In the Neighborhood: Your ultimate guide to London’s Shoreditch
Head to one of London’s trendiest neighborhoods to discover vintage shopping, street art, history-themed walking tours and the most delicious bagels outside of New York.
By Joanna Tweedy | March 30, 2023 (Updated May 24, 2024)
Joanna Tweedy
Joanna Tweedy is an award-winning travel writer and editor who lives in London. A former U.K. national newspaper travel editor, she now contributes across many titles, and specializes in writing about family travel, wellness breaks and luxury vacations.
In the thumping heart of London’s historic East End, Shoreditch remains one of the English capital’s trendiest spots. A quick 25-minute ride (by rail or car) from the bright lights of Leicester Square, this thriving, walkable neighborhood — dubbed "home of the hipsters” — promises vintage shops, quirky cocktail bars, fantastic eats and contemporary street art.
EAT
Pick your fancy: From pho and bagels to tea salons and pastries, Shoreditch serves up an appetizing array of dining options.
— Shoreditch’s famed Brick Lane is conveniently located less than a mile from Hart Shoreditch Hotel London, Curio Collection by Hilton and a delicious starting point for foodies. Nicknamed Curry Mile and pedestrian-only on weekends, Brick Lane serves up culinary history and street food delights.
— A quick cab ride north from Brick Lane lands you at another popular culinary enclave, Kingsland Road. There’s pizza by the slice after dark at neon-lit Voodoo Ray’sand so many Vietnamese eateries, the road is now commonly called Pho Mile.
— For a truly authentic East End specialty, join the line outside Beigel Shop. As London’s oldest bagel bakery, founded in 1855, this family-run business can make 10,000 in one weekend and is open 24 hours a day.
SEE
World-famous street artists and up-and-comers sprinkle the neighborhood with creative and colorful artwork.
— Shoreditch's red-brick walls have steadily become a sprawling urban gallery. Old Street is a great place to start — pick up a flat white at coffee/bicycle shop, Look Mum No Hands, and begin with the colorful zigzagging “Dream Come True” artwork on the Splice office building.
— To learn more about East End history and get a feel for the authentic local lifestyle, check out the Museum of the Home. It’s free to visit, housed in beautiful 300-year-old Almshouses and recreates how people in this borough have lived through the centuries.
— After dark, dig deep and find your inner hipster. Take a leap in the adults-only ball pit (taking a selfie as you fly) at Ballie Ballerson, try your hand at a round of Japanese bingo at Hijingo Bingo or catch an art house film at boutique Close-Up Cinema.
SHOP
If vintage shopping is a favored sport, then Shoreditch will be a dream destination.
— Browse the Vintage Basement for both retro designer clothes and yesteryear bargains. There are also beautiful bookshops, filled with literary treasures old and new, including Brick Lane Bookshop and Libreria Bookshop.
— For stylish homewares, make for the stores around Redchurch Street. Labour and Wait, housed in a green-tiled Victorian terrace house, has an array of affordable, design-led pieces.
— Columbia Road is the reason many city dwellers head east on a Sunday. This historic flower market, founded in 1869, sees an explosion of beautiful blooms at 8 a.m. Insider tip: flowers are often heavily discounted around 2 p.m. before the market closes.
Shoreditch has an irresistible urban energy that unites London’s Victorian history and modern-day culture. A far cry from the tourist-filled West End, a stay in Shoreditch gifts a rare chance to glimpse how the city’s coolest residents live, shop and dine.
(Image Credit: Photo by John Dancy on Unsplash)
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