Have I mentioned pizza on this blog? I think I might have, once, in passing. It’s time pizza got its own post! Let’s start with Circle and Slice, though no doubt there will be more pizza restaurant reviews to follow.
Circle & Slice is a casual independent pizza restaurant in Whitechapel. Great pizzas and more, cheerful atmosphere, and very reasonable prices – a good spot to know!
At a glance...
Circle & Slice: practical information
Address: 11 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DU
Website: https://www.circleandslice.co.uk/
Circle & Slice on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qFJSMkLwM3Dt8ss1A
How to get there: the nearest station is Aldgate East.
Eat in: yes
Take away: yes
Toilet: no
On the menu at Circle & Slice, there’s pizza, of course, and not any pizza either. The pizza base is sourdough, the toppings as fresh as can be, and there’s a vegan option.
Lots of pasta, too, and several variations of garlic bread. They also sell sandwiches on crusty baguettes, filled croissants, quiches, and wraps.
Want less carbs? There’s a selection of hearty salads, think big chunks of vegetables in just enough dressing.
In the mood for a sugar rush? The cannolis are large and filled to the brim, and some of them are gluten-free. The ice cream has many flavours to choose from, and it’s also unbelievably good value (have you see the prices of ice cream in central London? Ouch.) They have muffins, and croissants, and small cakes too, some of them gluten-free.
For drinks, there’s an inventive selection of smoothies, plus the usual drinks orange juice, coffee etc
Portion are large and prices very reasonable. Lovely casual décor too, candy colours, lots of framed pictures, and a leafy feature wall.
There’s maybe a dozen tables, and they fill quickly, but they do take away, and when the weather is n ice, it’s easy enough to take your food to the benches of Altab Ali Park, just across the road, and experience a little piece of London history.
Altab Ali Park, not just a pleasant pizza eating spot
Altab Ali Park is named after Altab Ali, a Bangladeshi clothing machinist who, in 1978, was murdered in the park by three racists teenagers. This ignited a large scale activist movement dedicated to fighting racism in East London (which was still a stronghold for the British fascist party at the time). You can read more about this fight in this BBC article.
Altab Ali Park was formerly known as St Mary’s Gardens, created in 1966 on the grounds of a church (St Mary Matfelon) destroyed beyond repairs during the Blitz. It was the third church on the site since the 13th century. The first one was a modest whitewashed chapel that became known as the White Chapel and eventually gave its name to the area.
Don’t you love it when you come in for pizza and then learn a tiny sliver of London history!?
Where to go from there?
Well, vibrant Brick Lane and the whole of Spitalfields and Shoreditch are just around the corner. This is one of London’s most fascinating neighbourhoods – take a walk around!
Or, from Aldgate East, you could take the District line to Temple and visit the beautiful Temple Gardens, and then continue on to Westminster and explore one of London’s most essential neighbourhoods. Then keep going on the District Line to Chelsea and Sloane Square, do a bit of shopping and grab the best cinnamon bun in London.
Or you could take the Hammersmith and City line to Farringdon, and go explore Clerkenwell: first the wonderful Museum of St John and then some lovely shops.
And now that you know how Whitechapel got its name, maybe you’d like to find out why Canary Wharf is called Canary Wharf?
About the author
Everything you read (and see) on this site is by me, Emma Duchat—unless I clearly say otherwise. I’ve lived in London most of my life and never seem to run out of things to explore. I walk the walk (literally), take the photos, and research and write every post. Come say hi on Instagram, too!
