Street food in Greenwich

One of the advantages of going to university is that in the holidays you have time to travel around the country visiting your friends at their unis ( in between all the hours of studying of course). Although my home town is only an hour from London, I couldn't resist visiting my friend Helen for a few days, who is studying at Trinity Laban  in Greenwich.

Ever since my first visit to the capital when I was 5, I've always regarded London as somewhere exciting, where the magic happens, and whilst I've now exhausted all the main tourist attractions, just being in the city and walking around is something is enough for me. That and discovering little gems that are tucked away down its many winding streets.

Greenwich is perfect for this. Whilst boat trips,  the royal observatory and the national maritime museum are its main attractions, the area's landscape, shops and buildings are just as worth exploring. Walking amongst the stunning buildings of the Old royal naval college, it is both hard not to get caught up in the beauty of Christopher Wren's architecture or keep your camera in your bag. It's easy to feel like you're in a period drama - until you look across the river and see the skyscrapers.

fresh Ethiopian food from Greenwich
market

Not only is Greenwich great for culture vultures and historians, but all you foodies are in for a treat too. Just a minutes walk from Cutty Sark tube station is Greenwich Market, which hosts a wide array of stalls selling street food from all around the globe.  Here you can sample fresh Chinese delicacies, dim sum, authentic Spanish paella and the latest street food trend falafel- all made fresh to order. A huge portion of any of these treats will set you back around a fiver, which isn't bad for food this delicious, and and way more nutritious and filling than a latte and panini from Starbucks which is just as much. The smell alone is enough to persuade you to part with your cash. Choosing from such a varied selection with a rumbling stomach is no mean feat, but I finally settled on some Ethiopian cuisine. For £5 I got a vegetarian taster- a selection of traditional Ethiopian veggie dishes, including spicy chickpeas ans the most delicious spinach dish, served with a huge serving of  rice. Warming and filling, it was the perfect choice to put a smile on my face on what was such a grey and miserable day.

So as much as London is great for its big attractions, its the small, unexpected ones that really make an impact.