Drink in London history at the Prospect, a building in Wapping that dates back to the 1520s and claims to be the city’s oldest riverside inn.
Though claiming to be the oldest pub on the river, the Ramsgate looks like it had a refurb in the ’70s – all patterned carpet and chunky wood tables.
This bar-restaurant-cabaret complex in an ex-factory building has become part of the furniture in E2: its little black-box stage is the beating heart of east London's alt performance scene. Read more.
Brick Lane Market is where Eastern promise meets East End chaos. As well as bric-a-brac and fruit and veg, you can now pick up everything from retro furniture to vintage jewellery. Read more.
Vibe Bar’s large outdoor area, in the cobbled courtyard of the former Truman Brewery, remains a magnet for trendy Brick Lane alfresco drinkers come rain or shine. Read more.
Though not everyone is a fan of the recent redevelopment of Spitalfields (particularly those pushed out by the rising rents), the market has been afforded a new lease of life. Read more.
Broadway Market's status as a promenade for the East End fashion set is legendary – but it's the high-quality fashion, vintage clothing and independent boutiques that excite the rest of us. Read more.
This trendy twist on a traditional boozer is one of the few places to soak up the sun near the City. The barbecue is currently in action weekdays and Saturdays from noon, weather permitting. Read more.
The view from the 12th floor roof terrace of this freshly-minted hotel takes in both the ancient majesty of the Tower of London and the Shard, the newest structure to pierce the motley London skyline. Read more.
There's plenty here to fill a whole day, and it's worth joining one of the highly recommended and entertaining free tours led by the Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters). Read more.
Opened in 1894 and originally powered by steam, the drawbridge is now opened by electric rams when big ships need to venture this far upstream. Read more.
Take a seat by the river and enjoy one of the most ambitious pub barbecues in London. A Grelha is the Portuguese-themed outdoor grill next to the famous Gun gastropub. Read more.
Tucked away in a corner of the City, this cabaret outpost from the Proud stable is one of the lushest dinner-cabaret spaces in town. Read more.
The original Globe Theatre, where many of William Shakespeare's plays were first staged, burned to the ground in 1613. Nearly 400 years later, it was rebuilt not far from its original site. Read more.
