Shoreditch is a London district famous for being one of the most eclectic and active areas of the city. Both its bustling nightlife and the day-time cultural scene are considered some of the most prominent in the capital. The area is known in particular for its street art, music, fashion, and gastronomy.

In its early days, the neighbourhood used to be an extramural suburb of the London. As such, in the 16th century it became an important centre for Elizabethan Theatre, since the authorities of the time had banned the building of playhouses in the inner city.

Before the construction of the Globe Theatre in Southwark, The Theatre and the Curtain Theatre - both in Shoreditch - were the preferred hosting venues for Shakespeare’s plays. World-renowned plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Henry V were first performed here.

In the 20th-century, Shoreditch was mainly known as a working-class area. However, towards the end of the century, its association with the creative industries led to considerable gentrification. In the last ten years, the area has seen the rising interest of several web technology companies, who have decided to make the neighbourhood their base.

Now, onto why you should really visit Shoreditch. Simply put, it is one of the coolest areas in the city, with loud and colourful graffiti on almost every wall, enough cocktail clubs to go non-stop bar hopping for an entire week, tattoo parlours galore, and an incredible variety of food venues.

In other words, if you want to take a break from visiting museums, monuments, and gardens to breathe in a little bit of local life, Shoreditch is the place to go. We particularly recommend this East End gem to foodies and craft drinks aficionados - enter the aforementioned eclectic food scene and diversified nightlife.

Don’t expect as many Michelin-star restaurants as in the western part of the city (although there are some), but rather an assortment of curry houses, street food stalls, traditional ethnic restaurants, innovative but relaxed eateries, and comfort food diners.

Location

Shoreditch, between the London Borough of Hackney and Tower Hamlets, East London.

Transport

There a few different ways you can reach Shoreditch. The most popular is to go with the London Underground. Whether that be with the Tube’s Northern line (stop Old Street, in the northwestern edge of the neighbourhood) or with the London Overground (stop Shoreditch High Street, in the southern section), that’s up to you.

There are several bus routes that you can take to get to Shoreditch. The lines in question are 8, 21, 26, 35, 43, 47, 55, 76, 135, 141, 149, 205, 214, 242, and 388. Most of them have several stops along the largest roads, like Old Street, Great Eastern Street, or Worship Street.

Of course, you can take a cab, but if you’re coming from the western area of the city it’s much easier, faster, and cheaper to just catch the Tube. A taxi ride from Westminster to Shoreditch can take as long as 40 minutes.

Nearby sights

Spitalfields Market - 500 m (0.3 miles) southeast, 7-minutes walking.

City of London - 750 m (0.5 miles) south, 9-minutes walk.

Barbican - 800 m (0.5 miles) southwest, 10-minutes walking.

Whitechapel - 1.1 km (0.7 miles) southeast, 13-minutes walking.