Why visit this spot?

1. Exchange Square’s bombastic glory

Visit for the ludicrous street furniture and oversized ornaments (treat it as a welcome break from the well thought through, angular spot in Dalston’s Gillett Square).

Chief offender is the voluptuous, sideways laying marble lady. Second in command is the waterfall, which is so much louder than it deserves to be. Third, the overhanging masts that allow for the erection of temporary marquees for corporate events.

The lawn provides a dose of measure to the whole thing.

2. Exchange Square’s futurism

Three sides are lined with those textured buildings which have key structural elements located on the outside. In the near distance, there’s the green-topped Tower 42. The City feels very on top of you here.

The unavoidable Blade Runner references come from the wonderful structure lining the fourth edge.

3. Liverpool Street Station

This is the only spot I know that offers such a special view of a London rail terminus. Network Rail aptly describe the trainshed as ‘a dark cathedral‘ in their history of the station. On my last visit, an unusual, foggy light hung in the eaves of the arches.

It’s all great, but …

… this is The City. There are more than six licensed establishments in Exchange Square. On Thursday and Friday evenings in summer, the echoed platform announcements are drowned out by finance chat and lounge house.

It’s a spot that lends itself to midweek or weekend evenings.

Where?

Friends tell me that this spot can be a bit of a mission to find – even if Google says you’re close. Confusing lanes of pasty shops and bland coffee stops try their best to misdirect you.

I recommend going to the upstairs Marks & Spencer (there are two). Buy a can of Belgian lager. As you exit, turn right then right again. You pass a Champagne bar. Keep going. You reach the end of the walkway where you have to exit the station. Keep following the path parallel to the railway tracks, go up the stairs, and then you’ll arrive.

Head to the chairs which are to the North of the square. If they’re full, there’s a knee level wall on which to sit.

Capacity for wandering onwards: 2/5

As mentioned, this is The City and you’re quite far into it. You can walk west to The Barbican in 13 minutes or east to Shoreditch and Brick Lane in 10. Head to Finsbury Square and you can peer through the gates of Royal Artillery Company’s cricket pitch.

If you’ve got a travel card, there are regular trains to delightful spots in the Lea Valley like Cheshunt.

Here on a weeknight? You might as well stop by the Old Blue Last when you leave. There will almost certainly be a band playing for free.

Proximity of local shops: 3/5

It’s okay. As mentioned, there’s are M&S’s in the station. Outside the Bishopsgate exit of the station, you find a relatively large Tesco’s and a Sainsbury’s. Coming from the north, there’s an expensive newsagent on the corner with Great Eastern Street.

Toilet access: 3/5

They’re there, but they’re not public. The bars and restaurants are guarded by bouncers and keen eyed waiters whose presence might dissuade you or your guests from trying to enter.

Your best bet is the loo in The White Horse. Just walk in with your telephone to your ear and act furious about FTSE.

Transport links: 5/5

Liverpool Street Underground takes you east and west. Nearby Moorgate takes you north and south. Shoreditch High Street is your gateway to the Overground.

This is not a public place

It’s owned by British Land. You may sometimes visit and find the square overtaken by private events. During winter, they put an icerink in the middle.

Security guards seem to be generally accepting of tinny drinking and many folk partake, but you might want to head elsewhere if there’s a big function going on.