The Corner Shop in Bethnal Green, East London, at first glance looks like your average convenience store, it sells everything you would imagine a corner store to stock, expect everything here is made of felt.

Lucy Sparrow is the artist who has turned the everyday and ordinary into something amazing and extraordinary. It’s fun, quirky and has to be one of the loveliest things I have ever done in all the time I have lived in London. Don’t miss it as it is only on display here until Sunday 31^st August 2014. 

If you are planning to visit I have included some practical information at the botom of this blog.

Earlier this week twitter friends and I made a visit to the Corner Store. It's located close to where the Columbia Road Flower Market is held each Sunday.

From the outside it looks like a regular corner shop except every item has been hand made in felt and the detailing of each is amazing as with a casual glance you'd think it was the genuine thing. However when you take a closer look you'll see the sheer amount of work that has gone into creating it. Here are a few photos to enjoy.

Inside the shelves are well stocked with everyday items

Household essentials 

 Vegetable rack

 Bottles of sauce and a wide selection of tins

 Tins of Heinz Baked Beans

 Tins of canned fruit

 Medical emergecy supplies

 Cat litter

A well stocked fridge

Top Shelf Magazines

There was even a freezer full of ice cream and lollies

 Mr Freeze Ice Pops - very retro!

Another freezer with oven chips and Linda McCartney's sausages

 Anyone for crackers?

 Wide Selection of Crisps

Chocolate Bars

 The Cash Register and pricing gun (which works)

If you are as smitten as me you may want to purchase a keep sake as all the items are for sale. In the shop there are clipboards with order forms attached. Simply fill in what you want to purchase and pay for it.

Alternatively if you are unable to go to the shop in person you may like to know you can purchase items online.

UPDATE:  My very own felt tin of Bird's custard powder arrived on 06/11/14 and it's wonderful.

Practical Information

Address:  The Corner Shop, 19 Wellington Row, Bethnal Green, London, E2 7BB

Nearest Tube Stations:  Old Street in Travelcard Zone 1 or Bethnal Green in Travelcard Zone 2

Opening Hours:  Daily 10am - 7pm. Only until Sunday 31 August 2014

Price:   Free

Website: http://sewyoursoul.co.uk/

If you miss it in london there's another chance to see the Corner Shop in October 2014 as it will be on display in the No Walls Gallery in Brighton.

There are a lot of cafes in the area although the ones on Columbia Road tend only to be open at the weekend when the market is on. However Shoreditch, Brick Lane and Spitalfields are only a short walk away.

After our visit we went to the delightful cafe in the basement of The Town House, 5a Fournier Street, E1 6QE, and enjoyed some delicious pastries in a most wonderful setting of a Georgian town house.

The author of this blog is a qualified City of London and City of Westminster Tour Guide who leads guided walks combining world famous landmarks with hidden treasures often missed by the crowds.

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