By Nicole Solis  July 27th, 2009 9:59 am  |  Comments (0)

Konstam at the Prince Albert, King's Cross, London.

In Afar’s premier issue, Sophie Howarth, founder of London’s School of Life, shared her favorite places in her East London neighborhood, pointing out the best spots for street photography, the most marvelous-smelling mushrooms, and the most peaceful spot to grab a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning.

When I talked to her in February, right after London’s big snowstorm, she enthusiastically recommended several other places just beyond the East End that she often passes on her bike en route to work.

King’s Cross

The Hub
34B York Way
+44 (0)20 7841 3450

“The Hub is sort of a new phenomenon in shared office space in London. You don’t have to be from London to use it, and you can work in this incredible environment where people are interested in sustainability, social entrepreneurship, etc. It’s a great alternative for travelers, when you don’t have anywhere to hotdesk beside your hotel room. They host loads of interesting events.”

Konstam at the Prince Albert
2 Acton St.
+44 (0)20 7833 5040

“The chef, Oliver Rowe, sources all his food from London or the London Underground network. He only uses things you can get in season from London. It’s has a knock-out interior, designed by Thomas Heatherwick. We host our conversation meals there.”

Bloomsbury

Ben Pentreath
17 Rugby St.
+44 (0)20 7430 2526

“Ben Pentreath, which sells things for the home, is absolutely tiny, the size of most people’s toilets. He’s got this wonderful collection of hardly anything, but you want everything.”

Charlotte Mann mural at the School of Life

The School of Life
70 Marchmont St.
+44 (0)207 833 1010

“We’re now getting pretty close to the School of Life. Ask to see downstairs because that’s where we have these fabulous murals by Charlotte Mann.”

Elsewhere

Guerilla Gardening

“Richard Reynolds, who is London’s guerrilla gardener, goes out by night and plants flowers and bulbs in the most surprising (grimy) places, the center of roads, roundabouts. It’s become a big movement. Lots of people go out together and guerrilla garden. This could be something your readers could do, sign up on the Web site and guerrilla garden.”

Moro
34 – 36 Exmouth Market
+44 (0)20 7833 8336

“There’s a fabulous restaurant called Moro, by Sam and Sam[antha] Clark. It’s pricey, but if you can nip in there, you can always have tapas at the bar quite cheaply. Exmouth Market is one of those streets that have that European idea of where people go for a stroll at 6 pm. You can happily while away a nice afternoon of reading there.”

Konstam photo by Ewan-M.