Old Street, Shoreditch and The City - A personal guide
Food Scene
There are hundreds of eateries from almost every cuisine in the world easily accessible from or in this neighbourhood. I can’t possibly give you a comprehensive overview but these are a few I like. I don’t ‘endorse’ any but I have eaten in most of them and I haven’t included anywhere I’ve been disappointed.
Independent Coffee shop that roasts its own coffee. Great place for lunch or breakfast too
103 locals recommend
Ozone Coffee Roasters
11 Leonard StIndependent Coffee shop that roasts its own coffee. Great place for lunch or breakfast too
Great Indian cuisine at heart of London's curry scene. Reasonable prices too! Halal option too for those that keep halal.
10 locals recommend
Aladin Indian Restaurant
132 Brick LnGreat Indian cuisine at heart of London's curry scene. Reasonable prices too! Halal option too for those that keep halal.
Dark Sugars
141 Brick LnDelicious chocolate truffles to buy!
Fika
161 Brick LaneTrendy Scandinavian restaurant on the even more trendy Brick Lane!
Delicious and very reasonable Afghan food. Not a huge restaurant so don't bring a huge group!
73 locals recommend
Afghan Kitchen
35 Islington GrnDelicious and very reasonable Afghan food. Not a huge restaurant so don't bring a huge group!
Delicious Ice Cream parlour! The sundaes are particularly nice
25 locals recommend
Udderlicious Ice Cream
187 Upper StDelicious Ice Cream parlour! The sundaes are particularly nice
Belle Epoque Patisserie
37 Newington GrnDelicious French Patisserie on Upper Street.
Great budget option. All you can eat vegetarian Indian food for very reasonable price. Right along historic Chapel Market.
17 locals recommend
Indian Veg
92-93 Chapel MarketGreat budget option. All you can eat vegetarian Indian food for very reasonable price. Right along historic Chapel Market.
Great Vietnamese restaurant on the Vietnamese Mile. Lots of very traditional and very reasonably priced restaurants along the Kingsland Road!
Nieu
134 A Kingsland RdGreat Vietnamese restaurant on the Vietnamese Mile. Lots of very traditional and very reasonably priced restaurants along the Kingsland Road!
The Breakfast Club
1 Crossrail PlGreat (and very popular!) option for breakfast
The Salad Kitchen
126 Whitecross StreetOrder online and avoid the queue
The Iskelé
179-181 Whitecross StI eat here a lot!
Cay Tre Hoxton Shoreditch
301 Old StTry the home made lemonade
Serata Hall
207 Old StreetPadron Peppers.
This is not just Indian food, it is an experience and one well worth having. Oddly I haven’t been to the Shoreditch one but I have been to Canary Wharf and Edinburgh. Don’t over order. It’s easy to do and certainly make a point of not eating much before you go. No reservations so if you want to eat at conventional times you’ll wait. Not in a queue but in a bar. I like to go between 3 and 5pm for either a late lunch or early tea. Easy to rack up the bill but if you’re careful and order sensibly you can eat well on a budget.
475 locals recommend
Dishoom Shoreditch
7 Boundary StThis is not just Indian food, it is an experience and one well worth having. Oddly I haven’t been to the Shoreditch one but I have been to Canary Wharf and Edinburgh. Don’t over order. It’s easy to do and certainly make a point of not eating much before you go. No reservations so if you want to eat at conventional times you’ll wait. Not in a queue but in a bar. I like to go between 3 and 5pm for either a late lunch or early tea. Easy to rack up the bill but if you’re careful and order sensibly you can eat well on a budget.
Good independent coffee shop next door. Good imaginative breakfasts and brunch too.
134 locals recommend
Shoreditch Grind
213 Old StGood independent coffee shop next door. Good imaginative breakfasts and brunch too.
London Old Street Chinese was only founded in 2010 and is already one of the most famous Sichuan styled restaurants in Central London. It’s the real deal with people travelling here from Chinatown to eat it wonderfully authentic food.
The Old Street Chinese Restaurant
184-186 Old StLondon Old Street Chinese was only founded in 2010 and is already one of the most famous Sichuan styled restaurants in Central London. It’s the real deal with people travelling here from Chinatown to eat it wonderfully authentic food.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Fox
39 Church StLovely classic looking pub with lovely wooden interior
Bar Kick
127 Shoreditch High StGreat bar with lots of Fussball tables. Also does great tapas!
The Book Club
100-106 Leonard StPopular local bar with ping pong!
Lovely communal garden with bar. Often has live music. Real hidden gem!
178 locals recommend
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston LnLovely communal garden with bar. Often has live music. Real hidden gem!
Nightjar
129 City RdOld Fountain
3 Baldwin StMy favourite local pub
The Truman Brewery
91 Brick LnFantastic Sunday food market.
Parks & Nature
Iconic green space with panoramic views of all London from Parliament Hill. Great for walks
1215 locals recommend
Hampstead Heath
Iconic green space with panoramic views of all London from Parliament Hill. Great for walks
Pretty Hackney neighbourhood park off the beaten track. Next to lots of lovely neighbourhood shops in Stoke Newington
505 locals recommend
Clissold Park
Green LanesPretty Hackney neighbourhood park off the beaten track. Next to lots of lovely neighbourhood shops in Stoke Newington
Spitalfields City Farm
Buxton StreetHackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths RowOwned and managed by the Corporation of London, Bunhill Fields is an oasis of calm and tranquility. Established by the Methodists it was the first authorised non-conformist consecrated burial ground in Britain. Here are the graves of William Blake, author, poet, mystic whose most famous work (no doubt to his eternal irritation) are the words often sung to the tune Jerusalem - 'And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green',.
Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe is here and so is John Bunyan, who wrote Pilgrim's Progress.
Not everyone here is dead by any means. People come, often myself included, and sit awhile, observe the beauty of nature and the folly of man, have a sandwich, perhaps a cup of tea., before returning refreshed and revitalised to the other world. The one outside the iron railings.
Bunhill Fields Burial Ground
Owned and managed by the Corporation of London, Bunhill Fields is an oasis of calm and tranquility. Established by the Methodists it was the first authorised non-conformist consecrated burial ground in Britain. Here are the graves of William Blake, author, poet, mystic whose most famous work (no doubt to his eternal irritation) are the words often sung to the tune Jerusalem - 'And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green',.
Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe is here and so is John Bunyan, who wrote Pilgrim's Progress.
Not everyone here is dead by any means. People come, often myself included, and sit awhile, observe the beauty of nature and the folly of man, have a sandwich, perhaps a cup of tea., before returning refreshed and revitalised to the other world. The one outside the iron railings.
Arts & Culture
Compact little museum full of interesting modern pieces. Great to visit as part of an afternoon exploring Brick Lane
589 locals recommend
Whitechapel Gallery
77-82 Whitechapel High StCompact little museum full of interesting modern pieces. Great to visit as part of an afternoon exploring Brick Lane
Museum exploring the home from 1600 to today. In grand house and full of interesting things!
326 locals recommend
Museum of the Home
136 Kingsland RoadMuseum exploring the home from 1600 to today. In grand house and full of interesting things!
Barbican Centre
Silk StreetGreat modern brutalist building full of cultural things to do
LSO St Luke's is a music venue owned by the London Symphony Orchestra, located on Old Street. Buzzing with activity, there is a regular programme of concerts, events and creative sessions.
15 locals recommend
LSO St. Luke's
161 Old StLSO St Luke's is a music venue owned by the London Symphony Orchestra, located on Old Street. Buzzing with activity, there is a regular programme of concerts, events and creative sessions.
Wesley's Chapel & Museum of Methodism
49 City RdThe finest Victorian brass urinals in London
There are six or seven works by globally renowned street artist Banksy within a ten or fifteen minute walk of the flat. For a full list and map got to the Londonist website and search for Banksy.
Sundial Court
There are six or seven works by globally renowned street artist Banksy within a ten or fifteen minute walk of the flat. For a full list and map got to the Londonist website and search for Banksy.
I strongly recommend reading up first and then going on one of the silent, unguided tous on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.,
79 locals recommend
Dennis Severs' House
18 Folgate StI strongly recommend reading up first and then going on one of the silent, unguided tous on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.,
The Charterhouse
Charterhouse SquareA wonderful calm oasis in the heart of the city.
Bank of England Museum
Bartholomew LaneShopping
Independent music shop full of CDs and Vinyl. Often does live performances.
46 locals recommend
Rough Trade East
Brick LaneIndependent music shop full of CDs and Vinyl. Often does live performances.
Nearby market surrounded by lots of nice shops and cafes. Good selection of food stalls. Nice place to spend an afternoon!
219 locals recommend
Exmouth Market
Exmouth MarketNearby market surrounded by lots of nice shops and cafes. Good selection of food stalls. Nice place to spend an afternoon!
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadLong running local market!
Great trendy space to pick up all kinds of things. Trendy clothes, little knick knacks and art. Lots of food stalls too. Great place to spend an afternoon.
825 locals recommend
Brick Lane Sunday Market
Brick LaneGreat trendy space to pick up all kinds of things. Trendy clothes, little knick knacks and art. Lots of food stalls too. Great place to spend an afternoon.
Atika
59 Hanbury StGreat vintage clothes shop next to trendy Brick Lane
Whitecross Street
Whitecross StreetALDI
Cheapest supermarket in the neighbourhood.
Essentials
Gymbox Old Street
201A Old StLocal Gym a stone throw away
Apex Pharmacy
199 Old StNearest local pharmacy
The Co-operative Food
185 Old StConvenient medium sized local store for groceries
Sainsbury's
2 Tulse HillOne stop away on tube is a good place to do a big shop
Waitrose & Partners Barbican
Whitecross Street
Whittington Hosiptal Emergency Room
18 Magdala AvenueDial 999 in an Emergency or 111 for medical advice
Grown by nature
283 City RoadOrganic Food Store
Entertainment & Activities
Local Ping Pong hall. Great place to book for a fun evening. Table service of food and drink
28 locals recommend
Bounce Farringdon
121 HolbornLocal Ping Pong hall. Great place to book for a fun evening. Table service of food and drink
Old Street Records
350 -354 Old StIronmonger Row Baths
1 Norman StreetPublic facility with a 30-meter swimming pool, a gym & a spa with steam rooms & saunas.
17 locals recommend
Ironmonger Row Baths
1 Norman StreetPublic facility with a 30-meter swimming pool, a gym & a spa with steam rooms & saunas.
Finsbury Leisure Centre is situated in the South of the London Borough of Islington and just a short walk from Old Street station. It is a home for many sports clubs and classes. With 4 outdoor football pitches, 4 squash courts, a 6-court multi-sports hall, plus fitness class studios and activity rooms.
Finsbury Leisure Centre
Norman StreetFinsbury Leisure Centre is situated in the South of the London Borough of Islington and just a short walk from Old Street station. It is a home for many sports clubs and classes. With 4 outdoor football pitches, 4 squash courts, a 6-court multi-sports hall, plus fitness class studios and activity rooms.