Lily's Coffee House, Walthamstow

311 Higham Hill Rd, London E17 5RG
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One of the great appeals of Walthamstow is its strange vibe of being a gateway to London-proper, whilst still maintaining an air of independence, a sort of self-contained town that is both autonomous and yet a part of the wider city.

Take, for example, the end of my road. There is a parade of shops so close to my flat that Usain Bolt could probably cover the distance in a matter of seconds. For me, I waddle up there in a couple of minutes to either get a haircut from the independent barber’s, pick up an Indian takeaway, or stroll into the corner shop for fruit and veg (although I prefer to head to the market over the weekend). This sense of small town necessity is all here on one road; convenience stores, a pub, and even a small coffee shop that seems so out of place, away from any major foot traffic, and yet it persists, hanging in there as a gathering point for those who live nearby.

I’m desperately intrigued by this tiny square room that claims to serve speciality coffee. I’m sceptical of this because it holds nothing about it that suggests it’s like any of the other hipster cafes in and around the area but I refuse to dismiss it. I pass by every day but haven’t had a reason to wander in yet. So, one weekday of working from home, I make a decision to get down there during a break and order myself an oat flat white.

It’s a grey day when I do this and the homely atmosphere is evident straight away. An obvious regular is eating a sandwich and chatting away to the woman behind the counter as I amble in hoping that they do oat milk (of course they do - it’s 2025 for goodness sake!). I can’t see exactly what coffee is served but it’s rich, smooth and with a slightly floral note that takes me by surprise. It also comes with a biscotti even though I’ve ordered to go in my own keep-cup, which brings a smile to my face with the added charm and care of it all.

There is something so satisfying knowing you can get a good cup of coffee just by rolling down the road, although a worrying development for my wallet!