William Morris, the designer, poet, craftsman and social activist, came to Walthamstow long before the breweries, the longest street market in Europe (a mile long for all the statisticians) and the hipsters arrived. To prove it, the William Morris Gallery was his home as a teenager between 1834 and 1856, with the publisher Edward Lloyd moving in just afterwards from 1857 to 1885.
The William Morris Gallery, located at the entrance of Lloyd Park, is rather grand as homes go and the creaky floorboards make you feel as if you are wandering through a lived-in house to this day. Those famous, symmetrical wallpaper designs and the stories behind them are on display everywhere; the founding of Morris & Co. (nicknamed ‘the Firm’ before the Royal Family) in 1875 and its store at 449 Oxford Street being a byword for good taste with the quality materials used along with the high standards of craftsmanship. Upstairs at the William Morris Gallery is more about the Arts & Crafts Movement led by the man himself and fellow designer John Ruskin from the 1880s up to World War 1.
A short walk or bus ride away from Walthamstow Central at the northern end of the Victoria Line makes this a nice escape from the centre of town. Think of the artsy, crafty Victoria & Albert Museum in a two-floor family home. Refreshment comes in the form of either the bright and airy onsite garden café or the recently refurbished The Bell pub also nearby.
Find your way with 222 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
The people of Bonnington Square really know how to foster a vibe with leafy exotic plants spraying scattered shadows as you sit and eat...
by
From focaccia to pasta, coffee to cake, this one-stop shop is as much a place to buy your brew and bread as it is to have a lunchtime bite of pasta...
by
Of all the reasons why you have to check out this idyllic boozer, perhaps the most important is that this is the home of the finest scotch egg in London.
by
Birds sing while trains rumble along atop the parallel railway arches, old men play boule in the shade and planes skim overhead on approach to Heathrow.
by
From the run-down chic aesthetic to the strong beer selection and excellent pub garden, there are no chinks in the Dog House's armour...
by
Inside, the bar is a welcoming, tightly-packed vibe with old-fashioned, old-world decor with gorgeous bare wood surfaces & countless pictures on the walls.
by
The unassuming, retro signage outside amidst the noise & din of Waterloo might pull you in, but what makes you stay is the genuine town tavern feel inside.
by
With a rustic French feel, Pierre offers dishes with rich red-wine sauces and tasty meats from much of the spectrum of the French culinary roster.
by
With old-fashioned vintage Guinness branding adoring just about every surface, this is the ideal spot to take a moment and enjoy a perfectly-poured pint.
by
Built back in 2010 on the site of a disused railway line, it’s a local secret: a quiet, forest-like space to retreat to when city life becomes overwhelming.
by
Inside, the rooms have distinctly different decorative styles. This is to give an idea of how the house would have looked at each stage in its history.
by
222 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 222 Insider Tips