Visit Green Street, Royal Docks, Stratford, Three Mills Visitor Guide
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visit Green Street Royal Docks Stratford Three Mills 2 3 Contents 2 Welcome 4-7 Green Street 8-11 Royal Docks Welcome 12-15 Stratford London, the world’s most popular resident says: “I feel no need to travel. In Newham, travel destination, has a new all the world is here.” 16-19 Three Mills attraction. Its axis has taken a definite tilt towards the East side, This guide is designed to give a real flavour of acknowledged in the latest Lonely Newham, with an overview of four contrasting 20-21 Tours and Trails Planet guide as the capital’s rising areas to visit: star. London’s unique selling point is its history and Green Street – Britain’s most celebrated Asian 22-23 Things to See and Do tradition, combined with the myriad influences of shopping area; an exhilarating delight for all the its multicultural population. And nowhere is this senses. more vividly on show than in Newham. Royal Docks – vast waterscapes and modern 26-29 Places to Eat Newham is the main host borough for the London architecture reflect the port and shipping history 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. of our borough. There is an air of excitement and anticipation as 30-32 Places to Stay preparations begin on the Olympic Park and the Stratford – gateway to the 2012 Games and home ambitious new Stratford City. Soon, a stunning to our cultural quarter, with theatre, performing new shopping area and state-of-the-art sports arts and cinema. 33 Events facilities will bring new energy and prosperity to Three Mills – tranquil river and canal-side walks this fast emerging area of the capital. reveal wildlife and industrial heritage. 34-35 Famous Connections Newham is home to the youngest and most There are lots of other things to do and see, and diverse population in Britain, with a strong places to stay and eat and we would be delighted community spirit. Just 20 minutes by tube from to hear about your visit and would welcome any 36-37 Getting Here and There Oxford Circus, we may not yet be on the well-worn feedback on this guide. Please fill in the reply card tourist trail, but Newham offers a wealth of culture, in the centre of this guide. heritage, food, entertainment, green spaces and 38 Fairtrade waterside vistas. Above all, you can be sure of a The eyes of the world will be on Newham in 2012. warm welcome, in at least 100 different languages. I hope you enjoy your visit with us as we begin this amazing journey, and we hope to welcome you In this young and cosmopolitan neighbourhood, again very soon to the rising East. the traditions of London’s East End fuse with those of the Far East, and everywhere else in between. People from all corners of the globe have settled here and enriched the area with a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds, tastes and perfumes. As one Sir Robin Wales - Mayor of Newham www.newham.com 4 5 Green Street East meets East Green Street is Britain’s most celebrated Asian shopping centre. Here, the most authentic curries outside the sub-continent, dazzling fabrics and aromatic spices are set to a soundtrack medley of classical Indian, Bollywood and Bhangra music. Emerging and established designers showcase Eastern fashion and jewellery, with a cutting-edge take on tradition that is making its mark on mainstream catwalks. You’re not likely to find any chicken tikka fans in claret and blue to the ground, on masala here; this is the real deal. In simple but the way sampling some pie and mash, gleaming cafes, East Londoners from or another East End staple, jellied eels. all ethnic backgrounds eat their fill You can sup a pint of bitter in the club bar, of fresh curry, for the cost of a sandwich and perusethe soccer memorabilia, before and a cappuccino in the West End. making a pilgrimage further down Green Green Street and Queens Market are Street to the Champions Statue. This paradise for Real Food afficionados. memorial to England’s 1966 World Cup Speciality goods sell at prices that triumph depicts the legendary Bobby Moore, shame the mainstream supermarkets, along with fellow West Ham players Geoff and without all the packaging. You may Hurst and Martin Peters, as well as Ray Wilson not recognise some of the produce, but from Everton. there will certainly be an ‘Aunty’ nearby Green Street is a dazzling montage of ready to give you detailed instructions. the sights and colours of Asia, Africa And if you love catering for crowds, this and the Caribbean, framed by the history of is the place to buy an outsize cooking pot. London’s East End. You can spend a little Alongside the cosmopolitan buzz of Green or a lot sampling the fabrics, fashions, Street, there remain some significant jewellery and food, or simply absorb the landmarks of English tradition. Upton Park unforgettable atmosphere. Whatever you is home to the mighty Hammers; West Ham do, a trip here will not fail to gladden United premier league football club. Follow the your heart. www.newham.com 6 7 Fantasy football. Book into Experience the song, dance the West Ham United Quality and drama of a Bollywood Hotel and treat yourself film at the Boleyn Cinema - to a room overlooking the each show is a real spectacle. famous pitch. Be tempted by the colourful rows of handmade traditional Asian sweets. Join in the spirited banter Remember England’s finest between market traders footballing hour at the statue and shoppers. of Hammers legend and 1966 Check out the latest stunning World Cup hero, Bobby Moore, Asian fashion in the jewellery just along from West Ham and sari shops of Green Street. United’s stadium. Choose from exotic fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices in Queens Market and along Green Street. Ask the locals for a cooking tip. Browse in the Newham Bookshop, where friendly and knowledgeable staff have welcomed adults and children for decades. A short walk from Green Street, relax in the seven acres of ornamental gardens at West Ham Park, with one of London’s oldest www.newham.com botanical collections. 8 9 Royal Docks Design and engineering on the waterfront Since Roman times, navigation, trade and commerce have been the catalyst for waterside development. In the Royal Docks, a boomtown of wharves, warehouses and cranes made London the world’s major destination for merchant shipping, until containerisation brought its demise in the 1960s. The Royal Docks is really a huge, outdoor role in triggering the revival of the Royal museum of design and engineering, new Docks. With flights to 33 European and UK and old. The vast, man-made, enclosed space destinations and a private jet centre, the of water, the largest in Europe, is fringed with airport has re-established the area as striking landmarks. From here you can marvel an international gateway to London. at the Thames Flood Barrier. The four rotating The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) provides gates of the barrier, weighing in at 3,500 tonnes, protect London from rising tides. a fast link to central London and is a great way The ExCeL centre, which opened in 2000, is to explore the Royal Docks. A further testament London’s largest single site exhibition centre. to engineering, this was one of Britain’s first light rail systems. The elevated tracks give great As monuments to Britain’s former industrial views, and a front seat in one the driverless glory, some of the mighty dockside cranes have trains is enormous fun for kids. They will also been preserved and stand proud against the enjoy Newham City Farm, near Royal Albert southern skyline of the Royal Docks. Several station, where rare breed livestock graze of the original warehouses remain, some contentedly in paddocks, and seasonal converted into popular restaurants. There is a wide produce, including eggs and honey, is on sale. choice of places to eat and enjoy waterside views, from cafes to fine international dining, If you alight from the DLR Pontoon Dock station including Japanese, Thai, Chinese, French and stroll through Thames Barrier Park you and award-winning Caribbean cuisine. can get right up to London’s spectacular flood defence. This imaginatively landscaped Across the Thames, and just two train stops green space features a dug-out garden with from the hotels of the Royal Docks, is the O2 yew hedges, trimmed to look like waves in a formerly The Milllennium Dome, built to dock. Fountains, a wild flower meadow, oak mark the new millennium. Emerging as trees and an excellent playground make London’s premier venue for performances this another fabulous place for children. and events, O was voted Best International 2 A funky, glass-sided, wood-decked café serves Arena for 2007 by the USA’s prestigious great coffee and wholesome food. Warm concert industry awards. and flooded with natural light, even in Newham’s excellent transport links include dull weather, this is the perfect place to London City Airport, which played a key relax after a bracing day on the waterfront. www.newham.com 10 11 Mighty cranes bear witness to Fast and easy travel London’s former in and out of London glory as a major City Airport makes world port. Newham a no-hassle Warehouses business and leisure have been destination. converted into stylish waterside restaurants and apartments. The open vistas of Royal Docks, Europe’s largest enclosed man-made water space, offer a sense of space and a chance for quiet reflection amidst Wave-like topiary in the the roar of the city.