Shoreditch (London, United Kingdom)
Shoreditch is London’s Hipster Hotspot
Stylish Shoreditch in London’s East End is a hodgepodge of interesting markets, buzzing nightspots, great eateries, trendy shops and edgy arts venues. Lying just north-east of the business-focussed City of London, Shoreditch has become synonymous with all things hip and fashionable in Britain’s capital. Together with neighbouring Hoxton, the area has been given a new lease of life as a business hub for tech start-ups and the creative industries. To better cater to the tastes of the bright young things that inhabit its workplaces, today there are plenty of cool and quirky things to see and do in Shoreditch.
Out and About in Shoreditch
Start your Shoreditch odyssey by perching in the window of a cosy cafe to hipster-watch and count how many “Hoxton Fin” and “Shoreditch Samurai” haircuts you see. Once you’ve finished your espresso, you could enjoy comedy, music, art exhibitions and films at the Rich Mix cultural centre and cinema in Bethnal Green Road. For a glimpse of how day-to-day life might have been for Huguenot silk weavers who settled in Shoreditch generations ago, visit the fascinating Dennis Severs’ House museum in Folgate Street. Meanwhile, cat lovers can stroke and admire the resident felines as they enjoy afternoon tea and the sound of non-stop purring at Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium in Bethnal Green Road. Booking is recommended. After dark, you could enjoy a drink in a traditional London pub along Curtain Road or Old Street, or dance the night away at a trendy nightclub like XOYO in Cowper Street.
Foodies can enjoy fancy restaurants and affordable eateries in Shoreditch. Brick Lane is festooned in fantastic street art murals. It hosts authentic and inexpensive Bangladeshi restaurants, which are a must for curry devotes. Meanwhile, quirky options like the Cereal Killer Cafe, which serves obscure breakfast cereals, are sure to raise a smile in the same street. Amazing freshly baked bagels are another Brick Lane cult classic. The Beigel Shop and Beigel Bake are two famous bakeries that produce the yummy treats daily. Try them with fillings like salt beef or cream cheese.
Shop Until You Drop in Shoreditch
Whether its shops, markets or high-end boutiques, Shoreditch is well worth a shopaholic’s attention. There’s excellent street art to admire in Redchurch Street, which also boasts chic fashion outlets and interesting shops like Le Labo where you can blend your own perfume. The repurposed shipping containers at Boxpark in Bethnal Green Road are another shopping hotspot, with numerous tiny stores specialising in gifts, food, fashion and interior design.
Legendary London markets are dotted around Shoreditch. To the south lies the beautifully restored Old Spitalfields Market, where arts, crafts and vintage items dominate. There are also regular markets in Hoxton Street and colourful Sunday sales of herbs, houseplants, succulents and fresh flowers at Columbia Road Flower Market. Sundays are also when Brick Lane Market opens. This famous market sells vintage clothes, antiques, handmade jewellery and exciting street food. Petticoat Lane Market in Middlesex Street offers authentic East End shopping too.
Shoreditch Offers Multiple Hotels
Shoreditch’s hotels could be a wise choice if you want to be in the East End without being too distant from central London’s attractions. A luxury pick like the Nobu Hotel Shoreditch in Willow Street puts you just five minutes’ walk from Old Street Station for London Underground trains. The upscale Ace Hotel Shoreditch, however, puts you only four minutes’ stroll from Shoreditch High Street railway station for London Overground trains.
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Shoreditch, N1,