Lunch at 20 Fenchurch Street

On this visit to London we are staying in the Ibis at Canning Town, because it’s very handy for Ally and Cat’s new flat. We decided to go for a walk this morning around Goodluck Hope and City Island, although since Ally and Cat were both at work we wouldn’t be seeing them until the evening. I really liked the island feel of the area, with its mix of old and very new buildings right beside the Thames, across from the Millennium Dome. There are art studios, small businesses, cafés, residential buildings, and places to sit by the water. Needless to say this soon turned into a nature walk as James pointed out to me all the different types of bird life! We continued to the East India Dock where we saw the Virginia Memorial, and then started following the River Lea Way in a generally northwards direction. This was rather an industrial walk which wended its way beside or near the river, and took us past recycling businesses and car repair shops, but it has hidden gems such as a wee memorial garden to the workers of the nearby gasworks who had died during the First and Second World Wars. 

We took the tube from Bromley-by-Bow station into the City, where we had lunch booked at 20 Fenchurch Street, better known as the “Walkie Talkie” because of its unusual shape. It has been there since 2014 but this was our first visit. We got there in plenty of time to have a look at the views over London from its 35 storey high balcony, then we walked up the stairs to the brasserie, one of two restaurants that are “enclosed” from the main area. It was a dry but slightly chilly February morning so I was glad that I had booked this; from our vantage point above the open area we could see that everyone had their winter jackets well zipped up. The open area is within the building but its big doors are open to the outdoor balcony so the temperature is never going to be much different from the outside. This would be fine when the weather is warmer of course. Well, we had a lovely lunch with great service and great views of London and the sky garden spread out below us. After lunch we crossed to the south bank and walked along to Waterloo Bridge - this was a big walking day! - before returning to the hotel.

And then came the highlight of our trip; our first visit to Ally and Cat in their new flat in Goodluck Hope. It was really lovely to see them both, happy and enjoying life in London. The 14th floor flat is as fabulous as it looked in the photos we have seen, and the views from their balcony are stunning even by night. When we left they gave us a quick tour of the development’s facilities including a cinema room, gym and indoor and outdoor pools. It is all amazing, what a perfect place to live, and right beside the river too. I am so delighted for them.