My Cycle Tour of Walthamstow, with L&Q
I know you know I think Walthamstow is the bee’s knees. But I don’t think you KNOW know just how much I love it. And how much joy it brings me. And how lucky I feel to live here…
Whenever I talk about the wonder of E17, I often get messages from my followers, telling me that they’d love to move to the neighbourhood, but that property is just too expensive and it’s impossible to make that move… so you’ll be delighted to know that, thanks to L&Q, I have a very different story to tell today.
L&Q is a registered charitable housing association, which puts social purpose is at the heart of everything it does, which I love. All the money they make is reinvested into new and existing homes, creating successful communities and providing homes that give people the opportunity to live a better life.
But first, before I go all numbersy on you, I want to toot about how brilliant a place Walthamstow is. It has the London bustle, a vibrant cultural scene, village life, an urban pulse, the foresty vibes, an extraordinary amount of excellent sourdough and some of the best coffee you’re likely to find in London town… it really does have everything.
Walthamstow is also where there has been an almighty push to get cars off the roads and more bikes on them, via environmental schemes such as Mini Holland, improving cycling routes and residential areas, and redesigning major junctions. If you like cycling – be you a lycra-clad serious pedaller, or an upright bike pootler – this is the London borough for you.
A few days ago, I popped into my local bike shop, Cycle Spirit. They opened during the pandemic and the shop is, unsurprisingly, thriving. They have every kind of bicycle and accessory you can imagine – for kids too… and bells and helmets and pumps and beautiful panniers… They also have a workshop at the back where their clever team tinker away with all kinds of bike ailments, ensuring our bicycles are in tip top condition.
They loaned me a bike for the day (WHICH YOU CAN WIN! More on that at the bottom of this post…) as I was going to be visiting both of L&Q’s new developments in Walthamstow. For my first stop, I was very excited to visit The Chain, which is right in the centre of Walthamstow. The development is located right by the new cycle routes too, making it super easy to nip about.
There are some amazing perks that L&Q offer with their apartments in Walthamstow. For example, should you buy in The Chain, you’ll enjoy an on-site concierge, private outdoor space and a 3 year complimentary membership to Zipcar! (If you follow me on Instagram you will know I’m a big fan of Zipcar.)
From there, I headed along past St James Street Station to The Curious Goat, where I grabbed a (large) pastry and resisted one of their enormous breakfasts!
I popped into St J’s Café to pick up a few deli bits (they have some really delicious produce) and a candle for my friend – her birthday is coming up and she would love everything in their shop – it’s so beautifully curated.…
Today Bread 
The Every Space 
Glow – I defy you to not spend your pennies in here on something gorgeous.
Then onwards to Perky Blenders for my first coffee of the day and then headed to Today Bread for the BEST sourdough (don’t challenge me on this – you will not win). I like to slice their loaves up at home and pop in the freezer – they keep brilliantly and means we have no wastage at all. The bread is unbelievably delicious and the perfect vehicle for Ted’s Veg Strawberry jam, which I had on my list for the day.
Walthamstow Village 
The Little Mandarin 
The Castle Pub 
WORD and SMITH & GOAT 
Eat17
I had a couple of errands in the village, which took no time at all, then I was on my way to Lloyd Park. En route I pootled past Brown’s Road before popping into Olive and Thyme – a gorgeous local organic shop – to pick up some cookies. Obvs. One must always have cookies.
I couldn’t resist a little mooch in my local antique shop, Lot One Ten, and sped past Baggio Vegan, vowing to book supper there one night next week.
Then I was in the park, in the midst of the wonderful weekly food market and being tempted by all things cheese, cake, doughnut & deliciousness. It’s a gorgeous little market with a very special community feel – it’s one of my favourite places to be on a Saturday morning. I left with a jar of Ted’s Veg strawberry jam and some aged cheddar.
I rested for a while in the William Morris Café, before hopping back on my trusty steed (can a bike be a steed? I’m not very good with bikey lingo) to head to L&Q at Blackhorse View. My route took me along Forest Road, in the direction of the Walthamstow Wetlands and on the way I grabbed a very sticky bun for LM, from Armstrong Audio – a café and audio repair shop. Love! – and a hot choc for me, from the excellent Jaunty Coffee.
I then made my final stop at L&Q at Blackhorse View – closer to the St James end of Walthamstow and next to Blackhorse Road station.
The landscaped communal podium gardens are a very special addition at L&Q at Blackhorse View, however it’s their proximity to The Wetlands and their impressive environmental credentials that really swing it for me, including rooftop solar panels to help reduce the carbon emissions. It’s also situated within the wider Blackhorse Lane regeneration area, where 17,000 square feet of retail and commercial spaces are being delivered as part of the grand masterplan. Exciting!
First-time buyers are who L&Q have in mind when developing their properties. They want nothing more than to get them on the first rung of that property ladder, so they give buyers a choice by offering homes that are available through both Shared Ownership and Help to Buy.
Shared Ownership enables first time buyers to get on the property ladder with a smaller deposit and income, than buying on the open market. Essentially, purchasers part-own and part-rent their home, paying a mortgage on the part they own and rent on the part they don’t. Then as and when they are able, buyers can buy greater shares in their home until they own their home outright.
Help to Buy is different. It’s a government-backed scheme, which helps first time buyers keep their mortgage payments lower by boosting the deposit. Buyers need a deposit of just 5% of the newly built home’s total value, supported by a government equity loan of up to 40% in London. The loan is also interest free for the first five years, so it’s a ginormous help in getting on that ladder.
You can buy through Help to Buy or Shared Ownership at The Chain, whilst at L&Q Blackhorse View, all homes are for Shared Ownership.
I loved cycling around Walthamstow, visiting L&Q’s two new developments, coffee shops, boutiques, cafes and green spaces. I can’t think of a better way to explore glorious E17 and nor can I think of a better spot to begin your property ownership journey.
Come on! Let’s be neighbours! It’s not called Awesomestow for nothing 😉
Want to win the bike from Cycle Spirit London?
Head over to @LQHomes for your chance to win the bike on which I toured Walthamstow… you’ve got to be in it to win it!
This post is sponsored by L&Q
My hat: & Other Stories
My Coat: Uniqlo
My Jumper: Sezane
This post contains affiliate links.
