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The Best Things to Do in East London: Where to Eat, Drink, Stay & Play
From the hubbub of Columbia Road Flower Market to the tantalising scents of Brick Lane, these are the best things to do in East London.
From full-scale street art murals in Shoreditch to the green expanse of Victoria Park, the fragrant Columbia Road Flower Market to historic greasy spoon E. Pellici, East London is a lifestyle mecca, offering diversity, history, creativity and community. This guide gives you a taste of it all, with places to eat, drink, explore and stay.
East London’s energy is infectious. Everything always feels switched on here, with markets running every day of the week, pubs on every corner and Michelin restaurants bumping up against 24-hour bagel shops. And when you think you’ve had enough of the hubbub, a few hours in one of the East’s generous green spaces will have you refuelled and ready for more.
Whilst it’s not everyone’s first stop on a trip to London, I think it should be. It’s the liveability of the east and the lifestyle it offers that makes it perfect for travellers looking to make themselves a local for a few days. Days filled not with a punishing itinerary of tourist tick boxes, but lingering brunches, ice cream in the park, treasure-laden markets, local pubs and labyrinthine laneways.
The Best Things to Do in East London: Eat
Tom’s Pasta
You won’t find oversized bowls holding three slight pieces of ravioli here. Tom’s Pasta serves up generous (and delicious) portions at reasonable prices, and that’s why we love it. You still get the seasonal touch, with wild garlic and other foraged goodies weaving their way through the menu, but it’s devoid of the pretension some London restaurants fall prey to. The menu shifts regularly, but you can rest assured that the ever-popular lasagne remains a staple. It’s fancy enough for date night but affordable enough that you can order whatever you like without breaking the bank.
Suburb: Hackney
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Group dining, Date night, Outdoor dining, Weekend plans, Locals
E. Pellicci
A proper British fry-up is an essential item on any London itinerary, and you won’t find one more authentic than E. Pellicci’s full English. This petite East End icon has existed on the same spot for over 100 years and the very same family is still running it. Whilst the merch is a later addition, the OG charm that has been drawing in locals and visitors for decades remains the same. Expect a warm welcome and plenty of banter from the family as they hastily get you fed, watered and on your way.
Suburb: Bethnal Green
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Weekend plans, Locals, Solo dining
Dumbo
Smash burgers might be a dime a dozen, but Dumbo‘s dry-aged beef burger is in a league of its own. Straight from Paris, this Shoreditch outpost always has a small line, but don’t worry, they’re efficient here. The menu is concise, with a cheeseburger and a vegetarian option as the only two mains. Add on some chicken nuggets or chips if you’re feeling extra peckish.
Suburb: Shoreditch
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Smash burgers
Best For: Quick bite, Late night, Budget-friendly
Need To Know: Whilst there are a few seats out the back, you might have to scoff your burger street-side.
Soft & Swirly
Masters of their craft, Soft & Swirly take hyper-seasonal fruits and herbs and use them to craft incredible limited-edition ice cream and soft serve. Each week they bring out a new soft serve flavour, which has included the likes of loganberry, strawberry & verbena and fig leaf & vanilla. Pair with a trip to London Fields park or Hackney’s Broadway Market.
Suburb: London Fields
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Ice cream
Best For: Quick bite, Weekend plans, Budget-friendly
Need To Know: Soft & Swirly is located out the back of E5 Bakehouse, another favourite among the East London set.
The Marksman
If you’re looking to sample a traditional English pub with a little extra polish, book yourself a table at The Marksman. Start with a local ale or cider before diving into a menu of elevated takes on British classics. Leaning full-force into seasonal dining, the menu changes daily, but expect dishes like duck and Tamworth terrine with burnt pear mustard and chicken & wild garlic pie.
Suburb: Hackney
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Gastropub
Best For: Date night, Group dining, Locals, Visitors
The Best Things to Do in East London: Explore
Brick Lane
The warren of lanes branching off Brick Lane are a vintage lover’s fantasy. On top of second-hand threads, you’ll find independent stores ranging from the female-owned Dark Sugars chocolate shop to Brick Lane Bookshop. Markets pop up all over the place, too, offering locally made jewellery, art and homewares. It’s a destination designed to wander. Once you’ve worked up a hunger, head to the strip of famed curry houses or grab yourself a salt beef bagel at cult 24-hour institution Beigel Bake.
Where: Shoreditch
Cost: Free
Best For: Weekend plans, Budget-friendly, Locals, Visitors
Broadway Market
Come the weekend, this Hackney hub plays host to stalls of street food, handmade goodies, flowers and produce. There’s a little bit of everything from Korean pancakes to Ethiopian stews. Collect up a bag of treats and head to London Fields to sit in the sun and indulge.
Be sure to peek past the stalls, however, as Broadway Market is home to over 70 permanent independent stores. Don’t miss browsing curated titles at The Broadway Bookshop and baked goods at Pavilion Bakery.
Where: Hackney
Cost: Free
Best For: Budget-friendly, Weekend plans, Families, Locals, Outdoor
Spitalfields Market & Old Spitalfields Market
The East is known for its markets, and Spitalfields is one of the best, operating daily, rain, hail or shine. A huge effort has gone into supporting local vendors and creators, so if you’re looking to pick up authentic souvenirs, this is the place to do it. The markets sit side by side, with Old Spitalfields Market home to The Kitchen, packed with street food vendors, whilst the heritage building houses a number of high-end independent stores. Next door, Spitalfields Market has more food options and a rotating roster of independent traders.
Where: Spitalfields
Cost: Free
Best For: Visitors, Families, Weekend plans
Columbia Road Flower Market
Taking place each Sunday, the Columbia Road Flower Market is a ritual for many London locals. Grab a coffee and wander your way down Columbia Road as a chorus of sellers call out seasonal prices. Awash in colour, the bustling thoroughfare offers up competitively priced flowers and house plants.
Whilst the main attraction is the blooms, don’t forget to take in the many independent stores lining Columbia Road. Shop ceramics, records, handmade pastries and linen clothing before stopping to slurp down an oyster or two from local favourite Oyster Boy.
Where: Bethnal Green
Cost: Free
Best For: Solo, Free, Outdoor, Weekend plans, Budget-friendly
Need To Know: You’ll find the most discounted blooms just before the market closes at around 2pm.
The Best Things to Do in East London: Drink
Running Late
Wherever you are in the world, you can guarantee that where there are runners congregating, there’s good coffee. And with Running Late, it’s all in the name. On top of being a hub for excellent coffee and baked treats, Running Late also run multiple run clubs, a sketch club, a walking club and a book club.
Suburb: London Fields
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Outdoor dining, Locals, Quick bite
A Bar With Shapes For a Name
Inspired by the German art and design school, The Bauhaus, A Bar With Shapes For a Name is a minimalist bar pushing the boundary of flavour. Each cocktail utilises the principles of functionalism and is constructed with the utmost precision. Think colour theory, architecture, geometry and a lot of fun.
Suburb: Dalston
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Date night, Late night, Weekend plans
The People’s Park Tavern
For a proper boozer and summer beer garden to rival that of any country pub, head to the edge of Victoria Park and score yourself a table at The People’s Park Tavern. Outside, you’ll find plenty of sunny benches, a soul food stand and outdoor bars, so you don’t have to miss a moment of the buzzing atmosphere.
Suburb: Hackney
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Late night, Group dining, Weekend plans
The Best Things to Do in East London: Stay
The Hoxton Shoreditch
Fusing East London cool with a splash of functional luxury, The Hoxton Shoreditch is ideally placed for exploring the city’s East End. Surrounded by some of the best food spots in the city, as well as easy access to independent stores and boutiques, you don’t need to travel far to immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere.
Location: Shoreditch
Price Guide: From $700 per night
Best For: Couples, Solo travel, Weekend escape, Dog-friendly
Book your stay with Booking.com
Book your stay with The Hoxton Shoreditch
Batty Langley’s
Lean into East London’s signature fusion of old and new with a stay at this grand and quirky Georgian townhouse. You’ll be in the heart of one of London’s best independent shopping districts, Spitalfields, with easy access to everything from cheap eats to Michelin-starred meals. Expect antique furniture, four-poster beds and luxury linens combined with all the modern conveniences beloved of travellers.
Location: Spitalfields
Price Guide: From $1000 per night
Best For: Couples, Luxury, Weekend escape
Book your stay with Booking.com
Book your stay with Batty Langley
FAQs About the Best Things to Do in East London
East London’s best free activities are its markets. Wander Brick Lane’s vintage stores and pop-up stalls, browse over 70 independent shops at Broadway Market in Hackney, or explore Spitalfields Market, which runs daily rain, hail or shine. On Sundays, the Columbia Road Flower Market is a local ritual — grab a coffee and stroll past stalls awash with seasonal blooms (the best discounts appear just before the 2pm close). For downtime between markets, East London’s generous green spaces, including Victoria Park and London Fields, are perfect for a free afternoon in the sun.
East London comes alive after dark, with pubs on every corner and standout cocktail bars. For inventive drinks, head to A Bar With Shapes For a Name in Dalston, a Bauhaus-inspired bar crafting precision cocktails built on colour theory and geometry. Prefer a proper boozer? The People’s Park Tavern on the edge of Victoria Park offers outdoor bars, a soul food stand and a buzzing beer garden atmosphere. Late-night hunger is well catered for too — grab a dry-aged smash burger from Dumbo in Shoreditch or a salt beef bagel from 24-hour institution Beigel Bake on Brick Lane.
East London’s markets and parks make it an easy day out with kids. Broadway Market in Hackney is a weekend favourite for families, with street food stalls serving everything from Korean pancakes to Ethiopian stews. Collect a bag of treats and picnic in neighbouring London Fields. Spitalfields Market is another family-friendly pick, operating daily with street food vendors at The Kitchen and plenty of undercover space if the weather turns. Round out the day with a scoop from Soft & Swirly in London Fields, where limited-edition soft serve flavours like strawberry & verbena rotate weekly.
Yes, East London is one of the city’s most rewarding areas to visit, especially for travellers who’d rather live like a local than tick off tourist boxes. The area offers markets running every day of the week, Michelin-quality restaurants alongside 24-hour bagel shops, historic institutions like 100-year-old greasy spoon E. Pellicci, and generous green spaces like Victoria Park. Its blend of diversity, history, creativity and community makes it ideal for a few days of lingering brunches, vintage shopping and local pub sessions rather than a punishing sightseeing itinerary.
Shoreditch and Spitalfields are the best bases for exploring East London. The Hoxton Shoreditch (from $700 per night) fuses East London cool with functional luxury and puts you within walking distance of some of the city’s best food spots, independent stores and boutiques — it’s also dog-friendly. For something more characterful, Batty Langley’s (from $1,000 per night) is a grand Georgian townhouse in Spitalfields featuring antique furniture, four-poster beds and luxury linens, right in the heart of one of London’s best independent shopping districts with everything from cheap eats to Michelin-starred meals nearby.
East London’s food scene spans budget bites to elevated pub dining. For a proper full English, head to E. Pellicci in Bethnal Green, a family-run East End icon of more than 100 years. Tom’s Pasta in Hackney serves generous, seasonal Italian at reasonable prices, while Dumbo in Shoreditch does a cult dry-aged smash burger. For elevated British classics like chicken & wild garlic pie, book The Marksman gastro pub in Hackney, and finish with hyper-seasonal soft serve from Soft & Swirly in London Fields, tucked behind E5 Bakehouse.
If you loved this edit of things to do in East London, be sure to take a peek at more of our international travel guides, including things to do in North London and things to do in Nusa Lembongan.
