A Day Out in: Shoreditch
Recently, I spent the day exploring Shoreditch and found a couple of great local spots for to check out:
BoxPark
BoxPark is a food, drink, live performance and retail space built entirely out of retrofitted shipping containers, described as the worlds’ first ‘pop-up mall’. On the ground floor level, there are a range of homeware, lifestyle, clothing shops, stationary shops, a nail salon, a hairdressers and spaces for pop-up spaces. As someone who’s just moved, the homeware shops were top notch – I particularly liked the prints and bits and pieces of décor. Upstairs, there is a space for food and drinks, with a variety of vendors offering everything from pasta to tacos to poke bowls. I went on a sunny evening with some friends, and it was perfect for a pint and a quick bite to eat. The live music was also a treat, and a great way to spend a day.
Labour and Wait
Again, as someone who has recently moved, I needed a couple of odds and ends for my new place. When I discovered Labour and Wait, I was delighted – they have a curated stock of traditionally crafted homeware including kitchenware, tools, crockery, laundry, clothing and range of home accessories. Some of their stock is vintage, some new, all designed in a classic, utilitarian way with a focus on quality and longevity. Personally, I purchased a couple of their enamel pans which have been proven to be very nice to use. I also loved the traditional style tools (and was incredibly tempted to splurge, but resisted), and the stationary.
The Blues Kitchen
The Blues Kitchen is a blues and jazz bar with branches throughout the city, but I particularly like the branch in Shoreditch. They have an excellent range of cocktails, with a nice mocktail selection. One half of the venue is used as a sit-down restaurant space, serving American-style food (the buffalo wings are banging) with both lunch and supper. The other side of the venue is home to a stage for live performances and a bar area. There is also an internal, enclosed smoking area at the back. The jazz performances were excellent – the vocalist when we went was particularly good, and we ended the night dancing until the bar closed.
Brick Lane Vintage Market
Okay, so I am aware that every London guide has recommended Brick Lane Vintage Market at some point in time, but that’s with good reason. The market has one of the largest vintage markets in the city, and with a great standard of stock. Admittedly, it can get a little pricey – but there are some of the best curations in the city. Of course, the massive Rokit is a must — with the smaller Rokit Edits, which focuses mainly on more feminine styles of clothing right next door. Brick Lane Vintage carries an excellent range of athletic and athleisure wear from brands like Fila, Nike, Adidas and even Burberry. Kin boasts a bright and bold Y2K vibe, which is perfect for rave and clubbing accessories, or if you fancy something a bit bolder for every day. Additionally, you have Akita, which is one of London’s largest vintage stores, being spread over two levels. The vintage department store sells everything from clothes, reworked items, accessories, and homeware. They also carry stock made by independent artists and designers. Of course, these are only some of the stores on offer throughout Brick Lane, so leave a comment and let us know your favourite shop!
Columbia Road Flower Market
I know, another classic recommendation – but a classic for a reason! One of my favourite things to do on a Sunday is take a wander around this London institution – but remember to get there early, as the crowds can be formidable. From 8AM – 3 PM, local traders line Columbia Road selling every form of bulb, succulent, flowers, and houseplant that the mind can conjure. Like most of London, all of the market stalls accept card and contactless – but will be happier with cash and you’re more likely to be able to barter with it. After exploring the market, you can spend the rest of your day exploring the winding side streets - housing independent shops, antiques’ dealers, cafes, restaurants, small grocers, and even some small, independent galleries. Most of these follow the market’s opening hours, and have some of the coolest independent stores. I personally love the Pavilion bakery, Idle Records for some excellent vinyls for some old-school tunes, and and Jones Dairy Café for organic, local produce.