Located next to Aldgate East tube station, MiNC City Reach Apartments are just 10 minutes’ walk from the Square Mile of the City and within easy reach of neighbouring Whitechapel. Aldgate East tube station is the meeting point for the intriguing Jack the Ripper Walking Tour, just one reminder of the area's fascinating (if at times grizzly) history. The rich cultural variety of the people who have called Aldgate home is reflected in the happy co-existence of the old-fashioned pubs like the The Still and Star and the numerous Tandoori restaurants scattered along Aldgate High Street. Attractions include: Whitechapel Art Gallery, Petticoat Lane Market, Spitalfields and the excellent restaurants and funky bars of Brick Lane.
77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1
Located just one minute’s walk away, The Whitechapel Gallery re-opens its doors after an ambitious expansion which has transformed its spaces and doubled its size. The century-old institution is the artists’ gallery for everyone: with captivating new display spaces, exhibitions, artist commissions, collection displays, historic archives, education resources, inspiring art courses and a new dining hall, the newly expanded Gallery will be open all year round, so there will always be something free to see.
Middlesex Street & Wentworth Street, London E1
Situated just 5 minutes’ walk from MiNC City Reach Apartments, Petticoat Lane is one of the most famous of all London markets, and derives its name from its long history as a centre of the clothing trade. During the reign of Queen Victoria the name of the street was changed to the more respectable Middlesex Street. Although this remains its official designation, the old name has stuck and the Sunday market held here and in the surrounding streets is still known as Petticoat Lane Market.
A huge variety of goods is on sale but there is still a bias towards clothing, particularly leather coats. At the top end of the market, near Aldgate East, is an area devoted to leather jackets. As prices are not often shown, haggling is de rigueur. The lively market, which attracts thousands of locals and visitors each Sunday, has plenty of fast-food outlets, many selling traditional Jewish food.
Brick Lane is located just 5 minutes’ walk from MiNC City Reach Apartments.
See more info on the area on the Writers Spitalfields area info pages:
Old Spitalfields Market
Spitalfields Traders’ Market
Spitalfields Arts Market
MiNC’s City Reach Apartments are within easy reach of the very of heart of London: the West End, celebrated for its entertainment venues, restaurants and as the capital’s top shopping district. The West End has it all – from famous department stores and international labels, to local designer boutiques and high street chain stores. Shopping in London’s Oxford Street and Regent’s Street is one pleasure you should not miss, and even window-shopping is a feast for the eyes.
The West End has been described as the ‘Epicentre of Entertainment’, and when it comes to theatre, music, the visual arts, clubs and screens, London truly... rocks. The capital’s Theatreland has attracted the top international artists for centuries, as have its concert halls and galleries.
The state-of-the-art cinemas overlooking Leicester Square bring you the latest movies hot from the editing studio; The Lion King and We Will Rock You sit happily alongside the high-brow offerings from the Royal Opera House and the Coliseum ; the Royal Festival Hall’s repertoire dovetails classical, jazz, rock and lots more. The National Portrait Gallery displays the only known portrait of Shakespeare just a floor or two above its latest photographic exhibition. Comedy your act? – Check out the Comedy Store. Any of these venues is barely a 15-minute cab ride away or a few stops on the bus or tube – or, as many Londoners will recommend, a moderately easy walk. But be warned: if it’s your first time in the West End, you’ll... soon be back for more: London’s seriously addictive!
The stores are open from 10am until 6 or 7pm. Some open Sunday 12 to 6pm with late nights on Thursday. Oxford Street is best known for Selfridges and the other big department stores which are all found in the stretch from Marble Arch to Oxford Circus.
Just a short taxi ride away, this is one of the most exciting boutique shopping areas in the West End. With many stylish shops, St Christopher's Place also offers one of London's largest concentration of alfresco dining. The relaxing and atmospheric environment also ensures that it is both a laid back and vibrant place to chill out after a business meeting or shopping trip, and an ideal spot to meet up with people.
The French historian who famously claimed that ‘The English cannot cook but certainly know how to eat’ would be eating his own words today: multicultural London excels at both cooking and eating these days, and whichever direction you head in from your apartment, you’ll be spoiled for choice. If Mayfair tends to be on the exclusive and exquisite side, Edgware Road (which runs north from Marble Arch) is celebrated for the best Middle Eastern restaurants in town – and at a reasonable cost too. Heading west towards the big bend in the River Thames, Soho offers arguably the best Italian and Chinese gastronomy in London. Covent Garden is ideal for families with its host of casual eateries which won’t cost a fortune, while just across the river, on the South Bank, you can watch the waterworld flow by whilst enjoying your meal. From Halal [ www.zabihah.com ] and gluten-free to vegan and Kosher, London will please all palates.
If you enjoy exploring on foot – and many Londoners will tell you, after all, that the best mode of transport here is a good pair of trainers – a great itinerary back to the City from the South Bank is the riverside walk to the Tate Modern (a must-see attraction in itself, for young and not-so-young), then across the ‘Wibbly-Wobbly Bridge’ to St Paul’s Cathedral.
London Zoo, Regent's Park, London NW1
Housed within the ample green spaces of central London’s Regent’s Park, the ZSL (Zoological Society of London) is one of the most celebrated of all attractions in the capital. With some 750 species of animal to see, from the smallest monkey to the towering giraffe, and with enthralling events taking place throughout the day (such as feeds, keeper talks and demonstrations) you could easily spend a whole day at this London attraction. A must-see if you have children or if you are passionate about wildlife and conservation.
Forget the days when Britain had a reputation for being ‘child unfriendly’! Kids from all corners of the globe absolutely love it here: Britain’s pretty cool all round, but what clinches it for the kids is that there’s so much to do, that they’ll want to cram it all in before they grow up.
Love sport? – Well, so do Londoners, who eat, breathe and sleep every form of event, from cricket to footie; and as London builds up to the 2012 Olympics [ www.london2012.com ] , there are more and more events to enjoy, whether as a spectator or a young competitor. And if London Zoo has your kids roaring for more, why not consider one of the capital’s City Farms? And just to prove how ‘child friendly’ London really is these days, you’ll see there’s barely a pub now that won’t welcome families and dish up an easy lunch for the whole tribe.