it's not all that London's Docklands has to offer.

If you want to visit the Thames Barrier's information centre, you'll be catching a bus from North Greenwich station. While you're there, check out the 02 centre - what was originally the much-maligned Millennium Dome. As well as hosting major music and sporting events, the 02 is also home to two smaller music venues, an IMAX cinema, and two museum spaces, one hosting the 'British Music Experience', the other international 'blockbuster' exhibitions.

Once you're done, head to the river (past the David Beckham Football Academy) to catch a boat back to Canary Wharf - the heart of Dockland's rebirth as the alternative financial capital of the capital. (Take every opportunity possible to see London from the river, wherever you find yourself along it's length.)

Soaring glass towers, sleek malls, and manicured gardens have blossomed where 30 years ago bomb damage from the Second World War and changes in international trade meant that much of the area was derelict and abandoned. In a sense, the development brings the area full circle, back to it's prosperous role in world trade in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Built in 1802, the warehouse which is home to Museum of London Docklands was originally used to store vast quantities of rum, molasses, coffee, pimento and cotton from the West India slave plantations. Now, the building tells the story of London's history through it's ports and trading life, which shaped all levels of society throughout London's history. It also examines the capital’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade with the gallery London, Sugar and Slavery.

(There are plenty of restaurants in the area, both in the malls, and near the museum, but the cheapest option is the Ledger Building pub, to your left when you're looking at the museum).

Heading home again, you can either take the DLR from West India Quay, or head back to Canary Wharf for the Jubilee Line. If you're on the fully-automated DLR, try for the very front seats of the first carriage, or if you pick the tube, take a moment to look around the station - it may look familiar from films you may have seen!"

- Miss Alice

* Photos by Effervescing Elephant and nataliej, used under Creative Commons.

London day trip - Kris

Question of the week: Can you recommend a London day-trip?

"Do you miss the great outdoors? Are you tired of seeing buildings and urban sprawl everywhere you turn? Try heading to Richmond Park, where you can picnic in the shade of ancient trees, watch two types of deer roam free, or rent a bike and ride through the 2500 acres of loveliness. The park started as a royal hunting ground in the Middle Ages, but now boasts facilities for bird watchers, fisher-people, and everyone else! My favourite place in the Park is King Henry's Mount, where you get an uninterrupted view of St. Paul's Cathedral - 12 miles away!

Take a look at their website for more information"
- Kris

* Photo by law_kevin, used under Creative Commons.

London day trip - Cornelius O'Boyle

Question of the week: Can you recommend a London day-trip?

"No visit to London is complete without a trip to Greenwich, down river on the banks of the Thames. Greenwich is, of course, the location of the world's prime meridian, from which all space and time on earth is measured. The historic Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Hospital for Seamen (Greenwich Hospital), and Greenwich town centre (with its covered marketplace) are also all well worth seeing. But many forget that further down river is the Thames Barrier.

The barrier is the world's largest movable flood barrier, spanning 520 metres across the river. Completed in 1982, the barrier was designed to protect London from flooding, especially during spring, when high tides threaten to engulf central London (and most of Zone 1 of the tube system!) under millions of tons of water from the North Sea. When first opened, the barrier was raised on average 10 times a year; now, because of global warming, it is raised more than 30 times a year. Some engineers suggest that if the barrier isn't enlarged soon, it will fail by 2030 and London will once again run serious risk of being flooded.

One way to view this spectacular structure is from a river boat (which can be boarded in central London or at Greenwich). Alternatively, one can take a bus from Greenwich to the Thames Barrier Information and Learning Centre, which is located on the south bank of the River Thames. Better still, take the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to "Pontoon Dock" and visit the new Thames Barrier Park, a 22-acre contemporary-designed park with spectacular views of the barrier."
- Cornelius O'Boyle

* Photo by 10b travelling, used under Creative Commons.

Free and close to the London Centre - Cornelius O'Boyle

Question of the week: Can you recommend something free to do within about ten minutes walk of the London Centre?

"By now, you've probably discovered the delight of slipping into the National Gallery or the National Portrait Gallery for the odd 20 minutes or so to take a study break and enjoy the pleasure of immersing oneself in a painting that catches one's eye. Well, you can enjoy the same pleasure with some of London's best contemporary art in London's second White Cube Gallery, located in Mason's Yard in St James's. (just off Duke Street at 25-26 Mason's Yard, St James's, London, SW1Y 6BU).

The original White Cube Gallery, in Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, took the lead among modern galleries in promoting the 1980s and 1990s art movement known as the "Young British Artists" (YBA), including Damien Hurst and Tracey Emin. The Hoxton White Cube Gallery is still at the heart of Shoreditch's bohemian artists' community. Indeed, it became so popular that in 2006 it opened a second White Cube Gallery tucked away in a courtyard in St James's. It it truly a hidden gem in the West End.

Open 10am to 6.00pm, Tuesday to Saturday, you can check out the current exhibitions at its website: http://www.whitecube.com/"
- Cornelius O'Boyle

* Photo by zawtowers, used under Creative Commons.

Free and close to the London Centre - Miss Alice

Question of the week: Can you recommend something free to do within about ten minutes walk of the London Centre?


"I can't pick just one, so here are two. They're practically side by side on John Adams Street, just off the Strand, near Charring Cross.

Proud Central is a commercial photography gallery, specialising in pop culture and rock and roll. Their exhibitions switch every two months or so. At the moment, it's photographs of London legends The Who, shot by internationally renowned photographer Colin Jones, and next month it switches over to an Elvis exhibition. It is a commercial space, but one that goes out of its way to be welcoming to everyone who comes by for a free look around their well-selected, well-curated exhibitions, so don't be intimidated!

A little further down the street is the RSA - the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce to give it it's full title. Amongst their many activities, they put on a rich program of free lectures and discussions - world class speakers, politicians, academics, business and social leaders from around the world, speaking on important and timely topics. They make audio, and often video, recordings available after the fact, but there's nothing like being in the room - or joining the speakers to continue the conversation over a drink afterwards."
- Miss Alice

* Photo by Robin Hamman, used under Creative Commons.

Free and close to the London Centre - Ric

Question of the week: Can you recommend something free to do within about ten minutes walk of the London Centre?

"Described as "London's Personal Space", the nearest Royal Park to the London Centre is St. James's. Take advantage of this green and quiet portion of central London for a walk or a run between classes. For those with a little more time, or wanting a longer wander to think or
escape the bustling journey between Farringdon and Trafalgar Square, keep walking from St. Jame's up through Green Park, perhaps even as far as Hyde Park."
- Ric

* Photo by bortescristian, used under Creative Commons.

Free and close to the London Centre - Kris

Question of the week: Can you recommend something free to do within about ten minutes walk of the London Centre?

"One of my favourite things to do around the London Centre is to visit Sotherby's on New Bond Street. The items that will be sold in their upcoming auctions are displayed in the back of the ground floor - and they could be anything! I've seen Impressionist paintings, Persian carpets, rare books and lots more. One of the most interesting things to think about is that most of the items come from private collections, and are bought by private individuals - so they may have never been on public display before, and they might never be again! It can really be a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity. And it's fun to wander into such a famous auction house! If you're willing to spend a little money, the restaurant does a nice cream tea!

The address is: 34-35 New Bond Street, and the website is: http://www.sothebys.com/ if you want to take a look to see what auctions are coming up, because that's how to see what might be on display!"
- Kris

* Photo by chrisjohnbecket, used under Creative Commons.

Free and close to the London Centre - Greg Kucich

Question of the week: Can you recommend something free to do within about ten minutes walk of the London Centre?

"Walk across Trafalgar Square toward the Thames and cross over the Hungerford Bridge to the South Bank, where you will find street artists, book stalls, book shops, outdoor events, and the South Bank Centre, which includes the National Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall, the Hayward Gallery, among other important cultural institutions, many of which feature bookshops, cafes, and free events."
- Greg Kucich

* Photo by bthomoso, used under Creative Commons.

Favourite London Buildings - Kris

Question of the week: Tell us about one of your favourite London buildings

"When you look at the Houses of Parliament what you see is a Victorian reconstruction of the medieval Palace of Westminster, which burned down in 1834. There are only two bits of the medieval palace left standing, and the Jewel Tower is one of them (the other is Westminster Hall) and the only one regularly open to the public.

It looks a little bit out of place, standing in its own bit of lawn, but when it was built in 1365 to house Edward III's treasures, it was in a secure position within the moated castle. (You can still see traces of the old moat around the outside!) Inside there is an exhibition about the history of the building, as well as the history of Parliament. And there's an Anglo-Saxon sword on display as well (which pre-dates the tower by at least 300 years)."
- Kris

NB - Westminster Hall is open to the public this coming Sunday for London Open House weekend.

* Photo by khyronsdf, used under Creative Commons.

Favourite London Buildings - Phillippa

Question of the week: Tell us about one of your favourite London buildings

“London, as you’ve probably noticed, is a bit cluttered: there are buildings on top of buildings behind buildings shoved in between buildings on top of buildings. All sorts of architecture exist here. It’s possible to find sections of the Roman wall, Christopher Wren’s glorious seventeenth century reworking of St. Paul’s Cathedral and 30 St Mary Axe (winner of the 2004 Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize and commonly known The Gherkin because of its similarity to a giant blue pickle) within walking distance of each other. After all that, it can come as a bit of a surprise that people live here too.

Like every other type of building, housing has gone through a lot of important changes in style and not all of it has been successful (you probably have your own opinions about K-M). The most fascinating building in London at the moment is one that hasn’t really survived: it’s been insulted, emptied, isolated, boarded up, vandalised, condemned to demolition and now filled with copper sulphate crystals.

At 151 - 189 Harper Road, you’ll find a dilapidated block of former council flats transformed into an shockingly wonderful cave of bright blue crystals as part of SEIZURE, an artwork by Roger Hiorns. It’s something between being trapped in a giant amethyst and drowning.

It’s only open until 18th October but, fortunately, it’s also got him shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2009, one of Britain’s most prestigious art awards, which means you’ll be able to see examples of his work at Tate Britain from 6th October.”
- Phillippa

Edit to add - good news - Seizure is now open until the 3rd of January

* Photo by Sela-V, used under Creative Commons.

Favourite London Buildings - Miss Alice

Question of the week: Question of the week: Tell us about one of your favourite London buildings

"I think 30 St. Mary Axe, Swis-Re Tower, or, as it's almost universally called 'The Gerkin', is a beautiful addition to the London skyline.

I love the curves, the stripes, the shine, but most of all the way it looks incredible from every angle. Whether you see it soaring between the gaps between run-down buildings in the east end, surrounded by other modern buildings in the City, or juxtaposed with historic churches, it always adds rather than overshadows. Even from miles away, when London's nothing more than towers in the distance glimpsed from the motorway - one clump of towers in Docklands and a second, stumpier, set in the City - the Gerkin adds a note of grace, elegance, and style.

Unfortunately, getting a closer view is tricky. The only public area is 'the plaza', or, in other words, the grounds outside - everything else is restricted to the companies that lease the building, and the stunning restaurant and private dining rooms at the top of the tower command high prices to match the views.

City Hall, across the river, was built by the same architect's firm, and is also worth investigating. They have a remarkably open access policy for the working centre of London's local government, and they're opening up still more of the building for London's Open House weekend this coming weekend."
- Miss Alice

* Gerkin photo by Paolo Margari, used under Creative Commons. City Hall photo photo by Stuiek, used under Creative Commons.

Favourite London Buildings - Greg Kucich

Question of the week: Tell us about one of your favourite London buildings

"Sir John Soane's Museum. Sir John Soane was a renowned architect and collector of art and antiquities, who transformed his house into a museum of art, architecture, and antiquities in the early nineteenth century. Located at No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, near Holborn Underground Station, this building stands out as one of London's most delightful and informative small museums, filled with fascinating works of art, architectural sketches and models, and fabulous classical statues and artefacts, as well as Medieval, renaissance, and Neo-Classical artwork. Overall, it is a fabulously rich and curiously eccentric collection, and the house/museum structure itself is an architectural wonder. A very special place to visit."
- Greg Kucich

* Photo by gruntzooki's buddy icon
gruntzooki, used under Creative Commons.

Favourite London Buildings - Kris

Question of the week: Tell us about one of your favourite London buildings

"My favourite building in London is Somerset House.

Over the years it has served as the Queen's official palace, the home of Oliver Cromwell, and the venue for masquerade balls. It is still possible to go through the old water gate, and even though it leads onto the Victoria Embankment now, it's a reminder of the fact that for most of London's history the easiest way to travel around the city was by boat! (The Thames used to be wider, and it was possible to row a boat straight into the palaces that lined the Thames, including Somerset House, the Tower of London, and the Savoy Palace [where the Savoy Hotel now stands]).

Now it is used for a variety of purposes, including the Inland Revenue (the Tax Service), and the Courtauld Gallery, which houses major pieces of Impressionist art, as well as other works from the Middle Ages through to the present day. In the summer, the beautiful fountain is on display most days, surrounded by tables where you can sit and read or eat lunch. In the winter the central courtyard hosts the famous ice rink!

You can take a free tour of Somerset House, and have access to places not usually open to public view, every Thursday at 13.15 and 14.45 and every Saturday at 12.15, 13.15, 14.15 and 15.15. You can pick up tickets from the Information Desk from 10.30 the morning of the tour.

For more information see www.somersethouse.org.uk, there are often fun things going on!"
- Kris

* Photo by Leeks, used under Creative Commons.

Eating out for less - Dr Holt

"A bit more British-English – here a ‘voucher’ is rather like an American ‘coupon’ because it does the same job – it knocks some of the cost off an item or a service. Recently a number of restaurants and shops have banded together in the face of the Recession and have decided to offer special rates and discounts on their normal menu items – and it works because people from all over London are still going out to eat because with these vouchers we enjoy 2 main courses for the price of one or 2 courses for £10 or other similar deals. Check out www.vouchercodes.co.uk and sign up for their weekly newsletter. "
- Dr Holt

* Photo by Bashed, used under Creative Commons.

A favourite place to eat in London - Cornelius O'Boyle

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite places to eat in London?

"If you're looking for lunch somewhere near the London Centre and you want something a bit nicer than a Pret-a-Manger sandwich, check out the Crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the large white stone church on the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square. The church itself is a famous early 18th-century structure with a wonderfully atmospheric crypt, and the food is high-quality English cuisine (meat and two veg) served cafeteria-style. It's a bit more pricey than a take-away sandwich, but every once in a while it's a real treat."
- Cornelius O'Boyle

* Photo by Edgley Cesar, used under Creative Commons.

Favourite places to eat in London - Phillippa

Question of the week: what are some of your favourite places to eat in London?

"My top five London eating experiences on a map


My top five London eating experiences as a list:

1. Mango Tree http://www.justmangotree.co.uk/
Cuisine: Indian
London is full of Indian restaurants: some are great, some are dreadful (as you might discover if you ever find yourself in Soho and in need of dinner). However, this is easily my favourite in the city and redeems the place entirely: the menu is excellent, the food is excellent – even the wine list is pretty good. And you can get ice cream in the shape of a penguin for afters (though I’d recommend the cardamom tea).

2. Zigni House http://www.zignihouse.com/
Cuisine: Eritrean
So exciting, you’d eat it with your fingers even if there was cutlery (there isn’t). Wonderful food, well washed down with any of their selection of traditional drinks. Try sharing a mixed platter.
What to do afterwards: Zigni House is a bit of a walk, but that just gives you an excuse to pop into Brazilian bar Barrio North on the way back to K-M.

3. Satay House http://www.satay-house.co.uk/
Cuisine: Malaysian
Beautiful food to a Malaysian film soundtrack.
What to do afterwards: Take a walk down Edgware Road and try a Lebanese coffee.

4. Mar I Terra http://www.mariterra.co.uk/menus.html
Cuisine: Spanish
Excellent tapas in a tiny, family-run place tucked away in a Southwark railway arch.

5. New Haven
Cuisine: Cameroonian
A bit different to the other West African establishments in the area, which are mostly Nigerian or Ghanian, I only noticed this place because I didn’t know what any of the words meant on the menu outside – it’s well worth an experiment! Very relaxed, a great place to get talking to local people, if you can hear them over the TV (ignore it – it’s just how we do things in south London)."
- Phillippa

* Photo by chotda, used under Creative Commons.

A favourite place to eat in London - Kris

Question of the week: what's one of your favourite places to eat in London?

"I know that most of the posts this week will be about restaurants, but my favourite place to eat in central London is St. James’ Park. There are places to get food in the park, and while they’re not bad, they tend to be a bit expensive for what they are. So, my advice would be to grab a sandwich from a sandwich shop (Pret or any of the ones on Whitcomb Street), or, even cheaper, bring in a packed lunch from home, and head to the park. Try to sit by the water – I like to watch all of the birds. It’s a little bit of nature in the great big city."
- Kris

* Photo by rxwarren, used under Creative Commons.

A favourite place to eat in London - Ric Whaite

Question of the week: what's one of your favourite places to eat in London?

"This is one of the best kept secrets in South London. If you are enjoying a trip to Brixton, for the markets or the concert venues but cannot stomach the idea of carribean classics like goat curry this pizza place is an alternative and a local institution. The restaurent is not well-signed, so do take the address with you. The dough is just amazing. Such reasonable prices too - their most expensive pizza is £5.60.

Franco Manca
4 Market Row, Electric Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LD
Area: Brixton
Tel: 020 7738 3021
www.francomanca.co.uk
Category: Pizza & Pasta
Travel: Brixton tube/rail
Times: Open Mon-Tue 12noon-4pm; Thur-Sat 12noon-4pm"
- Ric Whaite

* Photo by JP Hussey, used under Creative Commons.

A favourite place to eat in London - Greg Kucich

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite places to eat in London

"The Foundling Hospital Café is a special place to eat in a unique museum. Located in Bloomsbury just off Brunswick Square (nearest tube stop: Russell Square), behind Coram's Fields, the Foundling Hospital was established by Thomas Coram in 1739 and strongly supported by the composer George Friderick Handel and the artist William Hogarth. Besides emerging as one of Europe's first homes for orphans, it also quickly developed into one of London's first public art galleries. Today, you can visit special exhibitions dedicated to the work of Handel, Coram, and Hogarth, among others. The café is delightful and inexpensive, with an attractive, leafy outside area. It's also right next door to the very cool shops and cafes of the Brunswick Centre, which features a rather high end farmer's market of international foods on Saturday mornings."
- Greg Kucich

* Photo by Alan Stanton, used under Creative Commons.

A favourite place to eat in London - Miss Alice

Question of the week: what's one of your favourite places to eat in London?

"My vote for the best bargain meal in town is Indian Veg, on Chapel Market in Angel, Islington. Sad to say, their prices have gone up since I took that photo, so now it's a whopping £4 for all an you can eat buffet of delicious Indian veggie food - no wonder it's such an institution! If your budget will stretch to it, I recommend a mango lassi as the perfect drink to go with your meal.

For outstanding vegetarian food the other end of the price range, try Vanilla Black) or, the more moderately priced and wonderfully named Rootmaster Bustaurant just off Brick Lane. What's not to love about a restaurant that's put a classic London double-decker bus to such good use?"
- Miss Alice

* Photo by me.