My list of ten things to do near Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, London E17, will give you the inside scoop on the breweries and independent businesses clustered along this stretch and its surrounding industrial estates. You’ll find craft breweries where you can enjoy a pint, the lively Big Penny Social with its family-friendly atmosphere, and even a couple of places to sip wine or tuck into a hearty Sunday roast. But it’s not all about the alcohol, think Colombian coffee, freshly baked bread and pastries, a brunch spot, yoga classes, and even a climbing frame. All of this is just a short walk from Blackhorse Road station, where I once lived many years ago.
Here’s an overview of my list, in a logical rather than a priority order:
1. Discover the Blackhorse Beer Mile
2. Have family fun at Big Penny Social
3. Discover your new favourite wine
4. Get your caffeine fix at Hermanos
5. Treat yourself at Wild Grains Bakery
6. Enjoy brunch at Blackhorse Workshop Café
7. Eat better food at SlowBurn
8. Buy crafted jeans at Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
9. Create something at the Blackhorse Workshop
10. Climb bouldering walls at Yonder
My Ten Things To Do Near Blackhorse Lane List
- Discover the Blackhorse Beer Mile. The area has become synonymous with breweries and taprooms. On Uplands Business Park, you’ll find Signature Brew with its music-inspired beers and live gigs, Exale Brewing serving experimental brews with stacked burgers, and Pretty Decent Beer Co bringing witty names, progressive beers and Neapolitan-style pizzas. Over on Lockwood Way, Wild Card Brewery pours its much-loved core range, while 40FT Brewery is expanding from Dalston with a new sustainable taproom and modern beers.
2. Have family fun at Big Penny Social. Bring your kids, friends, and dogs to this massive industrial warehouse, where you can eat, drink, and play games. Food includes steak and fries, chicken Milanese, and pizza. With a large beer hall and garden, you could easily spend a few hours there. Head up to Flukes, where you can play darts, pool, or shuffle. 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL.
3. Discover your new favourite wine. It’s not all beer here; there’s also wine. Renegade Urban Winery, tucked away on Lockwood Way, produces small-batch wines on site using grapes sourced from across the UK and Europe. The spacious taproom also doubles as a restaurant elevated on a mezzanine level, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the winery below. We had a memorable Sunday roast here. On Thursdays, it’s wine with cheese. Borough Wines E17 has a taproom where you can taste natural wines. Or try Burnt Faith Brandy House at Sutherland Road.
4. Get your caffeine fix at Hermanos. Located at Gnome House, Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters offers a relaxed atmosphere with a spacious outdoor area featuring picnic tables and benches. Inside, you can enjoy expertly roasted Colombian coffee served with a focus on freshness, fair farming partnerships, and sustainable practices. 7 Blackhorse Lane, London, E17 6DS.
5. Treat yourself at Wild Grains Bakery. Located on the Lockwood industrial estate, you’ll find an artisan bakery hatch serving fresh bread, coffee, and baked goods, with outdoor seating if you’d like to stay longer. The shelves are filled with loaves ranging from country white and multigrain to olive, potato, and miso sesame, alongside focaccia and baguettes. Sweet treats include chewy cookies, brownies, doughnuts, scones, and savouries like sausage rolls and jalapeño bread. 3 Lockwood Way, London E17 5RB.
6. Enjoy brunch at Blackhorse Workshop Café. The food is simple and hearty, built around brunch favourites. Expect sourdough toast with eggs and sauces, brioche-style baps filled with mushrooms, bacon or fried eggs, and lighter choices like yoghurt with house granola and fruit compote. The menu also features seasonal touches, such as flatbread with confit garlic yoghurt, grilled veg and dukkah. It’s fresh, unfussy food designed to go well with good coffee. Look out for the entrance path on Blackhorse Lane, 1–2 Sutherland Road Path, London E17 6BX.
7. Eat better food at SlowBurn. A vegetable-focused casual restaurant in Walthamstow, open on Friday evenings and all day on Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. Most of the menu is vegetarian and vegan, with meat playing a supporting role. Founded by Head Chef Chavdar Todorov, the idea is to eat better food, waste less, and take your time to enjoy bold flavours at a slower pace. You’ll find us sharing a space with Blackhorse Lane Ateliers. 114b Blackhorse Lane, London E17 6AA.
8. Buy crafted jeans at Blackhorse Lane Ateliers. They have been reviving denim-making in London since 2016. Founded by Han Ates in Walthamstow, the atelier emphasises timeless design and integrity to create jeans that stand out from fast fashion. I love that you can visit to see where the jeans are lovingly made. 114 b Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, London E17 6AA.
9. Create something at the Blackhorse Workshop. Make something at Blackhorse Workshop, a Walthamstow social enterprise that provides everyone access to a fully equipped wood and metal workshop. You’ll find open access benches, a machine shop, a spray booth, woodturning facilities, and a metalwork area, as well as courses, events, and supported sessions with expert technicians to help you get started. Studios and memberships are available for all makers, ranging from desk spaces to converted shipping containers. 1-2 Sutherland Road, Path, London E17 6BX.
10. Climb bouldering walls at Yonder. Discover the bright and spacious climbing centre just off Blackhorse Road in Walthamstow. The venue combines climbing with a co-working space, yoga studio, café, and regular community events, making it a hub for fitness, creativity, and connection. 6 Hooker’s Road, London E17 6DP.
Helpful Information About Blackhorse Lane
Blackhorse Lane is in Walthamstow, part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It’s easy to reach via Blackhorse Road station on the Victoria line and London Overground, and it’s also a short walk from St James Street, Walthamstow Central and Tottenham Hale. The area has an industrial edge, with old warehouses now filled with breweries, makers and creative spaces, set against the nearby Walthamstow Wetlands and Lea Valley marshes. It’s a lively pocket of East London, close to Tottenham, where nature and industry meet, and well worth exploring.
If you want to explore the area, you may find these articles of interest:
Walthamstow Village Area Guide
Ten Reasons To Visit Orford Road Walthamstow Village
William Morris Gallery Walthamstow
God’s Own Junk Yard Walthamstow
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.