If a vibrant creative culture, a plethora of choice for great restaurants, bars and shops as well as excellent transport links is your vibe, then living in Shoreditch sounds like it’s for you.
Located in the London Borough of Hackney, Shoreditch has enough history to ensure a rich cultural heritage. But it’s also benefitted from a surge in popularity and regeneration, bringing a modern edge to the area.
With nearby Liverpool Street, Old Street and Shoreditch High Street stations you’d be hard-pressed to find a better-connected part of London with the same character. There are more than enough buses and if more environmentally friendly travel is your thing, then there are plenty of Boris Bikes too. You’ll get to where you need to be in no time.
It’s almost too difficult to select the best bits of living in Shoreditch because there are so many to choose from. But take a look at some of our highlights below.
BOXPARK
We couldn’t talk about Shoreditch and not mention BOXPARK. Located right underneath Shoreditch High Street station, it is a cleverly designed collection of refitted shipping containers housing pop-up clothing brands, eateries and retailers. BOXPARK showcases an abundance of brands and restaurants with a modern street food vibe. There is plenty of choice for all tastes, including excellent vegan options from places like What The Pitta! and The Athenian.
So if you’re thinking of living in Shoreditch, BOXPARK is a must to shop, dine and unwind.
Address: 2-10 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6GY
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7186 8800
Brick Lane Market
The fun of this market is you never know what you’re going to find. Brick Lane Market attracts many young Londoners with the hopes of finding quirky clothing, records, kitsch collectibles or perhaps that perfect coffee table to complete your new flat now you’re living in Shoreditch (or if you’re living in Bethnal Green for that matter, as it’s only a 10 minute walk from Dressage Court).
It is a jumble of hustle and bustle with hawkers selling their second-hand wares along the street. There are plenty of bargains to be had if you’re willing to look for them. To refuel after all the browsing there are plenty of inexpensive restaurants and cafés lining the streets, including authentic Jewish bagel shops, which always draw a crowd.
The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club
If you’re a motorbike fanatic, then Shoreditch has the perfect place: The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club. This place started as a virtual community focused on custom bikes. It then became a couple of pop-up events that attracted thousands of people, before cementing its place in Shoreditch via permanent residence under railway arches on Old Street.
You can head here not only to check out some custom bikes and shop for some gear from their bike store, but you can also grab some food and few drinks in their full bar and restaurant. On top of that, you can also get your hair re-styled at their on-site barbershop whilst you’re at it.
Address: 384 Old Street, EC1V 9LT
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7729 8114
London Shuffle Club
Ever played shuffleboard? Well, you can in Shoreditch at the London Shuffle Club. According to one avid player: “It’s like a mash-up between ten-pin bowling and curling, only with better shoes”.
Their 8 lanes — 6 insides, 2 outside — can be enjoyed alongside cocktails, craft beers and handmade pizza. If you want to go all out, they even do a bottomless shuffle brunch on Saturdays.
Address: 4 Ebor Street, E1 6AW
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 3657 9062
Ballie Ballerson
As you probably guessed from the name, Ballie Ballerson has a very particular selling point… Yep, balls. And thousands of them. It’s a bar in the middle of Shoreditch with the added edge of having two ball pits.
Before or after frolicking around in the pits, you can enjoy their nostalgia-inducing cocktails and Neapolitan pizzas. They also do a bottomless brunch at the weekends.
Address: 97-113 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS
Phone: 020 3950 2424
Old Spitalfields Market
Old Spitalfields Market is a Victorian covered market that was built in the 1800’s. It's the original East London marketplace, now home to 44 retailers and restaurants, 88 market stalls and 25 street food traders. Thursdays host an antique market and there is also a bi-monthly vinyl market. In addition to the traders and stalls, there are nearly 70 events held here, from dance and yoga classes to art fairs to sustainable fashion events. It’s open 7 days a week, so if you’re living in Shoreditch, you could easily enjoy a few hours here with no need to travel.
Address: 16 Horner Square, E1 6EW
Phone: 020 7375 2963
Queen of Hoxton
The self-proclaimed hipster hangout, Queen of Hoxton, is the place to be seen come the weekend. The split level venue is a bar and club sprawling over 3 floors. Thursday to Saturday nights host top DJs from cutting edge labels.
If your party vibes run a little more on the chill side, you can lounge on the big sofas or have a game of pinball or table football in the games room. The venue also has a rooftop bar with incredible views over London. In the summer there’s a garden and BBQs. In the winter, the atmosphere gets a little cosier with lights strung up and fires to keep warm around.
Address: 1-5 Curtain Rd, Hackney, London EC2A 3JX
Phone: 020 7422 0958
The Book Club
The Book Club is the perfect place to eat, meet and drink if you’re living in Shoreditch. They have an eclectic all-day menu as well as an inspired cocktail list. During the week, there’s a packed calendar of poetry reading, themed events, story-telling and music as part of their ‘superculture’ programme. By night, the former Victorian warehouse ramps up the party vibes with weekend club nights featuring live DJs.
Address: 100 – 106 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RH
Phone: 020 7684 8618
Columbia Road Flower Market
Every Sunday, come rain or shine (and let’s face it, out of the two it’s usually rain), Columbia Road Flower Market is open for business between 8am and 3pm. There’s little chance of being unable to find it; just go against the tide of bouquet-clasping visitors leaving with their purchases. Located near Brick Lane and Spitalfields, it’s the perfect place to pick up houseplants, herbs, bulbs, shrubs and flowers to brighten up your abode.
Top tip: for a bargain, turn up between 2-3pm when the traders reduce their prices to get rid of remaining stock. When you’ve finished browsing and have found yourself the proud owner of a new houseplant, behind the stalls you’ll find 60 independent shops, including cute cafés, restaurants, delis and small galleries. Well worth braving the crowds for.
Address: Columbia Road, E2 7RG
Living in Shoreditch
Shoreditch is the very essence of urban-cool. If you’re considering living in Shoreditch, it’s plain to see it has something to offer everyone.
Our apartments at Dressage Court are just a short walk away. So if you want to be next to this vibrant creative scene then get in touch and we’ll see if we have an apartment for you.
