Top things to do in Shoreditch, London
Updated: February 2026 with fresh info on Shoreditch bars, restaurants and activities.
Somehow, we missed visiting the lively Shoreditch section of London on previous trips. This time, we visited Shoreditch just hours after landing at Heathrow, and fortunately, it was a Sunday, so the markets were in full swing.
Despite battling jet lag, there is so much going on in Shoreditch, Debbie and I kept exploring for hours.
Shoreditch is famous for street art and Brick Lane is the center of Shoreditch’s art scene. All photos by John O’Boyle/The Empty Nest Explorers
History of Shoreditch
Shoreditch is centered around St Leonard's church. The current building dates from around 1740, but like everything in London, its history reaches back much further, with a Roman military settlement dating from 46 BC.
In the 16th century, the area was known for London’s first theater.
Key moments in the Jack the Ripper case took place in Shoreditch in the 1880s, and the area suffered heavy losses during World War 2’s aerial bombing.
In the 1990s, Shoreditch transformed from a declining industrial area to the home of artists and creatives looking for cheap rents. The area is now known as a haven for markets, street art, nightlife, and general funkiness.
Visiting Shoreditch - Quick Tips:
Best Time to Visit: Sundays for markets; Tuesday–Thursday for shorter restaurant queues. We visited recently on a Sunday and the area was thriving but the restaurants were packed.
Getting There: Take the Overground to Shoreditch High Street or the Tube to Old Street.
Budget Tip: Most vendors are now 100% contactless, but keep £10 in cash for the traditional Brick Lane bakeries.
The landscaping around St Leonard's church was a bit rough so we were surprised to find an active service going on inside.
Some favorite Shoreditch activities and meals:
| Activity / Item | Estimated 2026 Cost | Type | Expert Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brick Lane Beigel (Salt Beef) | £6.50 - £7.50 | EAT | Go to 'Beigel Bake' (the white sign). Cash is still king here! |
| Street Art Walking Tour | £15 - £25 | TOUR | Look for 'pay-what-you-can' tours starting at Old St station. |
| Dishoom Bacon Naan Roll | £9.50 | EAT | A legendary morning staple. Expect a 20-min wait even on weekdays. |
| Columbia Road Flower Market | Free to Browse | VISIT | Sundays only. Go at 8 AM for the best blooms, or 2 PM for the best deals. |
| Legado (Spanish Small Plates) | £35 - £60 | EAT | New for 2026. Try the suckling pig; it recently earned its first Michelin star. |
| Ballie Ballerson Ball Pit | £10 - £25 | PLAY | Book a "Glow" slot for the best photos in the neon ball pits. |
| Manteca (Nose-to-Tail Italian) | £40 - £70 | EAT | The hand-rolled pasta is elite. Their weekday lunch menu is a great value. |
| Rough Trade East Vinyl Digging | Free to Browse | SHOP | Check their website for lunchtime in-store gigs and album signings. |
| Spitalfields Market Shopping | Free to Browse | SHOP | Visit on Thursday for the Antiques & Vintage market. |
| Boxpark Street Food Meal | £12 - £18 | EAT | Great for groups; everyone can pick a different global cuisine. |
*Prices verified for February 2026. Note: Most Shoreditch vendors now prefer Contactless, but small bakeries on Brick Lane still appreciate cash.
What to do in Shoreditch
Columbia Road Flower Market:
Visiting the Columbia Road Flower Market with a few thousand friends.
Every Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm, Columbia Road fills with stalls selling flowers and plants.
Not only is the market packed with visitors, but you can also see many locals carrying giant plants back to their flats.
Arrive early for fewer crowds, but visit later in the day if you are looking for a bargain.
There are many places to eat or grab a drink, both on Columbia Road and on neighboring streets.
While many have a funky vibe, Oyster Boy Events is perhaps the most unusual. It’s literally a hole in the wall for oysters surrounded by colorful graffiti.
Brick Lane Market
Brick Lane is the center of Shoreditch’s “funkiness”.
Shoreditch’s Brick Lane Market is really a series of smaller markets, it is actually a collection of five distinct specialized markets. Like most other things in Shoreditch the number of vendors peaks on Sundays.
There is literally something for everyone at the market. If you are visiting on the weekend, you could spend most of the day on Brick Lane.
Also, the area is the center of Shoreditch’s street art.
Details on the Brick Lane Markets:
| Market Name | Best For... | Days Open | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upmarket | Global Street Food | 7 Days a Week | LOCATION: The massive food hall at 83 Brick Lane. Great for rainy days! |
| Vintage Market | 1920s–90s Fashion | 7 Days a Week | LOCATION: Underground (F-Block). Look for the stairs near the brewery entrance. |
| Backyard Market | Young Designers & Art | Sat & Sun | LOCATION: Follow the path past the food trucks to the "U-Block." Best for unique gifts. |
| The Tea Rooms | Antiques & Bric-a-Brac | Sat & Sun | LOCATION: Tucked away at 146 Brick Lane; feels like an upscale, curated flea market. |
| Sunday Market | The "Flea" Experience | Sundays Only | LOCATION: The main street. Go early to see the chaotic, traditional East End energy. |
*Market schedules verified for February 2026. Note: While Upmarket is open daily, the widest variety of food vendors still appears on weekends.
Street artists perform on Brick Lane.
Pro tips: Visiting Brick Lane
The "Sunday Double-Header": If you are an early riser you can start at Columbia Road Flower Market which opens at 8:00 AM, then walk 10 minutes to Brick Lane just as the food stalls start opening around 11:00 AM. Arriving early will help you beat the crowds. On our most recent visit Debbie and I arrived mid afternoon and the whole Shoreditch area was packed.
The Monday–Friday Hack: In 2026, the Upmarket Food Hall and the Vintage Market are now open daily. If your readers hate crowds, tell them to visit on a Tuesday. They’ll get the same food and clothes without the shoulder-to-shoulder Sunday chaos.
Street Art Alleyways: Don't just stay on Brick Lane. The best murals are hidden on Hanbury Street and Fashion Street.
Bagel Strategy: If the line at Beigel Bake is too long, the "yellow shop" (Beigel Shop) next door is often just as good and much faster.
Old Spitalfields Market
Under a huge Victorian roof, this lively marketplace houses unique shops and all sorts of restaurants and food stalls.
It was originally a fruit and vegetable market in the 1600s. Today, it’s a permanent, covered market that stays open rain or shine, so it’s one of the most reliable stops in East London.
While the hours of the restaurants and free-standing stores vary, the market is open seven days a week, but closes at 6 pm (5 pm on Sunday).
Broadway Market
While technically in neighboring Hackney, not Shoreditch, we started our day at Broadway Market. The market is further from central London, so we began there and walked through Shoreditch and back to our hotel in Central London.
There is a wide variety of stores along the street, and on Saturday and Sunday, it’s closed to traffic, and over 70 stalls appear to sell a bit of everything.
The Broadway Market is definitely more laid back than the other huge markets in Shoreditch.
Regents Canal
The colorful boats along Regents Canal.
If you visit Broadway Market, you’ll cross over the Regents Canal on your way to Shoreditch.
Regent’s Canal cuts 8 miles through London and offers a unique passage for walking, biking, or even taking a ride on a narrowboat.
On this day, we just stopped to take a few photos since we had a lot to see in Shoreditch, but it is absolutely worth spending some time exploring Regents Canal.
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. If we recommend a product, activity, or hotel, we might receive a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
Shoreditch Street Art
If Shoreditch didn’t have enough unique attractions, the street art is perhaps its most famous aspect.
You can see works by famous street artists like ROA and Banksy.
By its nature, street art is always changing, but the Brick Lane area is the center of Shoreditch’s street art. Other notable areas are Club Row, Bateman’s Row, Fashion Street, Bacon Street, King John Court, New Inn Yard, Great Eastern Street, and Rivington Street.
Numerous street art walking tours will give you entertaining insights into Shoreditch’s street art scene.
There is no shortage of art and artists in Shoreditch.
Shoreditch Nightlife
Last year, our son, who is in his early 20s, visited London and chose to stay in Shoreditch because of its vibrant nightlife.
As you might imagine, Shoreditch offers everything from swanky bars to clubs where you can dance until dawn.
One of the most notable venues is the Village Underground, housed in a renovated turn-of-the-century warehouse.
Other top venues include XOYO, The Blues Kitchen, Nightjar, Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen.
If you are looking for something a bit more relaxed, All-Star Lanes Shoreditch is a retro-themed bowling alley with karaoke, games, shuffleboard, and, of course, food and drinks.
Secret Bars of Shoreditch
Shoreditch offers a many hidden speakeasies and secret bars known for bespoke cocktails and unique atmosphere. Many have unassuming entrances or are tucked behind other businesses. Below are a few of the top raked secret bars.
Top Shoreditch Hidden Bars
Nightjar (Old Street): A top rated, dimly lit speakeasy featuring live jazz/swing bands, prohibition-era cocktails, and frequently ranked among the best bars in the world.
Looking Glass Cocktail Club: Located on Hackney Road, this venue features a secret, Alice in Wonderland-themed, and often requires visitors to find a hidden door to enter a separate, more exclusive, lounge.
Found: Tucked away beneath Casita on Ravey Street, this is a tiny, intimate basement venue specializing in highly crafted, inventive cocktails.
Lounge Bohemia: Located on Great Eastern Street, this is a very small, hidden cocktail bar that requires a reservation and provides a retro, 1960s Eastern European vibe.
Waltz Bar London: An unassuming, intimate spot tucked away for Japanese-inspired drinks.
The Bootlegger: A prohibition-themed bar that feels hidden away from the main drag.
Unnamed Hidden Wine Bar: Tucked down a small alley in the heart of Shoreditch, this spot features a small, cozy, hidden garden area
Vintage clothing shops in Shoreditch
Shoreditch is often considered the epicenter of London’s vintage fashion scene.
It offering an extensive mix of high-end designer clothes, and affordable retro finds. There are countless specialized boutiques, warehouse-sized shops, and market stalls.
Below are a few vintage clothing favorites:
| Vintage Shop | Estimated 2026 Cost | Type | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atika | £20 - £150 | VINTAGE | Don't miss the basement level; it's often quieter and has a massive selection of reworked denim. |
| Brick Lane Vintage Market | £10 - £80 | VINTAGE | Go on a weekday afternoon to avoid the weekend crowds—you'll have better luck haggling with stall owners. |
| Beyond Retro | £15 - £100 | VINTAGE | Check the "Last Chance" rails near the back for deep discounts on high-quality flannel and coats. |
| Nordic Poetry | £80 - £400+ | VINTAGE | The best spot for authenticated 90s designer pieces. Follow their Instagram for "drop" alerts. |
| Hunky Dory Vintage | £30 - £120 | VINTAGE | Perfect for a more curated, "old world" aesthetic. The collection of vintage hats here is unmatched. |
| House of Vintage | £40 - £200 | VINTAGE | Specializes in 1920s through 1970s menswear and womenswear. Excellent for finding rare band tees. |
| Paper Dress Vintage | £30 - £100 | VINTAGE | It’s a shop by day and a bar/venue by night. Grab a coffee while you browse their 80s party wear. |
*Prices verified for February 2026. Note: While most shops are card-only, the stalls inside the Brick Lane Vintage Market often give better deals for cash.
Getting to Shoreditch
Tube (London Underground):
Liverpool Street Station (serving the Central, Elizabeth, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan lines, and the London Overground ) is about a 10-minute walk away.
Old Street Station (Northern Line) is an 8-minute walk,
Buses :
The bus is an excellent way to get around London, and many bus lines serve Shoreditch.
Both the tube and the buses allow you to tap your credit card to pay for your journey.
NOTE - The London Underground tube trains generally do not run 24 hours a day.
After midnight, certain night bus lines still run, and on weekends, select tube lines operate 24 hours.
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Hotels - Booking.com. Lots of search options and information. Link
Activities - Get Your Guide. We love food tours and historical guides from Get Your Guide. Link
Airfare - FareDrop. Custom notifications of airfare sales. Link
Phone connection - Airalo. E-Sim for your phone, it’s easy and available for every country. Link
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. If we recommend a product, activity, or hotel, we might receive a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
Staying in Shoreditch
Hotels in Shoreditch tend to be a bit cheaper than other areas of London.
Hip and edgy hotels - The Hoxton Shoreditch, The Z Hotel, citizenM London Shoreditch
Upscale and posh - Montcalm East, The Boundary, One Hundred Shoreditch.
Shoreditch offers so much, and it’s so close to central London that it’s absolutely worth at least a half day to explore the neighborhood.
If you can plan your visit for a Sunday, you’ll get the full experience of the area markets in full swing.
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