Specialising in photography & fashion books and magazines, this independent shop can be a goldmine for rare and out of print books. Also if you’re lucky you’ll meet Otis, the lovely pug-cross resident.

Quiet outdoor garden with bar and pizza meters away from the busy and vibrant Dalston main roads.

Whipps Cross boating lake is a true hidden East end gem. Located on Whipps Cross flats midway between Walthamstow and Wanstead.

The St Bride Foundation is the home of the St Bride Library, an incredible resource of printing history, in the form of books, printed ephemera, and tools from the trade. It also hosts many fantastic talks each year – check their website for details.

A Hint of Mint, Taylors Sky, Class Freedom, Horseshoe Ping – amazing names, muscle, speed, beers, the cheap thrill of Greyhound racing at the dog tracks is a London must. It was best experienced at Walthamstow Stadium, an iconic 1930's stadium with a fantastic neon sign that sadly closed for racing in 2008. However fights to save it from demolition and reopen it for racing have been ongoing since then. So please support the campaign 'Save our Stow' and in the meantime head to the dog tracks in Romford, Wimbledon or Crayford.