Michael Rozenblit is a 28 year old Australian, originally from Melbourne, but currently living in London. He moved to London about one year ago in order to make most of his EU citizenship before it was too late!
Prior to living in London, he spent six months travelling through the Balkans and Eastern Europe which led to him starting the travel blog called The World Was Here First with his girlfriend, Maggie. They write about the great places they’ve travelled to as well as life living in London and how to experience the city like a local!
Going Local in London with Michael Rozenblit on Fotostrasse
Visit Broadway Market on a Saturday
There are many markets to explore in London with Borough Market and Portobello Road Market being some of the most popular in the city. My favourite is Broadway Market which runs every Saturday in the heart of Hackney in East London. Broadway Market has been running since the 1890s and is a filled with independent stalls selling cooked food, clothes, arts and crafts and produce.
My favourite stalls are the £2 oysters and Vietnamese Iced Coffee! Once you’ve stocked up on food from the markets, head to nearby London Fields to enjoy a picnic in the park!
See a play at Hampstead Theatre
London is world famous for its theatre on the West End, however, if you want to see a good quality show at a fraction of the price, I suggest seeing a play at the Hampstead Theatre. Easily accessible by Tube, the theatre has a rotating schedule of plays typically lasting for 2-3 months. Whilst it is based in an expensive part of London, all plays here offer a selection of seats for students and under 30s for £10. I’ve seen four shows here while I have been living in London and have enjoyed them all thoroughly!
See a Comedy Show at the Bill Murray in Islington
London is one of the best cities in the world if you want to make it as a comedian, which means there are plenty of great shows to see at any time of year. The Bill Murray in Islington has daily comedy shows ranging from amateur comedians, comics trying out new material or famous comedians plying their trade. Some shows are free to see whilst others you might need to pay for. The Bill Murray also has a nice beer garden which is perfect for summer!
Eat Vietnamese Food on Kingsland Road
Whilst nearby Brick Lane is mentioned in nearly all guide books as a great place to get Indian food in London, Kingsland Road deserves to be equally famous for its amazing selection of Vietnamese restaurants. My favourite is undoubtedly Bun Bun Bun, which offers a fantastic selection of dishes including noodle soups, vermicelli noodle salads and stir fries.
You will easily fill yourself up here for under £10 per person. If you fancy cooking your own Vietnamese food, there are a number of Asian groceries where you can buy ingredients as well.
Have a drink at one of the many cool cocktail bars in Dalston
Shoreditch might have been the first East London neighbourhood to be put on the map for cocktail bars, however, many locals have now moved onto Dalston – where prices are significantly cheaper than Shoreditch. Original Sin and Map Maison are two of my favourite cocktail bars which put unique spins on classic drinks. A cocktail here doesn’t need to cost more than £10 unless you’re after something fancy!
And if you’re fancy a budget accomodation in London, this post from The Broke Backpacker might help you with it.
Going Local is a series of interviews that we are doing with people that live and enjoy the city they live. You can read more interviews filled with tips here. And if you want to be featured here, this link will tell you how. We're always looking for more locals to share their favorite spots!
