With its world-class markets, beautiful parks and ever-evolving food scene, East London is one of my favourite areas in the city for spending a lazy Saturday or Sunday. In this guide, I'm sharing my itinerary for the perfect East London weekend. Read on for food, art, history, markets and more!
I first went to East London in 2004 when visiting a friend, who was interning at a bank and living in Shoreditch. I was drawn to its coolness and relentless energy, as well as the art, the food and cocktails. 20 years later and I still love the area!
I usually go for shopping, food and dining on Saturdays, and canal walks and markets on Sundays. But during a recent staycation at an elegant boutique hotel in Bethnal Green, I got to spend two full days exploring East London.
East London is, of course, a large area with many diverse neighbourhoods that are well worth visiting. For this two-day itinerary, I've picked out some of my favourite places, from Stratford to Spitalfields, via Bethnal Green and Shoreditch. Scroll to the end for a handy map, with even more recommendations!
There's still a lot to see and do on weekdays, but you'll get most out of this itinerary if you do it at the weekend, when the markets are open. If you want to visit Columbia Road Flower Market, you'll need to go on a Sunday.
EAST LONDON WEEKEND ITINERARY
SATURDAY
Morning
This east-to-west itinerary starts in Stratford, a neighbourhood that has undergone considerable urban regeneration since it hosted the London Olympics in 2012. Take the Tube to Stratford and then head out into Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
I love walking in the park, along verdant paths beside the River Lea. There's lots to see, including the 114-metre-high red squiggle sculpture now known as the ArcelorMittal Orbit. You can take the elevator to the top and then take the thrilling tunnel slide down.
The newly opened V&A East Storehouse is also worth a visit for all things art, design, fashion and performance art ('the national museum of absolutely everything,' as The Guardian put it). It's free to visit, although there's a charge for some exhibitions.
Sports fans may enjoy a visit to the London Stadium, built for the Olympics but now home to West Ham United. As a Wolves fan, I can't quite bring myself to recommend it, though as we also got relegated this season, I'll be back there next year. If you see Nuno, tell him I miss him!
Lunch
Hackney Wick has lots of interesting places to eat and drink, many of them on or near the canal, like Luk Bros (Chinese), Inis (Irish and British) and Hearth (baked goods).
Alternatively, walk through Victoria Park to Netil Market, an outdoor market near London Fields with street food vendors and independent shops. Start with an expertly brewed coffee at Paradox, one of my favourite London specialty coffee spots.
Then, choose from dishes like arepas, noodles and bagels, or hit up From the Ashes BBQ (you must try the savoury Del Piero doughnut!) or Pophams for exquisite pastries.
Afternoon
It's then five minutes' walk to the bustling Broadway Market, a fantastic place to shop for unique London souvenirs and locally made, artisan goods, from clothing to jewellery and art. If you need a snack, there are lots of food stalls too.
The market itself runs on Saturdays and Sundays, but there are lots of bricks-and-mortar shops and eateries that open on weekdays too, like Broadway Bookshop, Retrouvé (vintage) and Climpson & Sons (coffee).
If it's a nice day, take a dip in London Fields Lido (it's heated) or make some new four-legged friends at the Spitalfields City Farm.
There's also another V&A site just south of the canal. The Young V&A is especially good for families — the popular Aardman exhibition, which will delight Wallace & Gromit fans, is on until November.
Dinner and drinks
When I first visited Bistrotheque in the mid-2000s, it was one of the coolest restaurants I'd ever been to. Located in a warehouse just off the Regent's Canal, the French-inspired modern European restaurant is still going strong, two decades later.
I returned recently and can confirm that the burger au jus (served with gravy for dipping) is as good as ever. The cocktails (and mocktails) are on point too, but I need to go back ASAP to try the lemon meringue pie French toast on the brunch menu!
I also highly recommend the Italian/Japanese fusion menu at Angelina in Dalston, while in Shoreditch, The Clove Club, Brat and Singburi are all excellent options. Check out my restaurant guide for more inspiration.
Satan's Whiskers in Bethnal Green is a top spot for a pre-dinner drink or nightcap. It's the kind of neighbourhood bar every neighbourhood should have. The menu changes daily, but if you have a specific tipple in mind, the friendly bar staff will whip it up for you.
SUNDAY
Morning
Walk (or jog) off last night's excesses in Victoria Park or on Regent's Canal towpath. The sprawling park is often busy with joggers, families and other locals heading to the farmers' market.
Pavilion is my favourite place to stop for coffee. Grab a seat outside, next to the lake, or take advantage of the grab-and-go coffees and breakfast options — ideal for runners.
For a heartier breakfast, look no further than Ozone Coffee on Emma Street. This is the second location of one of London's earliest antipodean brunch cafes and the creative dishes are as delicious as the single-origin pourovers and flat whites.
From Ozone, it's a short walk to Columbia Road Flower Market. The market only runs on Sundays but the shops on Columbia Road open on other days too. My favourites include In Bloom and in Habit (homewares and stationery), Hackney Essentials (homewares) and Hermanos (coffee).
Lunch
It takes about 20 minutes to walk from Columbia Road to Spitalfields, but you can also go by bus. Within Spitalfields Market, there is a huge array of street food vendors with cuisines from all over the world.
There are lots of restaurants too. Som Saa (Thai) and Gunpowder (Indian) are good choices, as is Holy Carrot, a new opening that serves creative plant-based and fermented fare. When I visited recently, the Holy Rancheros brunch pizzetta blew my socks off, and I recommend the titular, zero-waste Holy Carrot mocktail.
Afternoon
After lunch, shop for jewellery, scarves, cute clothes and leather bags at the stalls in Spitalfields Market or nearby Brick Lane. The shops around the market, like Mercantile, are worth a look too. Nagare is my favourite coffee shop in the area: the design is beautiful and the coffee is even better.
For a real hidden gem, book a visit to Dennis Severs' House. This immersive experience lets you walk (in silence) through the candlelit rooms of a Georgian house, each preserving a snapshot of life in Spitalfields between 1724 and 1919. Check the website for opening times and tours.
Spitalfields is also the starting point for some of London's best walking tours. Whether you have a taste for the macabre or just want to learn more about Victorian London, there's the popular Jack the Ripper tour. And this street art tour will give you a closer look at East London's myriad murals.
MY EAST LONDON MAP
WHERE TO STAY
On a recent staycation, I spent a fab night at the Town Hall Hotel, five minutes' walk from Bethnal Green Tube. As the name suggests, the historic building was once Bethnal Green Town Hall and many period features remain, including the council assembly room.
If your plans are flexible, you can often get good deals by booking on the day. I paid about £190 for a classic room, which was spacious, comfortable and beautifully kitted out. The even bigger deluxe rooms were about £215 on the same night.
There's a gorgeous heated swimming pool in the basement and it was a delight to swim under the skylight while the rain pounded down. There's also a small gym, although as Victoria Park is so close, I went running there instead.
I'd love to eat at Da Terra, the two-Michelin-star restaurant on site. Chef Rafael Cagali's second restaurant, Elis, has more affordable, Brazilian-inspired dishes. And of course, there are lots of fab eateries in the neighbourhood.
Otherwise, Shoreditch is a great location for accommodation, with lots of hotels at a range of price points, like CitizenM and The Hoxton, though you'll likely get more bang for your buck near Aldgate and Tower Hill.
GETTING THERE & AROUND
The Tube is the quickest option for getting to East London from Central areas, although some neighbourhoods are better served by bus and the Overground (Windrush, Mildmay and Weaver Lines).
The main Tube stations are: Stratford (Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth Lines), Bethnal Green (Central) and Liverpool Street (Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Elizabeth). The 26 bus, among other routes, is also useful for getting around.
This part of London is very walkable with its parks and canals. I particularly love strolling along the Regent's Canal and through Victoria Park. I've never had issues walking around as a solo woman, but do take the usual safety precautions, especially after dark.
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