Guidebook for London
Drinks & Nightlife
Great for coffee in the day and cocktails in the evening. V sunny in the window at about 2pm-ish.
28 locals recommend
Three Sheets
510b Kingsland RdGreat for coffee in the day and cocktails in the evening. V sunny in the window at about 2pm-ish.
The Scolt Head
107A Culford RdBirthdays
33-35 Stoke Newington RoadRuby's
76 Stoke Newington RdHigh Water London
23 Stoke Newington RdFontaine's Bar
176 Stoke Newington RdLittle Nan's Rio Bar
107 Kingsland High StreetBardens Boudoir
36 Stoke Newington RdThe Dalston Jazz Bar
4 Bradbury StVortex
11 Gillett Square
The Shacklewell Arms
71 Shacklewell Ln
Bounce Old Street
241 Old St Ping pong and drinks and food.
Draughts - Hackney
41 Kingsland High StreetParks & Nature
Picnics, walking, drinks on sunny evening - perfect. There are lovely children's park and a great little cafe next to the lake too. Walk there along the canal.
1666 locals recommend
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadPicnics, walking, drinks on sunny evening - perfect. There are lovely children's park and a great little cafe next to the lake too. Walk there along the canal.
Regent's Canal
Hackney Marshes Centre
Homerton Road
Hampstead Heath
Hackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths RowArts & Culture
Rio Cinema
107 Kingsland High StreetArcola Bar
24 Ashwin St
Whitechapel Gallery
77-82 Whitechapel High St
Sutton House
2-4 Homerton High StFlowers Gallery
21 Cork StAlmeida Theatre
Almeida StreetIn a small white box tucked behind a buzzer in trendy Hoxton is Carl Freedman. The Gallery represents 11 international artists and, in a capacity of writer/curator, founder Freedman once worked with Damien Hirst to establish the Brit Art phenomenon.
Admission free. Open 12pm-6pm Wednesday to Saturday. See website for current exhibition.
Carl Freedman Gallery
In a small white box tucked behind a buzzer in trendy Hoxton is Carl Freedman. The Gallery represents 11 international artists and, in a capacity of writer/curator, founder Freedman once worked with Damien Hirst to establish the Brit Art phenomenon.
Admission free. Open 12pm-6pm Wednesday to Saturday. See website for current exhibition.
Geffrye Museum (Stop WB) station
With non-commercial shows in inauspicious premises, Matt's gallery is something like the soul of East End art. It represents such names as Mike Nelson, Willie Doherty, Lindsay Seers and Susan Hiller. Plus the founder's dog, which answers to Matt E. Mulsion.
Admission free. Open 12pm-6pm Wednesday to Sunday during exhibitions. See website for current exhibition.
8 locals recommend
Matts Gallery
6 Charles Clowes WalkWith non-commercial shows in inauspicious premises, Matt's gallery is something like the soul of East End art. It represents such names as Mike Nelson, Willie Doherty, Lindsay Seers and Susan Hiller. Plus the founder's dog, which answers to Matt E. Mulsion.
Admission free. Open 12pm-6pm Wednesday to Sunday during exhibitions. See website for current exhibition.
Not too far from Hoxton is another major London space. The Barbican Art Gallery mixes art with the best in international architecture, design and photography. Successful shows often leave East London bound for all four corners of the world on tour.
Admission fee varies. Open 11am-8pm daily (Tuesday/Wednesday to 6pm/Thursday to 10pm). See website for current exhibition.
509 locals recommend
Barbican Centre
Silk StreetNot too far from Hoxton is another major London space. The Barbican Art Gallery mixes art with the best in international architecture, design and photography. Successful shows often leave East London bound for all four corners of the world on tour.
Admission fee varies. Open 11am-8pm daily (Tuesday/Wednesday to 6pm/Thursday to 10pm). See website for current exhibition.
The black shell of a former factory opens up to reveal 560m² of white walled space over two floors. Wilkinson was the first purpose built gallery in the thriving E2 postcode and it now represents 31 artists.
Admission free. Open 11am-6pm Wednesday to Saturday (Sunday from 12pm). See website for current exhibitions.
6 locals recommend
Wilkinson Gallery
Vyner Street
The black shell of a former factory opens up to reveal 560m² of white walled space over two floors. Wilkinson was the first purpose built gallery in the thriving E2 postcode and it now represents 31 artists.
Admission free. Open 11am-6pm Wednesday to Saturday (Sunday from 12pm). See website for current exhibitions.
Seventeen is the last bastion of Shoreditch art before the long trudge up Hackney Road to Vyner Street. A low key space with a shopfront and a basement, you can expect to find work here by the likes of David Blandy and Susan Collis. 10 artists in total are represented, most of whom keep busy on the international scene.
Admission free. Open 11am-6pm Wednesday to Saturday. See website for current exhibition.
Seventeen
270-276 Acton MewsSeventeen is the last bastion of Shoreditch art before the long trudge up Hackney Road to Vyner Street. A low key space with a shopfront and a basement, you can expect to find work here by the likes of David Blandy and Susan Collis. 10 artists in total are represented, most of whom keep busy on the international scene.
Admission free. Open 11am-6pm Wednesday to Saturday. See website for current exhibition.
Food Scene
Theres a fabric shop tucked behind some stalls but this market isn't only about shopping. Great people watching opportunities. Theres a bar/ nightclub here at the weekends too.
Dalston Mill Fabrics London
69-73 Ridley Rd Theres a fabric shop tucked behind some stalls but this market isn't only about shopping. Great people watching opportunities. Theres a bar/ nightclub here at the weekends too.
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketSaturdays at Broadway market are a lot of fun.
Tina, We Salute You. N1
47 King Henry's Walk
E5 Bakehouse
396 Mentmore TerraceAmazing traditional Turkish food. Contemporary artists Gilbert and George come here for lunch EVERY DAY
150 locals recommend
Mangal 1
10 Arcola StAmazing traditional Turkish food. Contemporary artists Gilbert and George come here for lunch EVERY DAY
A Little Of What You Fancy
464 Kingsland RoadTowpath Café
42 De Beauvoir CresMouse & De Lotz
103 Shacklewell LnHang out with freelance graphic designers here. In the evenings they stage weird conceptual art bands.
203 locals recommend
Cafe OTO
18-22 Ashwin Street Hang out with freelance graphic designers here. In the evenings they stage weird conceptual art bands.
Up-lit fake waterfall, belly dancer at the weekends and the whole place is gold. Quite cheap too.
26 locals recommend
Stone Cave Dalston
111 Kingsland High StUp-lit fake waterfall, belly dancer at the weekends and the whole place is gold. Quite cheap too.
Little Georgia Islington
14 Barnsbury Rd Lovely for lunch. Often full.
Poco
129A Pritchard's RdPidgin
52 Wilton WayThe Duke of Cambridge
30 Saint Peter's StreetLike a Parisian restaurant. Oyster happy hour 6-7pm.
Tonkotsu East
1a Dunston St Ramen feast in beautiful setting
Brunch, lunch and dinner. Restaurant designed by eccentric theatre company Punchdrunk.
13 locals recommend
Maeve's Kitchen
181 Lower Clapton RoadBrunch, lunch and dinner. Restaurant designed by eccentric theatre company Punchdrunk.
Entertainment & Activities
London Fields
London Fields West SideThe flower market at Columbia Road on Sundays is brilliant, and the cafes, pubs and shops are fun too.
Time Out says: A weekend institution in east London, the Sunday flower market that lines Columbia Road is the hippest and one of the best places to buy flowers, bedding plants and even a banana tree if you’ve got the patio space at home. It goes on until 3pm in all weathers, but for the best buys you need to get there for 8am.
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadThe flower market at Columbia Road on Sundays is brilliant, and the cafes, pubs and shops are fun too.
Time Out says: A weekend institution in east London, the Sunday flower market that lines Columbia Road is the hippest and one of the best places to buy flowers, bedding plants and even a banana tree if you’ve got the patio space at home. It goes on until 3pm in all weathers, but for the best buys you need to get there for 8am.
Hackney Downs Studios
17 Amhurst TerraceFrom Time Out: A great way to see upcoming talents, Comic Mondays is held in the bar at Theatre Royal Stratford East and is London’s longest running free comedy night. Sessions start at 8pm, with a full bill of stand-ups on a mission to make you smile. And if one of the comics doesn’t tickle your funny bone, you’ll still have cash in your pocket to buy a drink.
37 locals recommend
Theatre Royal Stratford East
Theatre SquareFrom Time Out: A great way to see upcoming talents, Comic Mondays is held in the bar at Theatre Royal Stratford East and is London’s longest running free comedy night. Sessions start at 8pm, with a full bill of stand-ups on a mission to make you smile. And if one of the comics doesn’t tickle your funny bone, you’ll still have cash in your pocket to buy a drink.
Essentials
Tesco Express
179 Shoreditch High StKingsland Pharmacy
406 Kingsland RdHomerton Hospital (Stop F) station
Sightseeing
Brick Lane
Brick Lane