If you’re visiting London, I’m sure someone or some book has told you to visit Shoreditch. And, if you live in London, it’s very likely to be somewhere you frequent. It has everything: great food, great bars, great coffee, plus so much more.
From famed flower markets to amazing arcade bars, you’re truly spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do in Shoreditch. So, here’s a list of things you shouldn’t miss when you’re next in the area:
1. Get your game on at a gaming bar
Shoreditch is home to Platform, a gaming bar with multiplayer and solo booths that will get your competitive spirit going. They offer both Nintendos and Playstations for your gaming pleasure with games including Fifa, Mario Kart, Fortnite, Just Dance, and the Wii sports favourites such as tennis, bowling, and boxing.
The cocktails on the menu are all named after characters or levels from well known games and are as delicious as they are inventive. Wood-fired pizzas are on offer to fuel your competition and are delivered straight to your booth.
📍 You can find Platform at 2b Worship Street, EC2A 2AH.
2. Take your pick of the bunch at Columbia Road Flower Market
See all the wonderful blooms we wish we could take home at Columbia Road Flower Market which is open every Sunday – come rain or shine. A stroll down a gorgeous flower market makes for the perfect Sunday activity. Varieties you never knew existed are proudly on display in all their vibrant glory and the offering is ever-changing as the season dictates which flowers are on offer.
The market does get very busy so to avoid any crowds, it’s best to arrive earlier in the morning to get the best pick of the bunch. Along the market, there are also excellent independent shops serving coffee, selling vintage clothes, stationary, books, and many other knick-knacks for you to peruse.
3. Eat, drink, and be merry at Boxpark
From fabulous drag brunches to major sporting event screenings, Boxpark has become a go-to hotspot for both visitors and locals alike. Expect a fantastic roster of entertainment throughout the year, with this unique shopping and food complex in the heart of Shoreditch serving up an incredible array of events.
This is another Shoreditch fave that tends to get busy on the weekends, so we recommend getting there as early as possible or securing a table, especially if you’re a street food fanatic wanting to try out all the drool-worthy vendors.
📍 You can find BOXPARK Shoreditch is located at 2 – 10 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6GY.
4. Get a taste of Bangkok at Smoking Goat
Smoking Goat serves up satisfying regional Thai food in a former family run strip club called The White Horse. The food menu is lovingly split into three sections; Essentials, Dips, and Everything Else.
The dishes under ‘Essential’ are indeed dishes that you can’t go wrong with particular standouts being the fish sauce chilli wing (a must at Smoking Goat) and the 12 hour smoked short rib. ‘Everything Else’ is not to be overlooked either as all the dishes included give an authentic taste of northern Thailand. Tuck into Nahm D’tock smoked aubergine and egg, Kra Pow smoked mutton, and crab egg drop curry as the fragrant smoke from the grill fills up the restaurant. Shoreditch is a hotspot for amazing restaurants for you to indulge in and we’ve rounded up the very best for you in this handy guide.
📍 You’ll find Smoking Goat at 64 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ.
5. Get in a few rounds of ping-pong
Bounce’s outpost on Old Street has elevated the game of ping-pong and coupled it with delicious food and top-notch drinks to fuel your fun-filled sporting. Other games available include Shuffleboard and Wonderball along with different variations of ping-pong such as beer pong. Definitely a great for groups spot – Bounce is the place to bring all your friends for some competitive socialising.
📍 You’ll find Bounce at 241 Old Street, EC1V 9EY.
6. Catch a show at a revamped Victorian warehouse
Village Underground is the ultimate upcycled venue. Who would have thought that four tube carriages and two shipping containers atop an abandoned Victorian warehouse in an old railway viaduct would be the perfect place for a creative hub. The main venue is used for gigs and gallery exhibitions and above the venue within the four recycled Jubilee line tube carriages and shipping containers is a creative community. It is made of up to 30 artists, playwrights, filmmakers, architects, photographers, producers, and start-ups who work on their creative projects in the coworking and co-living space. The communal space allows for collaboration and exchange of ideas making it the perfect creative hub.
📍 You’ll find Village Underground at 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ.
7. Grab some drinks at an underground speakeasy
Nightjar is the speakeasy of Shoreditch. Tucked besides a chicken shop, its doors are unassuming but that’s what makes it even more charming as you step into the dimly lit bar that was come alive with the sounds of a live swing jazz band. Nightjar know how to create the perfect atmosphere for their bars, but what they do splendidly is make wonderfully crafted and creative drinks. The cocktail menu is split between pre-prohibition, prohibition, and post-war, and are all deliciously made. Shoreditch certainly isn’t short of bars so have a look at our roundup of the best bars in Shoreditch.
📍 You’ll find Nightjar at 129 City Road, EC1V 1JB.
8. Have a whack at crazy golf
This is not your father’s golf game. Junkyard Golf have taken golf and have pumped it with junk – in the best way possible. They’re one of the best crazy golf courses in London and are epically odd. The course is filled with random odds and ends; you’ll find furry walls, UFC bears, pirate speedboats, and UV disco rooms along your golfing adventure. Take all the madness in with some cocktails that are as fun as the golf course.
📍 You’ll find Junkyard Golf at 88 Worship Street, EC2A 2BE.
9. Grab a perfectly roasted cup of joe
Along with a thriving restaurant and bar scene, Shoreditch is also home to some of the best coffee in London. Although you’re spoilt for choice for coffee in Shoreditch, we recommend Climpson & Sons for their delicious house roasted coffee which will surely give you the perk you need. Climpson & Sons take coffee very seriously, it’s why they so carefully source the coffee they roast and serve some of the most excellent brews in East London.
📍 You’ll find Climpson & Sons at 67 Broadway Market, E8 4PH.
10. Spend a cosy afternoon at a cat cafe
The name Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium is reason enough to visit this cat cafe tucked away in Shoreditch. A true haven for cat lovers, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium serves afternoon tea and evening tipples for you to enjoy whilst you get some down time with their adorable felines.
The cats are the stars of the show and the emporium make sure that they get the star treatment they deserve. Many of the cats at the cafe have been fostered as Lady Dinah advocates for the adopt-don’t-shop rule, and their welfare is top priority at the cafe. An afternoon spent in the company of cats is an afternoon well spent.
📍 You’ll find Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium at 152-154, Bethnal Green Road, E2 6DG.
11. Explore everything that The Truman Brewery has to offer
Once the largest brewery in London town, The Truman Brewery on Brick Lane has been transformed into a one-stop shop destination for independent stores, galleries, markets, bars, and restaurants.
There’s always something going on at the Truman Brewery – whether it be a vinyl records market, an arts and crafts fair, street food markets, secret gigs, and photography exhibitions. It’s food and drink scene is pretty lively too with something for everyone. The Truman Brewery is Shoreditch’s old reliable.
📍 You’ll find The Truman Brewery at 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QR.
12. Pay a visit to the Queen of Hoxton
While we’re on the topic of a good time, it doesn’t get much better than the Queen of Hoxton. Beautifully hidden among the towering skyscrapers of Shoreditch, this uber-cool bar boasts several levels of fun, including one of the best rooftops in the capital.
From an immersive clubbing space and weekend brunches, to pop-up events on the roof, there’s so much going on at this beloved Shoreditch bar that’s it’s always worth having a gander on their website to see what’s on.
📍 You’ll find Queen of Hoxton at 1 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3JX.
13. Stay at an Instagrammable hotel
Shoreditch is a great place to stay if you want to be close to all the action. The Hoxton is a beautiful option, and all the bedrooms feature industrial details, parquet flooring, large mirrors and modern monochrome bathrooms. Otherwise, The Curtain is brilliant if you’re after something you can really show off about. It boasts Manhattan warehouse vibes with exposed brickwork, hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s also a swanky rooftop lido, a hidden drinking den, and a great spot for late-night parties and secret gigs.
14. Buy some vintage garms
Brick Lane and the surrounding area is full of vintage shops, so it’s a great place to go if you’re after some pre-loved clothes. The massive Brick Lane Vintage Market is open seven days a week, and is home to the UK’s largest collection of independent vintage boutiques. There’s also a Rokit, a Beyond Retro and several indie shops.