Coffee Along the Thames

Rather than taking the Underground, I decided to walk towards Borough Market.

It turned out to be one of my favourite walks of the entire trip.

Following the River Thames, London slowly unfolded in front of me. Historic buildings stood beside sleek modern architecture, sightseeing boats cruised along the river, and every now and then another picture-perfect view appeared around the next corner.

Halfway there, something caught my eye.

Caravan Coffee.

Wait a second…

Wasn’t Caravan on my carefully researched London coffee list?

A quick look at my phone confirmed it.

It absolutely was.

Somehow, this particular location had never made it onto my map.

Well, that problem was easily solved.

Inside, I picked up yet another bag of beans—at this point, nobody should be surprised anymore—and, just like at several other London roasters, the purchase came with a complimentary coffee.

Now that’s a loyalty program I can get behind.

Coffee in hand, I continued my walk.

The closer I got to Borough Market, the more interesting the surroundings became. The riverside path disappeared beneath old railway lines, where brick arches and vaulted ceilings created an atmosphere unlike anywhere else I’d walked in London.

Just before reaching the market, I made one final coffee stop at Gentlemen Baristas.

Although they don’t roast their own beans, I really liked the shop. I grabbed a cappuccino and found a seat outside, enjoying a few quiet minutes before diving into one of London’s busiest food destinations.Read more