Want to know what to do in Shoreditch? To fully explore the East End’s coolest neighbourhood, you’re going to need to give it at least a day on your itinerary. Walk around the endless markets, check out the shopping at BoxPark, feast on the hundreds of street food stalls and party at some of London’s best clubs. With so much to see, do, eat and drink in Shoreditch, as well as its eclectic, young vibe, you’ll probably find yourself spending more time there than you originally had planned.
Check out these 12 Best Things to do in Shoreditch to really make the most of London’s quirkiest district.
BOXPARK
Shoreditch BoxPark, made entirely out of old shipping containers, is the most unique shopping experience you’ll come across in London. The famous row of mini pop-up shops and street food kitchens stacked on top of eachother should definitely get a spot on your Shoreditch itinerary. Vintage fashion, modern accessories, homeware trinkets plus plenty of food and drink options - you won’t be able to resist popping into at least one of the tiny shops.
BRICK LANE MARKET
Sundays at Brick Lane is the best day of the week to go. Over the years, Brick Lane market has grown to incorporate five different markets in one HUGE one, and Sundays are when it all kicks off at once. Pick up clothes, jewellery, art, food and nick-nacks all over this little area of Shoreditch - you could spend hours going through it all! When you’re feeling peckish, follow your sense of smell to the Sunday Upmarket in the Old Truman Brewery and work your way through the hipster hoodies and independent jewellers to a foodie’s heaven.
Food options from all over the world are crammed into the covered space every Sunday, from Indian street food to Middle Eastern falafels and Tibetan dumplings, whatever you fancy, you’re bound to find it here.
DINERAMA
Street food, cocktails and an awesome atmosphere - Dinerama isn’t just a food market, but it’s the ideal place to go before heading elsewhere for a big night out. You’ll find this cool venue in Shoreditch Yard, and filled with a young, fun vibe every Wednesday to Saturday evenings. It opens at 5pm but if you want a seat (and free entry before 7pm), you’d better turn up on time. Grab one of the best burgers in London from Burger and Beyond, tasty bao buns from The Yum Bun and a gin and tonic cocktail from the Gin Kitchen. If the sound of that doesn’t float your boat, we’re not sure what will.
VINTAGE SHOPPING
If you’re not rummaging through what Brick Lane Market or Old Spitalfields have to offer, wander around the streets of Shoreditch and you’ll discover countless quirky vintage thrift stores all over the place. Beyond Retro and East End Thrift Store are a couple of our favourites, but don’t miss popping into Blitz, the largest vintage department store in the world. Sift through the endless amounts of vintage goodies the place is filled with and you’ll be sure to hit the jackpot!
STREET ART
If you want to see street art in London, there are a couple of areas where it’s at its best and Shoreditch is definitely one of them. Almost every turn you take you’ll come across some pretty awesome artwork plastered on the walls. Great Eastern Street has two tube trains on top of a building that are covered in colourful graffiti, but Shoreditch High Street, Fashion Street and Brick Lane also all contain some of the best street art in Shoreditch.
OLD SPITALFIELDS MARKET
As you’ve probably guessed by now, Shoreditch’s street eat scene is pretty epic, but each and every one of them are their own kind of awesome. Old Spitalfields Market in the heart of the lively East End is steeped in history and is now home to some amazing street food stalls and vintage shopping. Food from all over the world gets cooked up daily at Spitalfields, including street eats from Africa, Ethiopia, Turkey, Japan and Thailand - no foodie will be left disappointed. The Vintage Kilo Sale is an absolute winner for bargain hunters. Sift through tonnes of vintage clothing, take it to be weighed by the shopkeeper and only pay £15 per kilo for your cool, new threads. That’s a pretty unreal deal.
It is open everyday from 10am until 5pm and Saturdays from 11am until 5pm.
COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET
Each and every Sunday, “come rain, wind or shine”, a huge, colourful flower market graces Columbia Road for the weekly Columbia Road Flower Market. Wander down the road, passing the thousands of flowers on offer from more than 60 independent sellers, ranging from pretty classics like roses to more unusual plants like banana trees. The market opens at 8am and closes at about 3pm - our top tip is to either get there for opening, or head over just before closing time when it’s winding down and prices start to drop.
EAT A SALT BEEF BAGEL
Head to the cheap and cheerful bakery in Shoreditch serving up delicious Jewish-style filled bagels. There are two competing bagel shops on Brick Lane, but the yellow one is just that little bit better in our opinion, plus it’s been standing longer, earning itself the title of London’s oldest bagel shop. We recommend the hot salt beef bagel that will only set you back around £4. You can even order rainbow bagels from here, costing as a little as 80p and then add fillings of your choice.
GO CLUBBING
Shoreditch is renowned amongst London’s locals for being one of the best places to party in the city. The young, fun but relaxed vibe of the most popular clubs are part of what makes a night out in Shoreditch so good. Head to the Queen of Hoxton , The Magic Roundabout or The Book Club for fun music to anyone’s taste, The Blues Kitchen to dance along to insane live music, or XOYO for those who prefer house and techno.
QUIRKY BARS
East London is full of quirky bars that make going out drinking that extra bit more interesting! From table football to giant ball pits, these are our favourites:
Bar Kick
If you like beer and you like table football (or ‘foosball’), Bar Kick is the place for you. Their range of bottled beer is awesome, but if that doesn’t do it for you, their cocktail list is pretty extensive too. Book a foosball table before you arrive to guarantee you a good few games.
Bounce
Grab a ping pong paddle, a drink from the bar and the game is on. London’s best ping pong bar Bounce has two branches, and of course one of them is in the city’s quirkiest district. The atmosphere here is always buzzing with drinks flowing and London’s cool crowd taking each other on at ping pong. Just make sure you book your table in advance.
Ballie Ballerson
What could be more fun (when you’ve had a few drinks) than jumping into a giant ball pit? Ballie Ballerson is the ultimate adult playground. The quirky Shoreditch bar has two enormous pits filled with over 1 million plastic balls, glowing in the UV lights, for you to mess about with in between sips of one of the tastiest cocktails you’ve ever had.
OLD TRUMAN BREWERY
There’s always something going on at the Old Truman Brewery, whether its an espresso martini festival, an 11 hour Cuban dance class, a yoga fest or its ongoing Vegan Nights event. Take a look at their website to see what’s going on in this arty corner of Shoreditch before you get there. It’s usually something pretty interesting.
WHERE TO STAY
St Christopher’s Inns Liverpool Street
Built in just 2017, our Liverpool Street hostel is brand spanking new and located just a 5 minute walk from Moorgate AND Liverpool Street stations. It’s just a stone's throw away from the heart of Shoreditch, plus with its modern rooms, free wifi and discounts on the charming British pub downstairs, you’re all set for an epic time in London whilst staying in the city’s coolest neighbourhood.
Check out St Christopher's Inns Liverpool Street hostel
HOW TO GET THERE
Tube: Old Street (Northern line), Liverpool Street (Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, Circle and Central lines)
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