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STRATFORDCIRCUS COMES TO TOWNAt Stratford Circus (Theatre Square,E15 1BX, www.stratford-circus.com),a multipurpose performing artsvenue with an auditorium, studiospace and café-bar, the localcommunity takes centre stage.Described as ‘an incubator foryoung imaginations’ by local galPaloma Faith (who’s its ArtisticAmbassador), the venue producesgreat shows and nurtures the starsof the future. There’s an inspiringprogramme of dance, theatre,music, comedy, literature and circusand plenty for little ’uns, with showsfor under-fives and workshops andsummer schools for kids of all ages.unusual in that? Well, here youcan show how hip and with thetimes you are when you pay withthe digital currency Bitcoin.How green is Lee Valley?Answer: very. Especially sinceQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park(see p6) opened, adding newwaterways and acres of woodsto the long-established naturaloffering, providing habitats forwildlife and nesting waterfowl.But long before 2012, ThreeMills Green (Three Mill Lane, E33DU, www.visitleevalley.org.uk)was an oasis of greenery. It formspart of the 26-mile long Lee ValleyRegional Park, which is perfect fora meandering walk, while kids canburn off excess energy at the WildKingdom play space, clamberingover artfully arranged fallen treesand stumps, getting tangled innets and pretending to be Tarzan,king of the East End, on ropes.All that fresh air is bound togive you an appetite, so why nottry the Print House bar-restaurant(133 High St, E15 2RB, www.theprinthousebar.co.uk) on thebank of the Three Mills Wallsriver. It has a large outdoorterrace, is open for brunch, lunchand dinner – and also has afamily-friendly pop-up beach forthe summer, with a tiki bar, beachgames and live music.ARTSA cultural hubStratford has long been proud ofits diverse cultural offering, somuch so that it boasts its veryown Cultural Quarter. At its heartis the Theatre Royal StratfordEast (Gerry Raffles Square, E151BN, www.stratfordeast.com),which has been entertainingaudiences since 1884. Itsreputation as a ‘people’stheatre’ was sealed by artisticdirector Joan Littlewood, at thehelm from 1953 to 1979, whopremiered ‘A Taste of Honey’and ‘Oh, What a Lovely War’.The theatre has continued itspioneering tradition, producingthe first black British musical toever transfer to the West End,‘The Big Life’, in 2005.Stratford’s newest venue is itsmost unusual, a disused car parkroof. Roof East (7th & 8th Floors,Stratford Multi-storey Car Park,Great Eastern Way, E15 1XE,Clock Mill at Three Mills Greenwww.roofeast.com) is a cinemaand theatre, with great food anddrink, an ever-changing menu ofpop-up events and the kind ofpanoramic view that would bewasted if you were just parkingyour Punto.Stratford Circus (see box,left) has an eclectic mix of showsand workshops, while StratfordPicturehouse (Salway Rd, E151BX, www.picturehouses.co.uk)shows a mix of arthouse flicks,British and international cinemaand current releases, plus aSaturday matinee Kids Club andtoddler sessions. Housed in astriking glass-fronted modernbuilding, it’s fully accessible andthere’s a café-bar that servesFairtrade coffee and tea, wineand locally brewed MeantimePale Ale and hosts regular eventslike film quizzes.Expect to see plenty ofstudents with a penchant forperforming arts in the vicinity, too.The University of East Londonhas just added a new £33 millioncampus at University SquareStratford (Water Lane, E15 4LZ).Stratford at your fingertipsDownload the free Visit Stratfordapp for iPhone and Android foran insider’s insight with over 500listings of attractions, shops,bars, restaurants and hotels.It also includes a map andsouvenir digital postcards. Seewww.stratfordlondonapp.com.DANIELA LUQUINI, HELOISE BERGMANNATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM,The DLR network takes you to east and south-east London so youcan savour a world of flavours, whatever the time of day8am10amNoon2pm4pm6pm7pm10pmNoon‘Bowl of Magic’ breakfastGarden Community Café, E16 www.gardencommunitycafe.orgCoffee and cakeTimber Lodge Café www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.ukDim sumGreenwich Market www.greenwichmarketlondon.comAfternoon teaThe Queen’s House www.rmg.co.ukCream cheese and blueberry vatrushkaKaraway, Westfield www.karawaybakery.comQuayside cocktailsVia, West India Quay www.viabars.co.ukPollock with potato and leek rostiThe Print House, Stratford www.theprinthousebar.co.ukLobster spaghettiThe Pearson Room, Canary Wharf www.thepearsonroom.co.uk10pmBY DLRBREAKFAST TILL SUPPER6pm2pmBREAKFAST TILL SUPPER10 TIME OUT Explore by DLR 2014/15