Mindfully Stylish 🌷

Mudchute City Farm probably has the strangest collection of both animals and World War II relics in London and its location really is one of those ‘blink and you’ll miss it’, sandwiched as it is between a supermarket, the Thames and London’s Finance District (i.e. Canary Wharf). None of the animals seem to mind at all though. In fact, they rather seem to enjoy the view!

There is so much history here, mostly from World War II, and the farm has used all of that heritage to its advantage ~ two war bunkers that are on its site have been converted into stables, feed rooms and tack rooms for its new inhabitants.

One of the things I loved about this farm is that you really can quench your thirst to be around animals. I find that with people who have lived in the countryside for most of their life and then move to the city, there is a craving they often get when they are away from green places and animals for too long ~ a need to reconnect with what nurtures us and makes us human. If you come on a Monday, as we did, you have the chance to stroke and wander among the animals to your heart’s content without hardly seeing a soul. Around 2 PM seems to be feeding time!

We were recording the sound the pig was making snuffling among his leaves with our phones because it was such an incredible noise!

You can reach the farm by travelling to Mudchute on the DLR and then walking through the park. You’ll come across these long, strangely straight tracks ~ one raised as though on a disused railway line and the other running along beside it.

Once you’ve browsed to your heart’s content, take the northern most path away from the farm. This will take you out at an Asda ~ find your way to East Ferry Road (keep an eye out as it twists and turns ~ you don’t want Limeharbour!) and head north-east until you hit Manchester Road and pass over the Blue Bridge. Your first right as you make it over is a tiny cut-through called Coldharbour. This will take you straight to our riverside pub.

Here we are ~ note the characteristic ‘cannon hole’ in the pub sign! This is The Gun at Coldharbour, a unique Docklands pub that serves food sourced from around the British Isles.

Inside, it is warm, cosy and quiet. It smells of wood and peace before the first diners arrive.

Once we had our drinks, we wandered through the wood-panelled hallways to find a waterside terrace. It was practically deserted, but we chose the warm interior and the log fire to sit beside in the end.

Although atmospheric in Winter, I expect it would be beautiful in Summer too…

By the time we left it was getting dark and we wandered home through a slightly spooky route that took us beside East India Dock Basin and Trinity Buoy Wharf. I thoroughly recommend you visit here, although perhaps not on a wet and windy night in January when you can still hear the footsteps of seamen past…

For more information on the architecture and vessels available to view, please do click here, but the best thing really is to visit!

In Love&Light, FS XOX