When London was first announced as Olympic City hosts in 2005, the bid was broadcast live in Trafalgar Square and the city erupted in a frenzy of jubilation. Coming off a year in which the nation had reclaimed the cricket ashes from Australia in swashbuckling style and had recently won the Rugby World Cup, England was on a sporting high. However the British government was waging an unpopular war in Iraq and public morale was low. A day later four youths blew themselves up on the city's transport system killing dozens and wounding hundreds of London commuters. In a time of global conflict one message was clear: the Olympics had brought world attention to London.
Forgotten in all the chaos of the London bombings was the original reason why the Olympics had been won in the first place, how London beat out - by just four votes - a strong bid by Paris. The fact remained an intriguing proposal had been tabled by Lord Sebastian Coe, a former gold medal winner in the 1980's Moscow Summer Olympics, which detailed a massive regeneration project in the London's East End, transforming a weedy, overgrown and bombed-out industrial wasteland into a world class sports park, giant shopping complex and housing site. With local Leytonstone golden boy David Beckham at the helm of the Olympic bid, citizens of the largely poor East End borough of Waltham Forest must have rubbed their hands with delight.
The East End, long famous for gangsters The Krays, Jack the Ripper, The Elephant Man and as a setting for countless British gangster films has always had a reputation for being down trodden so how would the disenfranchised citizens of Tower Hamlets, Mile End, Leyton, Stratford, Hackney and Leytonstone handle an international onslaught of tourists and media types beaming their history of misery and squalor to the world?
New and Revitalized
The modern East End is a place in transition and while steeped in its own traditions of haberdashery shops, hardworking immigrant families, cockney slang, betting agents and pie and mash shops it is also embracing the reality of a major infrastructure overhaul by the government and private enterprise in the form of the Olympic site and in the form of an upgraded overland transportation system with bigger and better links to London and, in stifling summer heat, a much needed first: air conditioned trains. A new construction training facility has recently sprung up and there has been a major local push by councils to reach out to the community in the form of Stadium tours of the Olympic site. Add to this an innovative commitment to turn abandoned Woolworths stores into Arts Centers and a greater effort to connect with historic monuments of yesteryear, such as a recent bid to re-roof historic St Johns Church in Leytonstone and it is easy to see that renewal is taking place. Also with its tradition of storytelling – Alfred Hitchcock was a native of Leytonstone – new literature festivals are popping up in adjacent areas such as Stoke Newington, where a young Edgar Allen Poe went to school as a child, and in Leytonstone itself where the Waltham Forest Literature Festival will take place in May. As the Olympics comes closer to a reality the area is sending out the message: Transformation is taking place slowly.
For those who have never been or will be visiting the East End of London for the first time there are some tips to enjoy the charms of the area.
Some tips for a local day or night out night out in Leytonstone, one of the towns and villages in the East End.
Eating Out?
If you like traditional British fare such as fish and chips why not try its east end cousin Pie and Mash? There is a "noted" Eel Pie and Mash shop on the Leytonstone HIgh Road.
The Eel is traditional jellied Eel and so not for the squeamish but the potatoes are well mashed and the meat pies very tasty. It is at 481a Leytonstone High Road E11 4JU, 020 8539 2499
Fancy a Pint or a live Football Match?
There are numerous East End Sports teams, including West Ham United which recently won a bid against fellow premiership giant Tottenham Hotspur to take over the Olympic Stadium after the games. However closer to the actual Olympic Stadium itself stands first division club Leyton Orient. Cross town rivals Spurs play their reserve games here and Leyton have had a good run of late the FA cup.
Local Influence of Alfred Hitchcock?
Alfred HItchcock was born on Leytonstone High Road.
Scenes from Alfred Hitchcock's most famous movies line the walls of Leytonstone Tube Station.
There is also a hotel.
Interested in local culture or literature?
The Waltham Forest Literature Festival kicks off the second week of May. It hosts local and international authors and has hosted noted writers such as Nigerian/British writer Lanre Sodoye and Mimi Khalvati and is held at the Leytonstone Library and other venues within Waltham Forest Borough.
Traditional East End Pubs
The Bell
As the East Enders' town of Walford is a mix of real life places Stratford and Walthamstow, The Bell is a cockney pub in the old fashioned family sense. It is right beside the Fire Station so chances are the local firemen will pop in for a pint and a chat.
Pubs with a Canadian Connection
The Sheepwalk Pub has a weekly folk and country music night called What's Cookin' and it is has hosted numerous international country acts including Hurtin' Albertan Corb Lund.
Indian Restaurants
There are a number of fine Indian Restaurants in Leytonstone including the Golden Curry, just across from the McDonalds.
Thai Food for those in the know
However few people know about Sing Buri Royal Thai Cafe which is always packed. You can also bring your own bottle of wine.
Rootin Tootin' Barn Dance?
As the push to fund the roof at St Johns Church gets underway numerous events have been planned including tea and cake afternoons as well as a new offering, a barn dance.
Other things
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