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Discover London: 7 of the best things to do in Shoreditch

'Trust us, it will be something you’ll never forget!'

From the best places to grab a pint and get a bite to eat, to the coolest bars, quirkiest pop-ups and prettiest parks, there’s so much more of Shoreditch to discover.

Here’s some of the local haunts you just need to visit…

1. BOXPARK

With open mic nights and brand events where you can get your hands on everything from free innocent smoothies to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, BOXPARK is the number one place to be in Shoreditch.

As the home of an array of independent eateries and bars as well as the coolest and quirkiest fashion and lifestyle brands, BOXPARK is ideal whether you’re after a big night out, or just need to pick up something new to wear.

Image credit: boxpark.co.uk

2. Brick Lane

Forget Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, it’s Brick Lane where London’s most edgy and artistic crowd is at.

Famed for its incredible authentic curries, Brick Lane has also built up quite the reputation for its amazing warehouse exhibitions, quirky pop-ups and trendy bars as well as its quirky, vintage-esque market that runs every Sunday.

Image credit: theodysseyonline.com

3. Spitalfields Market

Situated just a short walk from Liverpool Street and Shoreditch High Street, Spitalfields Market is a must-visit for anyone visiting the East.

Open seven days a week, expect to find film screenings, lunchtime concerts and various festivals as well as an abundance of unique stalls full of vintage gems and quirky finds covering fashion, interiors and even food. Plus, many of the eateries often run various deals, making it a great place to enjoy a bite to eat on a budget.

Image credit: oldspitalfieldsmarket.com

4. Beigel Bake

If you make it to Brick Lane, make sure you make Beigel Bake your lunchtime stop.

Granted, it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but this stand alone eatery actually sells more than 7000 mouth-wateringly good bagels each and every day, so you’ve definitely got to go see what all the fuss is about, right? Famed for its salt beef bagel, we highly recommend!

Image credit: timeout.com

5. Bethnal Green

If you’re in the Shoreditch area, we definitely recommend making the short walk up to Bethnal Green too.

An up-and-coming area of the East End, it is often regarded as the ‘new Shoreditch’, mainly due to its wealth of cool, quirky shops, trendy cafes and off-the-beaten track bars. Some of its go-to spots include, the Columbia Road Flower Market (which is on every Sunday), the V&A Museum of Childhood, Spitalfields City Farm and Victoria Park.

We also recommend paying a visit to the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, if you’re in the area for the night. Trust us, it will be something you’ll never forget!

Image credit: thetastyskicompany.co.uk

6. The Water Poet

A favourite amongst the locals, the Water Poet is a brilliant East End boozer located in the back streets of Shoreditch and was voted the Best Pub in Shoreditch and Hoxton in the TimeOut Love London Awards 2015.

Renowned for its carefully selected craft beers and incredibly tasty pub grub, it’s definitely worth stopping by for a quick pint or three.

Image credit: coolplaces.co.uk

7. Rough Trade East

As the home of quirky cool, Rough Trade is exactly the kind of store you would expect to find in Shoreditch.

Renowned for putting on free gigs and stocking titles from bands that have no distribution deals, it’s the number one place to find the next best thing or some old-school vinyl. The store is pretty well known for it’s old-fashioned-esque photo booth too, which is often a favourite snap shared on Instagram. We bet you’ve seen it, right?

Image credit: thevinylfactory.com

 

Where’s your favourite Shoreditch haunt? Tweet us @nationalexpress and @Londonist to let us know.

The best of Shoreditch brought to you in partnership with Londonist. Find the map of London’s hidden gems we created in partnership with them here.

Please note that this blog was written prior to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Because of this, the information above may no longer be entirely accurate. We apologise for any inconvenience.

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