Shoreditch, London

There can be no doubting that Shoreditch is preceded by its reputation. The area’s transformation from the late 1990s onwards has been so dramatic that when other city districts around the country are similarly gentrified, the process is sometimes referred to as “Shoreditchification”. More recently, the second dot-com boom has seen the swift influx of tech companies establishing their headquarters here, often around Old Street Roundabout, which as a result is rather self-deprecatingly referred to as “Silicon Roundabout”.

Crowded at the Edge

But it’s not all about tech in Shoreditch. There’s a distinctive feel to the area, which you can see in the many old-school record shops, weathered cafes, vintage clothes stores and rampant profusion of beards of all shapes and sizes. Shoreditch isn’t quite as culturally cutting-edge as it used to be – but don’t tell that to the hipsters.

Delights for the Senses

Street food is a thriving industry in Shoreditch. You’ll find Food Village on Shoreditch High Street, a covered area selling everything from soup to curry to pulled pork sandwiches. Have a wander inside and see what takes your fancy. Burrito in hand, strike out for some of the smaller streets in the area – Shoreditch is renowned for its street art, and you’ll find a colourful kaleidoscope of pieces by Banksy, Stik, Sweet Toof and others. Rivington Street and Great Eastern Street are particularly good places to look. If you’re after an unusual night out afterwards, head to The Book Club, a quirky, inaccurately named restaurant-café which turns into a bar in the evenings – whose interior is full of ping-pong tables.