Hanging out in Shoreditch

Shoreditch and Old Street area guide

Heading to university in London? Shoreditch is the capitals creative playground, bursting with arts and culture. The streets are filled with colourful murals, theatres and live music spots. If you’re into fashion and design, you’ll love the hip boutiques and eclectic eateries serving up all sorts of trendy, experimental flavours. You can easily spend a whole day wondering around. The nightlife scene is extraordinary. From stylish rooftop bars to street parties and mysterious speakeasies, Shoreditch attracts loads of trendsetters and uni students for an exciting night out. We have some top tips on the best things to do near Old Street.  Here are some of the top things to do near Scape Shoreditch

Cafés

With the hard to win ‘hipster’ stamp of approval, Shoreditch and Old street is well known as the go-to spot for a great cuppa coffee. From old-school coffee shops with classic drinks to quirky cafes serving speciality brews, we’ve rounded up some of the best coffee shops in Shoreditch for your next fix.   Located right next to Old Street Station, Shoreditch Grind serves a mean cup of coffee, perfect your morning commute to college. At AIDA, you can sip speciality lattes and watch the world go by through floor to ceiling windows. Don’t forget to browse the boutique store, full of effortlessly cool, Scandi-inspired clothing. We’re also big fans of Ozone Coffee Roasters and Franze and Evans, a small, family run café serving up delicious cakes and sandwiches and the best brunch on Old Street. For coffee with a cause, you’ll want to try Kiss the Hippo, Paper & Cup or Kahaila Café, a coffee shop and charity serving ethically sourced coffee in an inspired, art-filled setting. Or for something a little more eccentric, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium is London’s first cat café, where you can curl up with a cappuccino in the company of some friendly felines.  

Bars and Clubs

The nightlife in Shoreditch is electric, attracting loads of uni students across London with its offbeat bars and nightclubs. Whether you’re on the hunt for live music, craft beers or a bite to eat, Shoreditch has plenty of late-night spots for you to let your hair down.  If you’re looking for someplace buzzy for a big night out, XOYO, Queen of Hoxton, The Book Club and Barrio Shoreditch are always great fun. For award-winning cocktails, visit Callooh Callay or let your inner child loose at Ballie Ballerson, London’s famous ball pit cocktail bar with over a million colourful balls.  Psst! Some of the best bars in Shoreditch are deliberately hard to find. Nightjar is a low-lit London speakeasy tucked away on an unsuspecting street with lavish cocktails and live jazz music. Likewise, The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town is hidden behind a fridge door at The Breakfast Club, and you can only get in if you use the secret password, “I’m here to see the mayor.” Definitely worth a visit if you like quirky twists on classic drinks and surprising ingredients.  

Pubs

From classic British pubs steeped in history to trendy gastropubs, Shoreditch is full of interesting places to explore.  The Princess of Shoreditch and The Three Crowns are popular gastropubs, known for their cosy atmosphere and excellent food. For hearty pub grub, The Owl and Pussycat is a favourite, with a wonderful beer garden where you can enjoy the sunshine on a warm afternoon. With quiz nights every Tuesday and great pints all week long, The Ten Bells is also a strong contender for our list of top pubs in Shoreditch.  

Live music

Pop, electronic, hip-hop, or indie – whatever music you’re into, you can find it in Shoreditch. Known for its vibrant and diverse music scene, many established and emerging artists flock to Shoreditch to showcase their talents. To hear them play, some popular places to enjoy live music in Shoreditch include Old Street Records, Village Underground and The Old Blue Last. You can also find musicians busking on the street and in the London Underground almost every day in this wonderful, artsy area that never gets old. 

Comedy

Shoreditch has world-class comedy clubs where you can relax and have fun after a long week at uni. Backyard Comedy Club is the home of comedy in the East End, and you can catch hilarious stand up shows from some of the best up and coming comics in the biz. City Comedy Club delivers jokes with food and drinks for full belly laughter, and Bill Murray Comedy Club is a fantastic spot for epic roast battles and nightly gigs at an affordable price. It’s a super fun way to spend an evening with friends. 

Markets

As the city’s self-proclaimed “cool kid,” it’s no surprise that Shoreditch is home to some of the best markets in London. Filled with street food stalls, art and fashion, you can easily spend a whole morning just pottering around.  The famous Brick Lane market should be your first stop if you fancy yourself a bargain hunter, foodie, or fashionista. You can pick up unique handmade items, artwork and vintage clothing. For a bite to eat, check out Spitalfields, Whitecross Market and The Truman Brewery Markets. With a whole selection of street food from around the world, you’ll want to make sure you arrive on an empty stomach. For beautiful blooms, Columbia Road Flower Market is a must-visit. Pick a bunch to brighten up your student room, or just admire the colourful displays. Elsewhere, Mare Street Market is a hip, leafy local hangout that’s always vibey. With a restaurant, bar, and deli, you could stay for hours and not get bored. 

Restaurants

Shoreditch has many delicious and unique places to eat, filled with inventive dishes and flavours from around the globe. For gourmet street food, visit BOXPARK Shoreditch. Whether it’s Japanese, Indian or classic British dishes you’re after, there’s loads of options to satisfy your craving. Not to mention 4 bars, resident DJs and epic student discounts for BOXPARK Black Card holders. Elsewhere, Lantana Café is a cheerful, Aussie-inspired restaurant, serving up arguably the best brunch in Shoreditch. Gloria is a flamboyant, Capri-style trattoria. From the Neapolitan pizza to the Italian gelato, everything is 100% homemade with love. Or, if you like the sound of hot broth, noodles and fried chicken, then you’ll love Bone Daddies Japanese Restaurant and Ramen Bar.  Some other popular options include Flat Iron for unbelievable steak, Dishoom for the best Indian food in London and BRAT, if it’s a Michelin Star that gets your mouth watering. If it’s been a long night and you’re looking for some no-fuss grub, you’ll find many street food stalls and late-night eateries open, even in the early hours of the morning. Beigel Bake is a pretty much a London institution, famous for its 24/7 bakery and filled bagels (you can get anything from salmon and cream cheese to Nutella and peanut butter!) 

Outdoor activities

Although Shoreditch is mostly an urban area, there are a few nearby parks where you can enjoy a breath of fresh air. Haggerston Park is a lovely spot with a small lake and lots of squirrels, perfect for an afternoon stroll or picnic. You can also venture a little further out to Victoria Park, one of London’s most visited green spaces with picturesque boating lakes, fountains and gardens. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful spot to sunbathe or you want to work up a sweat on the tennis courts– Victoria Park has plenty to offer.  Spitalfields City Farm is a hidden gem. With a farm shop, tea hut and lots of well-loved animals, this little farm provides a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Be sure to visit and say hello to the sweet goats, sheep and bunnies from us. 

Arts and culture

As a hub for creativity and artistic expression, Shoreditch is famous for its thriving street art scene with loads of colourful murals and graffiti adorning the streets. Just take a walk around the area and you’ll be in awe. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for famous art works from Banksy and other renowned artists. Some of the best artwork spots include Brick Lane, Great Eastern Street and Hollywell Lane. You can also check out this handy Shoreditch Street Art Guide to unmissable spots (with a map!) if it helps. 

Getting around

If you’re going to university in London, Scape Shoreditch is a fantastic location to live in as it’s close to several major universities including City University, Bayes Business School, The University of Law, London College of Fashion and UCL.   There are loads of exciting things to do around Shoreditch, but if you want to venture further out it’s easy to get around. Living in the heart of Zone 1 means travel is super convenient, with access to National Rail services and the London Underground all within walking distance from Scape. There are also several bus routes right on your doorstep. Distance from Scape Shoreditch 

• 3 min walk - Old Street Station  

• 10 min walk - Shoreditch High Street Station  

• 15 min walk - Liverpool Street Station 

You can travel directly into Kings Cross St Pancras station on the Northern Line, which has great train links across the UK and Europe. It’s also just an hour to London Gatwick and Heathrow Airport, which is great if you’re an international student living in London or you just love to travel.  

Student accommodation in Shoreditch

Enjoy being a student in the best city in the world! Scape Shoreditch is just a 3-min walk to Old Street station, making it super easy to get to most major universities in London. With a 4.5-star Google rating and hundreds of rave reviews, we’re the number one choice for students looking to live their uni life to the full.   At Scape, your rent includes all utilities and bills so you can relax and have fun without worrying about any costly surprises. You can have a studio all to yourself, with friends just down the hall. All our rooms come with comfy double beds, ensuite bathrooms, and lots of storage space. Plus, our onsite gym, cinema and study spaces are yours to enjoy anytime you like. From Friday night socials to yoga classes and pizza parties, there’s always something fun to look forward to at Scape Shoreditch.   To book a room, call +44 (0)2045718133 or drop us a message via live chat.