Short Term Lets in Shoreditch, London:
Shoreditch
Once an industrial wasteland in the heart of the East End, Shoreditch was the hipster party hotspot through the late nineties and early noughties thanks to an influx of young (but financially insolvent) professionals, creatives and bar-workers. Enfant terrible of the art world Tracy Emin set up home here before it was the fashionable locale it is today, and still lives around the corner in Spitalfields. Some have declared the party in Shoreditch well and truly over due to rapid gentrification in the last decade – but we’re inclined to disagree. Still a hub of creative industry and artistry, Shoreditch has relaxed into a neighbourhood containing a more refined, grown-up kind of cool.
Find your short term let in Shoreditch here.
Restaurants
BRAT // bratrestaurant.com
This Basque-style restaurant is one of the best new restaurants in the city, winning a Michelin star just seven months after it opened. Consistently garnering rave reviews from restaurant critics and customers alike, it can be fairly difficult (but not impossible) to get a table.
GLORIA // bigmammagroup.com
Riotous, decadent, cheeky — these are all adjectives that spring to mind when describing this beautiful trattoria-style Italian eatery. A favourite with the media-types who float around Shoreditch, it can get a little busy at peak hours, so it’s always best to book ahead.
SMOKING GOAT // smokinggoatbar.com
An excellent venue for large groups, Smoking Goat offers feast bookings, high ceilings, expansive tables and delicious Thai-style barbeque.
Brick Lane & Beyond
BRICK LANE // visitbricklane.org
Home to an abundance of curry houses, a vintage market that sprawls like a rabbit warren and plenty of artwork weaved in between, the historic Brick Lane is the cultural melting pot of East London. The rich diversity of the people who have chosen to call it home has been its greatest blessing, from the Jewish and Irish inhabitants at the turn of the 20th century, to the growth of the Bangladeshi population in the 1970’s – in truth the area has provided a sanctuary to many displaced Londoners. The soul of Brick Lane is easy to see. Embrace it by enjoying a ‘bring your own booze’ curry (our pick is the Brick Lane Brasserie); leafing through vinyls in Brick Lane Market, all before heading to Dark Sugars for Ghanaian chocolate truffles which taste like no other.
STREET ART ON RIVINGTON STREET //
Located in the courtyard of hip London bar Cargo, Rivington Street is where you can view one of Banksy’s early satirical masterpieces in London, Guard Dog. It’s one of the only pieces not behind perspex glass in the city, allowing you to enjoy the work as it was intended to be. Just off Brick Lane and down a slightly menacing looking alley way is an abandoned car-park that has now become one of the most famous and frequently visited street-art galleries in London – Seven Stars Yard. With the walls a constantly changing canvas, there’s a new piece to admire almost every day.
BEIGLE BAKE // facebook.com/beigelbake
When a popular spot is described as an ‘institution’ it’s usually a bit of an exaggeration – but not in this case. This East London 24-hour bagel spot has been keeping both late night party people and hungry young professionals fed since 1974. A traditional jewish bakery, its salt beef bagel is one of the best you’re likely to have in London, as is the trusty salmon and cream cheese.
COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET // columbiaroad.info
Certainly London’s most beautiful market, Columbia road offers a bloom of every shade and variety. Whether you simply want to enjoy the market as a visual feast or you’re after the perfect potted plant, the market’s lively atmosphere makes it a must-visit destination during your time in the city. If you’re a bit of a thrifter arrive towards the end of the market (around 2-3pm) and friendly stall keepers might oblige you with some winning deals.