covering london ground

We covered some London ground this weekend. Let me tell ya! After a long week working a show at work, I was ready for a fun weekend! I took the overground on Friday to meet Ben in Hackney Wick to check out the Kopparberg Urban Forest pop up filled with live music, street food and drinks. An incredibly neat set up with great food and cider. A Friday well spent. 

^ BBQ Jerk Chicken that was out of this world. 

This whole structure thing was so cool and such a neat venue! It felt like one massive tree house. 

Saturday morning began with a lie in and loads of coffee. We were especially excited this particular Saturday for West End Live. Trafalgar Square, as I have mentioned before, is a dream when it comes to festivals and events. They keep Ben and I well fed and well entertained. This weekend was one of our favorites! West End Live is an event put on by the city of songs and scenes from all of the plays and shows ranging from Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to Memphis and Phantom of the Opera. Such a fun morning seeing all the shows and picking out a few for our summer line up! (We also won free popcorn and a movie ticket so it was a win all around.)

After a long morning we spent the afternoon napping, reading, and being really lame. But the weather was equally lame so it validates our restful Saturday. And then came Sunday! Goodness Sundays here have a special place in my heart. We enjoyed our morning pancakes and coffee before leaving our flat to stroll to church. The walk along embankment is so lovely on these mornings! After church we set out for a new food market, Maltby Street Market. The sun was shining, therefore we chose the scenic route East towards the Tower of London and Tower Bridge (which is not the London Bridge contrary to every tourist’s beliefs.) 

Best pals. Best city.

Just two Londoners playing tourists ;)

A few detours later, we arrived in Bermondsey for Maltby Street Market, a new favorite. I truly love how this city can take a random road under a bridge and turn it into a whole new up and coming street market. Vintage shops lined the street in corners with food stands, super interesting bars, and little alcoves of hidden gems. 

Hey there waffle stand. 

And just a few stalls down, ICE CREAM SANDWICHES. Brilliant.

The market had everything from Mexican, Greek, Jerk Chicken wraps, African, and all sorts of little vendors and sweets. We both settled for incredible wraps and a peruse around some of the nearby shops before our long trek back. Our route took us down Bermondsey Street, through Borough Market, along Shakespeare’s Globe, beside the river, all the way back to Southbank. The streets are filled with tourists, music, popups, and events everywhere you look. Quite the happy scene. After reluctantly saying no to ice cream sandwiches and fancy waffles we were craving something sweet. Enter CROSSTOWN DOUGHNUTS OH MY GOSH. Ben and I figured we could do our usual thing of splitting, but clearly we were wrong. We could have easily eaten a dozen.  After much debate we decided upon the Salted Caramel Banana Cream and good gosh it was divine. This may or may not become a regular thing now that we know they have them at Southbank Market. I wish I could put into words how good these bad boys were. (Also, Hannah- so terribly sorry we went without you!)

After our tired legs made it back to our flat for the evening, we realized we had walked a total of 8 miles around this lovely city. Sunny Sundays were made for walking all over this city. You’re a treat, London.