All About Shoreditch: How it came to be, and Interesting Things to Do

Perched between Bethnal Green and Clerkenwell, Shoreditch is a vibrant district in East London, just north of the Liverpool Street Station. It has been an entertainment hub for the London Borough of Hackney for a long time, and has a wealth of fine to casual dining options, hip bars, cool tattoo parlours and art galleries to modern retail shopping centres. Check out even more of what Shoreditch has to offer below:

A Blast in Time: How Shoreditch Came to Be

Some people believe Shoreditch got its name from Sir John de Soerdich, a lawyer, statesman and manor lord during Edward IIIs reign, while others argue it’s named after Jane Shore, a mistress to Edward IV, who is said to have been buried in a ditch. Whichever camp you fall in, the fact is Shoreditch has a remarkable history.

The area began as home to the Augustinian nunnery, one of the wealthiest nunneries in the country during the 12^th century. It then transitioned into an entertainment centre after the Elizabethan playhouse was set up on the former grounds of the nunnery in 1576. The second theatre was built about 200m shortly after the first one, conversely earning Shoreditch the nickname London’s first theatreland.

In the 17^th and 18^th centuries, affluent merchants and silk weavers moved to Shoreditch, turning it into a prosperous textile centre. By the 19^th century, it was also one of the most popular districts for its furniture industry. However, these industries declined before long, giving way to Shoreditch as an entertainment hub.

By the 20^th century, it had the highest number of theatres and music halls in East London, including big names like the National Standard Theatre, the London Music Hall, and the Royal Cambridge Music Hall. Although none of these exists today, Shoreditch remains one of the most vibrant districts in the London Borough of Hackney. Read on for a list of fun things to do here during your visit.

Spend A Day in Shoreditch, East London

Shoreditch is a world-class entertainment hub with endless things to do and see. Check out a few ideas to get your day here rolling:

Explore Art Shoreditch Streets

Shoreditch is among London’s hippest neighbourhoods. The Shoreditch High Street, to be precise, is like an open art gallery thanks to the fantastic 3D street graffiti plastered over buildings throughout the street.

Head over to Rivington Street for even more art. It features impressive street art from big names like Banksy and Bambi. Other Shoreditch streets with unique art include the Great Eastern, Princelet and Cremer streets.

Shop at Brick Lane Market

Brick Lane Market is a one-stop shop for everything you might need in Shoreditch. It runs every Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm and is essentially a combination of five different markets, meaning it attracts quite the crowd.

Take your taste buds for a ride with new and delicious cuisines at the Sunday Market or Boiler House Food Hall, or head over to Backyard Market for everything fashion. Check out the Vintage market for fur coats, antique books, vinyl records and anything vintage and be sure to stop by Tea Room for vintage maps and taxidermy.

Other notable Places to Check Out in Shoreditch:

• Boxpark
• The Columbia Road Flower Market
• Golden Heart, a classic pub on Commercial Street
• Sushi Samba

Enjoy a Day in Shoreditch

Despite steady gentrification, Shoreditch boasts a chockablock of classic pubs, cinemas, tattoo parlours and awesome street graffiti wherever you turn. A day here is certainly not enough to explore what this small but amazing town has to offer.