Best Things To Do In Shoreditch – From Markets, Cafes, Bars & Beyond!

Last Updated on 7 November, 2023

 

 

Shoreditch is the creative hub of London’s east end. Because of this, you can never fall short of things to do in Shoreditch.

The area bustles with activity day and night. The many dining and entertainment options ensure you never have to leave to have to a good time in London’s east end. Among the many must-see places in London.

 

With the many developments happening in the area, Shoreditch is now a sought-after space. Property values have increased by over 40% especially with investments from international brands, hotel chains, and e-commerce companies.

 

 

Packed with plenty of fun things to do in Shoreditch, below I take you through places to visit in Shoreditch, cafes to visit, best bars, activities and all round cool and quirky things to do in Shoreditch at night and during the day! Read on for more!

 

What Makes The Shoreditch Area So Great

Shoreditch is considered the area that cultivated London fashion and street art. It’s also seen as the birthplace of English theatre.

Shoreditch is also the new London destination for foodies. And if that’s not enough, it offers great shopping experiences.

 

 

Things To Do In Shoreditch

 

• Shopping In Shoreditch

Shoreditch offers a variety of options for shopping. From vintage shops to markets and boutiques, anyone can find what they want in this area.

I gave you a glimpse of this in my post on shopping in Shoreditch, among top things to do in Brick Lane.

There are several vintage stores such as the aptly named The Vintage Store, Absolute Vintage, and Hunky Dory Vintage.

You’ll find most of the vintage stores closer to the top of Brick Lane because as you go along, the stores get scarcer and more restaurants and cafes like The Beigel Bake start showing up.

 

There are othe options available in terms of markets in Shoreditch. These include the Backyard Market and Brick Lane Market which sells everything you can think of.

It’s a treasure trove of shopping or just window shopping. In addition to the markets mentioned don’t forget about Spitalfields Market nearby which is only a short walk away.

If you visit on a Sunday, you’ll also get to see the street performers. There is also the famous Columbia Road Flower Market that opens on Sundays. It only opens 8a.m. – 2p.m., so it’s best to get there early.

 

Plus, several interesting boutiques have made their home in the Boxpark shopping center.

 

 

• Check Out The Street Art In Shoreditch

Shoreditch is a popular filming place in London with movies like Matt Damon’s “Contagion” having filmed scenes there. So, it’s no wonder the area is also known for its artwork.

If you’re looking for your art fix, street artists from around the world have made their mark in Shoreditch.

One of the best things to do in Shoreditch is to just explore street art.

 

Walking along, it’s hard to miss the area’s artistic past and present. There are also eye-catching stickers along Brushfield Street and spectacular colors along Brick Lane.

I also shared a post with plenty of street art in Shoreditch. as well as a post on an alternative street art tour I did in Shoreditch.

 

Check out the several graffiti artists studios in Shoreditch as well as galleries along Wharf Road. The general street art scene in the area is nothing short of fantastic with the likes of Adrian Boswell with his colorful vegetable inspired artwork along Brick Lane.

And of course, there is the ever-popular etchings of Banksy along Rivington Street.

 

 

 

• Check The Trendy And Cool Places To Eat In Shoreditch

As I found out, if you’re in Shoreditch on a Saturday make sure you take part in the Urban Food Fest. It’s a pop-up street food market. There was just so many sights and tastes and gastronomic delights to take part in.

 

But, apart from that, there are many other options to enjoy the culinary arts of London. If you’re into Indian cuisine, then you must try one of the many restaurants on Brick Lane.

 

The variety of curry houses along this stretch serve some of the best Indian food in the country.

There are also walking tours of the lane that allows you to sample different dishes from different restaurants so check that out, if like me, you don’t want to go to just one Indian restaurant.

 

 

 

Another option for authentic local cuisine is from the colorful Cereal Killer Café. Also on Brick Lane, Cereal Killer is a specialty café offering branded breakfast cereals and is the first of its kind in London. Among the cool places to eat in Shoreditch considering the queues that are usually backed out of the cafe.

 

If you have something of a sweet tooth, I found the perfect bakery in Shoreditch. The Beigel Bake is a classic 24-hour bakery offering Jewish-style bagels. There is quite a variety of bagels including cream cheese bagels, salmon bagels, and several meat bagels. They also offer a mean cheesecake.

 

If you only have a day in Shoreditch, you cannot miss an opportunity to check out Shoreditch. It also doesn’t cost that much so if you are looking for cheap food in Shoreditch, this is both cheap and delicious!

 

 

 

Another lovely restaurant is Popolo on Rivington Street with its Mediterranean inspired space. There are also several Vietnamese restaurants at the south end of Kingsland Road. Finally, make sure you check out Boxpark.

 

This hipster yet contemporary shopping mall was made of refitted shipping containers. In addition to the many stores located inside, you can enjoy a meal or drink at several cafes. I shared a post on one of the food tours I did in Shoreditch with plenty of places to eat in Shoreditch.

 

 

• Shoreditch Nightlife – Best Bars In Shoreditch and Things To Do In The Evening

The area has a bustling nightlife and one of the cool things to do in Shoreditch at night is to check out the many cool bars and restaurants in Shoreditch.

For spectacular cocktails from some of London’s best bars, I found Shoreditch to offer a lot of variety and quality. Three such bars include Vortex Jazz Club, Queen of Hoxton, and Cafe Oto.

 

By day, Café Oto is a daytime eatery. But at nights, you can find live performances with an eclectic mix. They’ve been known to showcase a variety of genres from psych rock to free jazz.

 

Queen of Hoxton is another East London Bar and Club. They have live music, and DJs across the three levels of the club including a roof garden. Each level offers something different.

They also host cultural events in keeping with Shoreditch being a cultural Mecca of London.

 

If you’re looking for a spot where music meets culture, then make sure to visit The Vortex Jazz Club. It is a much venue with free jazz, experimental music, improvised music. This is among the cool places to go in Shoreditch.

 

 

Where To Stay In Shoreditch

 

I shared a guide to the best hotels in Shoreditch, which covers budget hotels in Shoreditch, as well as bed and breakfasts near Shoreditch. So if you are looking for cheap accommodation in Shoreditch then check that out.

In addition, I have also documented stays at 100 Shoreditch, Citizen M, Hoxton and Nobu

Otherwise, I also have a guide on the best areas to stay in London with additional places to stay in the city which also allow you to easily get to Shoreditch by bus or by train.

 

 

How To Get To Shoreditch By Bus Or Train

Nearest underground train station to Shoreditch: Shoreditch High Street Station, Old Street Station and Liverpool Street are all walking distance.

 

You can easily walk from Liverpool Street station to Shoreditch via Spitalfields. Also, there are many buses to Shoreditch many of them passing through Liverpool Street, Old Street, so getting to Shoreditch is super easy.

Also, you can opt to get off at Shoreditch station if using the overground. I usually that the easiest way to get to Shoreditch is to use Liverpool Street or Old Street as the overground line doesn’t cover much of London so most wouldn’t really need to use unless you live near that line.

 

 

How to get to Shoreditch from London City Airport, Stansted Airport or Gatwick?

If you have a layover in London or looking for a quick visit to Shoreditch from the airport this is easy to do.

From Stansted to Shoreditch, you need the train that leaves from Stansted to Liverpool Street Station and its a short walk from the station. Simply ask anyone from the station if you don’t have roaming data. They will point you to where to walk.

 

From Gatwick Airport to Shoreditch, take the train heading to London Bridge and from London Bridge you can take bus 78 from Tower Bridge or 21 from London Bridge and get off at Old Street and its a short walk from there.

You can also take many buses from London Bridge going to Shoreditch directly. Just have a look on the bus stops or ask the bus drivers.