If you’re visiting London and want to explore a neighbourhood full of creativity, Shoreditch is the place to be. This part of East London is known for its vibrant mix of history and modern culture, where Georgian houses sit beside colourful street art and traditional markets buzz alongside stylish pop-ups. It is one of the city’s best destinations for eating out, whether you are craving brunch, international street food or a memorable dinner. Shoppers will love the combination of designer boutiques, vintage fashion, interiors stores and unique galleries. Add in lively nightlife, independent coffee shops and a constant flow of new openings, and you have an area that captures the energy of London today while celebrating its past.
Best Things To Do in Shoreditch
The Museum of the Home on Kingsland Road brings domestic life across the centuries into focus with period rooms, peaceful front gardens and a historic almshouse that feels like a step back in time. Continue the historic home theme by wandering around Fournier Street, Princelet Street and Wilkes Street, which remain some of the most photogenic Georgian terraces in East London. Nearby in Spitalfields, on Folgate Street, is Dennis Severs’ House, a candlelit eighteenth-century townhouse staged as a still-life drama. It feels like you have stepped into the imagined world of the Huguenot silk weavers.
Hackney City Farm, at Goldsmiths Row, is a family favourite. Children love meeting donkeys, pigs and chickens, while adults can enjoy a wholesome lunch in the café. When you want something fun, All Star Lanes on Brick Lane offers retro-style bowling, private karaoke booths, American comfort food, and cocktails. As you wander around, you’ll spot heaps of street art, and you can join a tour if you’re a big fan. For a moment of calm, head to Shoreditch Park, one of Hackney’s largest green spaces, offering expansive lawns, sports pitches and a playground.
Best Markets In Shoreditch
For a mix of food and shopping, head to The Truman Brewery Markets on Brick Lane, which is buzzy at the weekends. You can browse the Brick Lane Vintage Market, sample international dishes at Upmarket, hunt for antiques and curiosities in the Tea Rooms, admire jewellery and crafts at Backyard Market and discover new talent at Rinse Showrooms.
Columbia Road Flower Market takes place every Sunday from 8 am until around 3 pm, when the narrow East London street fills with stalls selling cut flowers, houseplants and bedding plants at great prices. Alongside the blooms, you will find Columbia Road’s permanent independent shops, galleries, cafés and eateries, which make it a lively place to browse and linger. The market is on Columbia Road, London E2 7RG.
Old Spitalfields Market is near Shoreditch within a covered Victorian hall. Stalls here sell fashion, gifts, art, and homewares from independent makers, and the central area features a strong lineup of food kitchens offering a diverse range of dishes, from falafel to noodles and artisanal crumble. Thursday is the day to go if you’re a vintage enthusiast.
Best Places To Shop In Shoreditch
Shopping in Shoreditch has a big focus on vintage fashion from the Truman Brewery Markets to the independent stores along Brick Lane and Cheshire Street.
There are also some wonderful individual shops worth seeking out. My five favourites are Labour and Wait on Redchurch Street, which sells timeless household products with a utility focus that are beautifully designed and built to last. Atomic Antiques on Shoreditch High Street features a curated selection of vintage, mid-century modern, and industrial items, including furniture, decorative pieces, and quirky objects. Two Columbia Road is a stylish interiors store filled with mid-century furniture, lighting and art. Goodhood on Hanbury Street showcases cutting-edge fashion, lifestyle and homeware brands. Meanwhile, Milagros on Columbia Road imports vibrant Mexican homewares, crafts and gifts that bring a burst of colour to your home.
Best Places To Eat In Shoreditch
Brunch in Shoreditch is always a pleasure. My favourites include Momlette on Cheshire Street, which serves Bengali twists on British breakfast favourites. HOKO on Brick Lane focuses on Hong Kong specialities along with milky tea. Flying Horse Coffee roasts its own beans and serves inventive pancake stacks and a Mexican-inspired breakfast. Head to Gecko Coffeehouse for plant-based plates on Bethnal Green Road. If you’re just after a coffee, it has to be Allpress on Redchurch Street.
Beyond brunch, there are plenty of casual eats worth checking out. The Beigel Shop and Beigel Bake on Brick Lane are iconic for freshly made bagels with salt beef or smoked salmon. Dal Fiorentino on Cheshire Street specialises in schiacciata sandwiches baked in the Florentine tradition. Bun House Disco on the corner of Brick Lane and Bethnal Green Road serves lively Cantonese food, while Bao, situated on Redchurch Street, offers pillowy Taiwanese buns and a karaoke room.
For more leisurely meals, Smoking Goat on Shoreditch High Street is excellent for Thai barbecue and fiery flavours. Also, on Shoreditch High Street is Pizza East, known for its wood-fired pizzas in the Tea Building warehouse setting. Nearby on Redchurch Street, Cecconi’s brings a polished Italian dining experience.
Kingsland Road is lined with Vietnamese restaurants and is still one of the best places to go for pho or banh mi.
Best Shoreditch Streets To Explore
Shoreditch is a large area to explore with many interesting streets. My ten favourites include:
- Brick Lane is Shoreditch’s most famous street, known for its vintage shops, curry houses, markets and walls covered in ever-changing graffiti.
2. Calvert Avenue borders the Boundary Estate and is a leafy street with independent shops and eateries.
3. Cheshire Street has some lovely vintage stores, a lot of barbers and a mix of second-hand records to tattoo artists and incense makers.
4. Charlotte Road is a lovely street filled with design studios, shops, bars and cafés, popular with Shoreditch’s creative community.
5. Curtain Road is awash with bars, music venues and design showrooms.
6. Great Eastern Street is at the heart of London’s Tech City, buzzing with start-ups, co-working spaces, street art and restaurants that cater to a creative crowd.
7. Old Street forms the western edge of Shoreditch and is famous for the busy Silicon Roundabout, a centre of London’s digital industry.
8. Redchurch Street is one of London’s most stylish shopping destinations, featuring designer boutiques, concept stores, and coffee spots.
9. Rivington Street has independent cafés, boutiques and street art.
10. Shoreditch High Street is the main artery of the neighbourhood, home to shops, bars and Boxpark (closing down soon), where old East End character rubs shoulders with contemporary energy.
Helpful Information About Shoreditch East London
Shoreditch is situated in the East End of London, within the London Borough of Hackney, although parts of the neighbourhood extend into Tower Hamlets. It sits just north of the City of London and is close to areas such as Spitalfields, Hoxton and Bethnal Green.
Shoreditch doesn’t fall neatly into a single postcode, which adds to its layered identity. The Old Street and Tech City area is located in the EC2A postcode. E1 covers the stretch towards Brick Lane, while parts of its northern and eastern edges fall within E2 and N1. This variety of postcodes reflects how Shoreditch crosses borough boundaries and mirrors its evolution from an industrial district to one of London’s most creative neighbourhoods.
Getting there is straightforward. Shoreditch High Street station connects to the London Overground. Liverpool Street station is within walking distance and brings access to the Central, Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines as well as mainline rail. Old Street station sits at the western edge and links to the Northern line. A network of buses serves the area, and walking between stations is often the best way to explore.
If you want to explore the area, you may find these articles of interest:
Ten Things To Do In Shoreditch
Ten Things To Do In Brick Lane Shoreditch
Ten Reasons To Visit Redchurch Street Shoreditch
Ten Reasons To Visit Cheshire Street Shoreditch
Five Brunch Spots In Shoreditch
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. To avoid disappointment, please check that the places I referenced in this article are still in business before you visit.