The best things to do in east London

What is it? One of London’s most visually appealing markets that overflows with bucketfuls of beautiful flowers every Sunday.

Why go? Because it’s a weekend institution in east London, and one of the best places to buy flowers, bedding plants and even a banana tree – if you’ve got the patio space at home. Turn up early to avoid the crowds or late to pick up a bunch of bargains. 

What is it? Tasty to-go items that've been served up at this charmingly scruffy bakery since 1977. 

Why go? After wonderfully cheap curry, Brick Lane’s second greatest contribution to London’s gastronomic index is the salt beef beigel (or bagel). It’s salty, it’s beefy, the mustard will singe a layer of skin from the inside of your throat (you have been warned) and it’s an absolute classic. That’s why they’re consumed by everyone from night-shifting taxi drivers to savvy tourists.

Read all about the history of Brick Lane’s bagel shops.

What is it? Known as the ‘People’s Park’, Victoria Park is one of London’s favourite open spaces.

Why go? In the summer it’s often taken over by festivals while in the autumn park-goers are treated to epic fireworks displays. But that’s not all: parts of the park are Grade II-listed, there are two expansive lakes (one with a Chinese pagoda island), a boating pond and the Pavilion Café, where you can grab a bite to eat. 

What is it? A restored, boutique cinema with an art deco bar.

Why go? Homerton’s cinema has had more iterations than Madonna: it’s been a bingo hall, a shoe factory and a snooker club. That was until a local couple stepped in and restored it to its 1913 cinematic glory. It has a gorgeous curved ceiling covered in ornate gold plasterwork and just 80 seats – all of which are bum-hugging velvet armchairs.

What is it? Proof that all caffs are not equal.

Why go? This greasy spoon has provided carbs and protein in eggy, meaty and pan-fried form to the good people of east London since 1900. Traces of bygone eras, like art deco interior details and Formica tables have earned it Grade II-listed status – but what diners love best is that the fry-ups, grills and Italian dishes are still served by the same family. 

What is it? Formerly called the Geffrye Museum, the newly refurbed Museum of the Home, is situated in a collection of eighteenth-century almshouses and offers a vivid physical history of the English interior.

Why go? Displaying original furniture, paintings, textiles and decorative arts, the museum recreates a sequence of typical middle-class living rooms from 1600 to the present. It’s an interesting way to take in domestic history.

What is it? Occupying a chill, open space on Clapton’s main drag, chef Abby Lee’s first bricks-and-mortar spot churns out truly showstopping modern Malaysian food. 

Why go? To sample sensational dishes that earned it the number one spot in our 2024 Best Restaurants list. Order the whopping big kam heong mussels, sensational in their messy, lip-smacking sloppiness, and wash them down with a juicy glass of natural wine.

What is it? A 200-year-old warehouse that tells the actually pretty interesting story of the Thames and the people who settled alongside it. 

Why go? To understand the rich history of the area, from Roman times right through to the rise of Canary Wharf. Lose yourself in historic photographs and source material from the Port of London Authority Archive, Metropolitan Fire Brigade footage and captured Nazi footage and testimonies that explore the port’s role in top-secret wartime projects. 

What is it? One of London’s most effortlessly immaculate new restaurants from head chef Max Rocha, with a vibe that’s at once chic neighbourhood bistro and heartfelt tribute to his Dublin roots.   

Why go? There’s something of St John’s minimal approach in Cecilia’s simple interiors, wooden tables and white washed walls, as well as the cheery but thorough service. The mains are quietly majestic, a successful experiment in making two or three ingredients sing at the top of their lungs. Cafe Cecilia have nailed the whole package. Believe the hype.

What is it? Part tourist attraction, part utterly bodacious public transport option, the IFS Cloud Cable Car (formally sponsored by Emirates Air Line) runs cable cars between Greenwich Peninsula to Royal Docks.

Why go? This one’s not exactly the most popular mode of transport for the daily commute. Thankfully, that means you can treat yourself to a largely unspoiled view of the city without having to pay through the nose for it. With pay-as-you-go, a 20-minute round trip costs £12 (free for kids under five). Bargain. 

What is it? A time capsule attraction in which visitors are immersed in a unique form of theatre.

Why go? Imagine you’ve stepped into a painting by one of the Old Masters. Walking into Dennis Severs’ House is rather like that. In silence, visitors pass through its ‘still life drama’, visiting each room to see evidence of an eighteenth-century silk weaver’s family life without ever meeting a soul: a dinner lies half-eaten, a fire still crackles, a chamber pot needs emptying. 

What is it? One of the 2012 Olympic Games’ iconic venues, designed by the late, great starchitect Zaha Hadid.

Why go? To swim in the pool of champions and by some kind of peculiar chlorine-osmosis, perhaps become one yourself. You can use the ten-lane 50m competition pool, which is 3m deep; the training pool, where you can frolic or swim; and the diving pool or a dry-land diving facility for both newcomers and Tom Daley-level twizzlers. 

What is it? A taste of the countryside in central London.

Why go? To meet the characterful creatures at this welcoming and brilliantly maintained green spot just off Brick Lane. Friendly residents up for a pat include Bayleaf the donkey and a lovable pair of hairy hogs. Plus, the farm shop sells homegrown produce like freshly laid eggs and the range of veg grown is remarkable for the location. 

What is it? The Victoria & Albert Museum’s east London outpost is home to the world’s finest collections of children’s toys, dolls’ houses, games and costumes.

Why go? For a proper trip down memory lane aided by its vast displays of Barbie dolls, action hero figurines and puppets, or to entertain your little ones with a host of hands-on activities. The museum shines brighter than ever these days, having reopened in 2023 after extensive £13 million refurbishment.

What is it? The oldest music hall in the world.

Why go? If ever there was a venue the term ‘shabby chic’ was invented for, Wilton’s Music Hall is it. Starting life as five humble houses in 1690, the venue has undergone multiple regenerations, including a stint as an alehouse. Now, after a little restoration, it's still standing as the oldest grand music hall in the world. The Grade II-listed building is now home to plays, opera, puppetry, classical music, cabaret, dance and magic shows once more. 

What is it? A 376ft tall tower, with two spectacular viewing platforms and a tunnel slide.

Why go? Anish Kapoor’s curiously curvaceous ArcelorMittal Orbit was one of the more unexpected sights at the Olympic Park in 2012. But even more thrilling than the architecture? A good hurtle down it. If you dare to take the drop (without closing your eyes) there are clear plastic windows at strategic points so you can see out.   

What is it? The largest urban wetland in Europe, measuring at an astonishing 211 hectares.

Why go? Consisting of ten reservoirs, it’s a prime wildlife-spotting site, particularly for swans, kestrels and geese. E17’s industrial history gives the area an unusual aesthetic, with old metalworks and even gunpowder mills dotting the fecund green spaces. It’s a place to fish, spy, walk and go on smug couple runs. No need to escape to the countryside: it’s all right here.

What is it? One of London’s most exciting clubs, The Cause originally opened in Tottenham in 2020, before relocating to a massive warehouse space in Canning Town in 2022. 

Why go? To dance ‘til you drop at some of London’s biggest and best club nights across the dance music spectrum. Regular nights include legendary queer techno party Adonis, the monthly TranceParty, veteran disco and soul night Cirque du Soul and the collective’s own legendary Halloween and New Year parties.

What is it? A sexy subterranean cocktail bar in the basement of uber-cool hotel One Hundred Shoreditch, devised by celebrated mixologist, Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan).

Why go? To sample wildly creative cocktails incorporating such eclectic and unexpected ingredients as smoked raspberries, mushroom lou mei, plum verjus, rhubarb saison and koji amongst fabulously chic mid-century interiors.

What is it? A 50-metre lido that underwent massive regeneration back in 2017.

Why go? Open year-round, London Fields Lido is a glittering open-air pool where you can splash about beneath the sun. Loved by locals, it gets pretty busy during the summer holiday period and although picnicking is not allowed, you can find post-swim grub at one of the on-site cafés. But if you’re visiting in cooler months, don't worry – the lido is nicely heated, too.

What is it? An eclectic shopping street and market which runs between London Fields and the Regent’s Canal.

Why go? Broadway Market continues to thrive following its clever makeover nearly 15 years ago. A bustling hub for the Hackney hipsters and East End creatives who have settled down and started families, it welcomes around 135 stalls selling a fabulous array of fresh produce, vintage clothes, flowers, coffee, books and groceries. 

What is it? A leafy sanctuary and garden on an old railway line.

Why go? Hidden behind Dalston’s hectic junction, the Curve Garden has fresh produce which is all maintained by locals. For a peaceful afternoon, sip juice or coffee from the café and take part in a workshop for either gardening or craft. Head there in October for a glut of glittering Halloween pumpkins. 

What is it? Friendly Indian-Irish fusion food in Hackney, as well as cocktails containing Kerrygold butter. Shankeys, you have our attention.

Why go? Every dish at the fantastic Shankeys is a beautiful, colourful mess, served on floral crockery straight off Grandma’s dresser. And you’ll find poitín (pronounced potcheen): an Irish moonshine that only started being produced legally in 1997 in its Spuds & Butter cocktail and chaat potatoes.

What is it? A curiosity shop filled with eerily surreal objects. 

Why go? Viktor Wynd is both on the art circuit and determinedly off any beaten track. Peek through the windows and you’ll see a world in which velvet-cloaked Victorians, or perhaps The Mighty Boosh, might reside. Expect a wunderkammer of shells, skulls, taxidermy specimens and assorted oddities.

What is it? Built in 1535 for Henry VIII’s first secretary of state, Sir Ralph Sadleir, the red-brick Sutton House is the oldest house in east London.

Why go? Now beautifully restored with authentic original decor and real Tudor kitchens, Sutton House boasts Jacobean and Georgian interiors, as well as an Edwardian chapel, medieval foundations in the cellar and 1980s graffiti under the roof. 

What is it? A modern British restaurant in Hackney, serving a weekly-changing, no-choice four-course menu.

Why go? Expect laid-back dining and short, no-choice menus. Pidgin translates the best of these qualities – stress-free menu, vibrant atmosphere – into a cute space, with copper-trimmed tables, walls bearing twigs gathered in the New Forest, and a seascape-papered loo complete with the sound of crashing thunder. What’s not to like. 

What is it? Formerly one of the ‘magnificent seven’ garden cemeteries of London and now a woodland memorial park and local nature reserve.

Why go? Managed by the Abney Park Trust, this large, eighteenth-century cemetery often has live music and other events hosted within its grounds. Learn a little more about the residents laid to rest here with one of the park tours, which run around once a month on a donation basis – visit abneypark.org for dates.   

What is it? A showcase of the late neon artist Chris Bracey’s personal collection of work.

Why go? Based in a salvage yard in Walthamstow, God’s Own Junkyard contains everything from Bracey’s signage for Soho sex clubs from the ‘60s to his work for the movie industry, including pieces that were used in ‘Captain America’, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, ‘Byzantium’ and more. Sandwiched in between all of this, you’ll find his artwork, some of which have been exhibited in his gallery shows, and others that were specially commissioned by other artists and clients.

What is it? A Shoreditch spot serving dishes inspired by the late-night canteens of Bangkok.

Why go? Got £3.80 in your pocket? Great. Because that’s all you’ll need for Smoking Goat’s fish sauce chilli wings. Aka the best chicken wings in London. There’s more spiciness where that came from on the menu full of big, bold flavours. 

What is it? Shoreditch’s independent cultural centre which houses three cinema screens alongside exhibition and performance spaces and a café/bar. 

Why go? Run as a charity, it’s a vibrant arts hub and any given week could see it hosting an assortment of music gigs, theatre shows, art exhibitions, themed festivals and all manner of workshops. Families are well catered for too, with weekly parent and baby cinema screenings and active play sessions for little ones. 

What is it? A canalside restaurant from hospitality power couple Honey Spencer and Charlie Sims, with ex-Pidgin chef Michael Robins in the kitchen doing the whole modern European/seasonal produce/cooking with fire thing.

Why go? Gripe all you want about east London’s current preponderance of boho bistros specialising in the small plates-and-natty wine, but when it’s done like this, it’s a knockout formula. The level of depth, detail, thought and skill in Sune’s picture-perfect dishes is staggering.

What is it? An iconic (and we don’t say that lightly) queer party palace on Dalston’s main high street, Superstore has been a mecca for east London’s arty queers for the past fifteen years.

Why go? To catch one of the city’s longest running, weirdest and most wonderful drag brunches, to sweat it out on the basement dancefloor or kick it with the fabulous bunch of immaculately dressed scene queens cackling in the smoking area.

What is it? An understated bar with a drinks list that changes daily, drawing in faithful booze fans and Tinder dates out to impress. 

Why go? The less intrepid Londoner may be put off by the street view of Satan’s Whiskers: it looks every bit a down-and-out dive bar. Inside though, it breaks the east London bar mould, with hip hop on the stereo, a smartly modish setting, vintage French posters on the wall and some of the best cocktails to be found in Bethnal Green’s burgeoning booze scene. 

What is it? An edgy studio (there are venues in both Shoreditch and Clapton) that incorporates food and art into its fitness space.

Why go? This concrete-meets-steel space could be mistaken for a swanky gallery but instead of studying some art, you can take classes in HIIT, pilates, yoga, barre and cardio sessions. Plus there’s a whole load of slightly more unusual choices too, such as sparring, callisthenics, BLOKbeat (with dancing) and BLOKparty (with strobe lighting). The three workout rooms are stripped-back, urban-style spaces while the café does food and smoothies with on-trend ingredients – think turmeric, matcha and activated walnuts.

What is it? A cycling centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which opened to the public in 2014.

Why go? During the Olympics, London went cycle-crazy, probably because we were winning quite a bit. Now the famous Pringle-shaped venue is open to the public, and there’s plenty to encourage you to get back on your bike. The velo park offers a wide programme of events, from classes for first-time riders to major world championships.