Benedict Cumberbatch’s turn as Greville Wynne – the British engineer who helped MI6 smuggle secret intel out of Soviet Russia – in The Courier has shone a light on London’s Cold War past. While the USSR and KGB might be gone, our capital still has a few souvenirs from the era – not to mention plenty of modern Russian culture and cuisine to boot.
If you’re feeling inspired by The Courier, here’s the guide to throwing the ultimate Russian-themed weekend in London:
Where to eat and drink
While the old Soviet bloc wasn’t exactly famed for its cuisine, London’s eastern Europe and Slavic food has come on leaps and bounds since the days of Perestroika (as you might hope).
Of the various Russian eateries found around West London, Kensington’s Mari Vanna is generally regarded as the most fashionable. With a charming, rustic atmosphere, the deli and restaurant serves everything from authentic stroganoff to hearty Ukrainian golubtsy.
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