Ten reasons why East London (the “East End”) is so cool and why you need to visit on your next trip to London
Hackney
Travel blogs, travel photos and features from Hackney, in East London
If you’re looking to save some £££ while in London, stick to the free museums in the city center. And in East London, some of the best art is on the street. Try a Shoreditch street art tour to find the best curated collection ;)
Hackney Travel Guide
The ultimate guide to the best things to do and see in Hackney
As one of the most diverse boroughs of London, Hackney is a rich cultural mix of different styles of cuisine, shopping opportunities, history and cool cultural venues. All in all, it offers some of the best things about East London. Start here with my basic Hackney travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Hackney travel blogs.
When to Visit
Summer is easily the best time to experience Hackney and the rest of London, but there are so many cool indoor things to see and do there that any time of year is a good time to visit! Rain is more or less always expected in London, and often you will have some fog, but be ready for cold temperatures during the winter times.
Top Things To Do
Take a street art tour – I highly recommend taking a street art tour because, even if you might spot some of the works on your own, you’ll learn so much more about East London’s recent history and the commitment to public issues many of these artists strive to achieve. I took a walking tour with Street Art London (every day, 2-4 hours, £12-15) which I really enjoyed despite the large group size.
Visit the Columbia Road flower market – Has there ever been such a pretty street market before? I don’t think so. The Columbia Road Flower Market each Sunday transforms the quiet, peaceful street into a cacophony of flower-sellers, scents and street buskers.
Explore Shoreditch – This cool neighborhood is the most downtown part of Hackney and is home to many new trends, styles and tastes that are popular with millennials.
Hackney Tours
Although it’s a relatively small neighborhood, taking a tour around Hackney will save you time and get you in to some areas you might otherwise overlook, so it’s definitely worth you time to consider one. Take a look at this selection of Hackney tours.
LGBTQ – Gay Hackney Travel Guide
Much less mainstream than the gay scene in central London, Hackney has a reputation for more edgy, alternative parties. These are a few of the best things you should know about visiting gay Hackney.
The Glory – One of those quintessentially British pubs where the atmosphere is jovial and friendly. But it just happens to be very, very gay! The Glory is a mix-match of colors and strange decorations, and every Wednesday hosts the super fun Lipsync 1000 where local drag queens compete for a grand prize.
Dalston Superstore – One of the biggest gay clubs in East London, this place is famous for its wild nights. Located on Kingsland Road, it attracts both local and well-known DJs for parties pretty much every night of the week and before it gets too late in the evening, you can order comfort food there too.
Savage – Spread over three floors of chaotic, beautiful and decadent partying, this club and strip club serves up disco, pop and house beats late into the night. It’s a pretty mixed crowd, but leans quite heavily towards the queer end of the spectrum.
More gay travel resources here.
Hackney Hotel Deals
Hackney has plenty of cool and quirky hotels, as well as all the big chains you’d expect. It’s worth booking in advance if you can but I’ve found that using Booking.com, Agoda.com or Hotels Combined can be really useful for finding last-minute deals.
Follow @travelsofadam on Instagram for more travel tips!
Hackney (London) Travel Blogs
London sightseeing tips for Shoreditch and elsewhere throughout East London – where to go and what to see, including the super-cool #skateseeing video
Drag queens are battling it out in an East London bar for £1000 cash at East London’s most fun and quirky gay bar, The Glory.