Harley Young explores what you can do with 24 hours in Stratford, East London
Whenever I make my way down the country towards the capital, I find I spend most of the two-hour train journey from Manchester bracing myself for London’s humid, bustling underground network, ending up all hot and bothered before there’s even the need to be.
Thankfully, to get from London Euston to where I’d be staying in Stratford, I didn’t even have to step foot on the tube. A steady walk over to St Pancras and a short trip on the High-Speed train later, I exited Stratford International station and fell practically on the doorstep of The Gantry London.
Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, this stylish, well-appointed hotel comes with everything you could need and want for a short stay, including; its very own coffee shop, fitness centre, multiple on-site restaurants, and even a chic rooftop bar on the 18th floor with panoramic views of the city.
Those looking for a jam-packed weekend of exploring and entertainment can soak up hospitality, arts and culture from all angles, with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Westfield shopping centre and Hackney Wick all a stone's throw away.
After a warm welcome and a smooth check-in process with the reception team, I made my way up to the thirteenth floor to check out my not-so-humble abode for the evening. The King Deluxe rooms at The Gantry London are spacious and modern with sleek, functional design elements and a range of materials and textures are used throughout to give industrial nods, paying homage to the area's history.
As well as a comfy, king-sized bed, rooms are kitted out with mod-cons including upscale amenities like an espresso machine, laptop safe and 49-inch HDTV and, instead of your typical hotel room armchairs, The Gantry London has decided to push the boat out by including a red chaise longue for added luxe.
A three-piece bathroom suite, kitted out with high-end toiletries, is neatly tucked away behind a sliding door on casters, further maximising the space.
After settling in, freshening up, and eating a few cubes of complimentary salted fudge for good measure, I ventured over to V&A East Storehouse - a brand-new, free-to-visit museum from the team behind the Victoria & Albert Museum, designed to showcase fashion archives, books and artworks in their possession that would otherwise just be kept in storage until their time to shine again.
Gargantuan and spaceship-like, the museum’s use of clever lighting and glass floors help to maximise the space even further, allowing sculptures and artefacts to be viewed from all angles simultaneously as visitors weave their way around from floor to floor like ants mapping a nest.
From ornately painted oil drum bins that once had the time of their lives at Glastonbury to intricately carved marble busts of famous figures such as Shakespeare and the likes, there’s not an inch of this place that doesn’t belong to a piece of history - ancient or otherwise.
After spending hours exploring every nook and cranny I’d worked up an appetite, so made my way back to The Gantry for a bite to eat at Union Social Restaurant & Bar; one of the hotel’s three on-site dining destinations.
Dancing perfectly in between stylishly chic and ultra laid back, this restaurant makes for an ideal dining spot, whatever time of day. Complete with an outdoor terrace for those warm weather days, Union Social proved a popular spot amongst both hotel guests and local professionals who were tying up the last of their weekly duties on their laptops with a cocktail in hand (after all, it’s always five o’ clock somewhere).
The menu is robust, but not brimming with so much choice that you’d struggle to find something you like in a hurry if you had evening plans.
I ordered the Apulian burrata with urban farmed tomato, extra virgin olive oil and oregano to start, followed by the slow cooked beef shin ragù with tagliatelle and Parmigiano Reggiano - both of which were of a substantial size and had plenty of flavour to them.
For fear of being so full I’d nod off, I decided it was best to skip dessert and keep the pace of evening going, making my way straight over to Sadler's Wells East instead. Evening entertainment was provided in the form of a multi-dimensional production from photographer and visual artist Benji Reid.
‘Find Your Eyes’, which had its premier at Factory International in Manchester just a week prior, combined live photography and choreography with a monologue soundtracked by some of the artist’s favourite songs, narrating formative moments in Benji’s life through an incredibly moving 90-minute performance split into four acts.
Benji concluded the show with a montage of images taken from the night, transporting the audience on one more journey through the rollercoaster of emotions they’d felt in the past hour and half. The final image flashed off screen and Benji stood centre stage as the auditorium erupted into applause.
The following morning, feeling well rested after a great night’s sleep, I made my way downstairs to Union Social where breakfast was being served buffet style.
A wide selection of cooked and continental breakfast options, including homemade cakes and pastries, were available to choose from alongside a range of fresh juices and a tea and coffee station with all the bells and whistles to help yourself to.
Those after something in particular, such as avocado on toast or syrup and waffles, can order freshly cooked plates with a member of the restaurant team.
A last glance out from my city view window and a swift check-out later, I found myself on back the high-speed train once again, whizzing my way to St Pancras before weaving through central London's bustling streets to Euston station, reluctantly taking the last leg of my journey home to Manchester after my most enjoyable trip to the capital thus far.
The Gantry London, 40 Celebration Avenue, East Village, London E20 1DB
Fact file:
Stay & Dine
Harley stayed in a King Deluxe room at The Gantry London in Stratford, East London, located a 1-minute walk from Stratford International Station, and had both dinner and breakfast at the on-site Union Social Restaurant & Bar which offers a variety of dining options throughout the day. Click here to see the full list of dining options at this hotel.
Activities
- Harley visited the new V&A East Storehouse - a free-to-visit museum of archives, sculptures, books, fashion pieces and culture - which is open throughout the week from 10:00 and just a 15-minute walk from The Gantry London.
- She also attended Sadler’s Wells East; a theatre space with a flexible auditorium where guests can enjoy performances of everything from hip hop to ballet. Click here to see what’s on.
Travel
Harley took the Avanti West Coast train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston (2 hours 12 minutes). From here, she walked to St Pancras International (15 minutes) before getting on the High-Speed train to Stratford International (7 minutes) and crossing the road over to The Gantry London.
Follow Harley Young on X @Harley__Young
Get the latest news to your inbox
Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email by signing up to our mailing list. This is one of the ways that Confidentials remains free to our readers and by signing up you help support our high quality, impartial and knowledgable writers. Thank you!
Join our WhatsApp group
You can also get regular updates on news, exclusives and offers by joining the Manchester Confidential WhatsApp group.
