You’ve almost definitely wandered around Brick Lane, tasted a salt beef beigel and invested in a vintage shirt or two.
But there’s a lot more to East London than just edgy clothes and delicious food. Still regarded as the creative hub of the city, it’s where you’ll find countless art galleries, unusual talks and one-of-a-kind events. So when you’ve ticked East London’s most popular haunts off of your ‘to visit’ list, these are the unmissable events and sights to start working your way through next.
Try some Peroni-infused drinks at London Cocktail Week
London Cocktail Week is an event not to be missed and this year you’ll find us at The House of Peroni. As the event’s sole beer brand, there’s a guarantee that the drinks on offer will feature only the best ingredients thought up by some of the city’s favourite bartenders. The House of Peroni will be headed up by the brand’s world-renowned mixologist, Simone Caporale, and supported by a selection of the UK’s best emerging talent. Inside, you’ll find six new, delicious cocktails made with Peroni, including a fresh take on the traditional Bellini, a restyled Negroni and a reinvented Americano to enjoy. Find all the info here. Backyard Market, 146 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL.⭐️Sponsored⭐️
Gaze at some art on First Thursdays
Every first Thursday of the month more than 150 galleries across East London are open to the public during the evening. Wander around the likes of the Brady Arts Centre, Gallery S O and Transition Gallery or, if it’s cold outside or you’d prefer the whistle-stop tour, jump aboard the Whitechapel Gallery’s Art Bus tour. Visiting a changing selection of art spaces, galleries and exhibitions across East London, each stop on the tour is introduced by an artist or curator. Even better – when you finish the tour, you’ll be dropped back at Whitechapel Gallery where you’ll find a free glass of wine/pint of beer or a soft drink awaiting you. Over the course of the evening, you’ll visit the likes of the Arebyte Gallery, the Chisenhale Gallery and the 5th Base Gallery. Inside is everything from performance art, to contemporary design, traditional painting and sculpture. 77-82 Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX
Learn some history at the Roman Remains
The Roman remains of London might not be the most Instagrammable thing you’ll find in the city but they’re definitely worth visiting (or accidentally stumbling upon) to learn a little more about London before it was taken over by unicorn-themed food pop ups. Close to the Tower Hill DLR station you’ll find one of the highest remaining fragments of the wall, which stands at around four metres high. Wander along from the station up to the Museum of London where you’ll find more stretches of the wall and also some information detailing its origins. On the high-walk between the museum and the Barbican, you’ll be able to spot some other ruins down Noble Street. You’ll definitely come away feeling slightly more cultured. Tower Hill, London EC3N 4DJ
Enjoy a bite at Ombra
In the middle of Hackney sits Ombra, a bustling Venetian-style Italian restaurant with a water-side terrace to spend hours relaxing on. Translating loosely to the Venetian term for a glass of wine, Ombra’s name (and style) dates back from the days when the merchants in Piazza St Marco, Venice, sold their wine by the glass and would follow the shadow of the campanile to keep their wares cool. The menu changes each day but always focuses around fresh ingredients sourced locally. Their pasta is homemade and served in small-but-delicious portions with Italian summer truffle, prawns and meats, amongst other picks. Visit on a Sunday to try their five-course set menu and make sure to wash it down with some of their delicious wines. Ombra is open Tuesday – Sunday and closed on Mondays. 1 Vyner St, London E2 9DG
Please your ears at a speakeasy
Wilton’s Music Hall is the oldest grand music hall in the world, so it’s worth a visit for that alone. There’s always something going on, from live music, to an art gallery and excellent food and drink choices. But it’s the Mahogany bar that’s tucked away inside that you should definitely make time to visit. This bar sits inside the Georgian building, which dates to 1690 and has all of the traditional features to match. And on selected Mondays, it becomes an intimate speakeasy, playing host to some of London’s finest musicians. The interiors might be typically old-fashioned style but the music is not: On one day, you’ll find Gypsy swing, Italian and Spanish sounds. On the next, there’ll be pop and classical tracks. Sit down with one of their (locally) famous stonebaked pizzas and enjoy the music. 1 Graces Alley, Whitechapel, London E1 8JB
Take some breathtaking photos from the Monument
Based, unsurprisingly, next to Monument station, you’ll find a great place to get all of those wide-angle pictures of the city from above. The Monument to the Great Fire of London offers some (quite literally) breathtaking 360 degree views of the city. Once you’ve climbed the 311 steps to the top – and it’s worth it, trust us – admire the city from your 202 foot perch and snap away. Sure, it’s a popular tourist attraction, but it’s not the first place that comes to hand for aerial shots of London. You’ll be able to see panoramic views of the Thames, most of the city’s other famed attractions and you’ll also realise exactly how fit or unfit you are, depending on how long it took you to reach the top. And once you’ve hiked your way up there and finished the climb, you’ll also be awarded a certificate for doing so. Excellent! Fish St Hill, London EC3R 8AH
Also published on Medium.