Top 12 Things To Do In Hackney, London

1. Have a fun-filled shopping at Bohemia Place Markets

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Visit the lively Bohemia Place Markets, which will delight your shopaholic self and fill your eyes with creative pieces. You will have a great time window shopping because of the wide selection of sustainable and artistically crafted items.

Have a good time exploring the area and buying some goods at the local shops and stalls run by artisans. The weekly themed markets will entertain all guests, including kids, while pets are welcome. You could indulge in mouthwatering street foods if you become hungry while roaming around.

Bohemia Place Markets

Address: Bohemia Pl, London E8 1DU, United Kingdom

Website: Bohemia Place Markets

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 12pm - 6pm; Fri: 6pm - 10pm (closed on Mon - Thu)

Price: Free admission

2. Enjoy playing and unwinding at Hackney Marshes

Have a wonderful time with the beautiful and refreshing greeneries at Hackney Marshes, a Green Flag awardee, indicating that it possesses the best green spaces in the country. It is well known as the home of Sunday league football with 82 football pitches, and it is there that everyone gathers to either compete or watch and enjoy the game.

Aside from that, this property is used as a running trail and has cricket pitches on it. This location exudes an air of tranquillity you will surely cherish and appreciate, where you can find a bird hide and tree nursery. You can also enjoy a special drink at the café bar or unwind on the roof terrace.

Hackney Marshes

Address: London E10 5SG, United Kingdom

Website: Hackney Marshes

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

3. Explore Dalston for shopping, dining and fun

The vibrant Dalston is home to St. Mark’s Church (nicknamed the “Cathedral of the East End”), Rio Cinema, and the German Hospital — all of which are iconic landmarks in the area with historical significance. They are all rich in history. Dalston is famous as an entertainment hub and popular for its music and vibrant nightlife scene. Several amazing cocktail bars and nightclubs such as the Four Aces blues club and the Labyrinth nightclub are also found here. Kingsland Road boasts of wonderful boutiques and a variety of fashion stores that make for a perfect shopping destination on any day. Explore this region for fantastic entertainment, unforgettable shopping experience or perhaps just to try out the stunning restaurants that dot the region.

Dalston

Address: Kingsland Road, London Borough of Hackney, London

4. Visit the Broadway Market

A visit to a market gives you a real understanding of the vibe of a region. Just by mingling, strolling or perhaps buying stuff from a market enlightens you about the local population. This a perfect opportunity to also mix with other visitors and get into the perfect mood of being in a new place. Find your way to the Broadway Market, which is a London street from the London Fields all the way to the Regent’s Canal in Hackney. More than 70 shopping outlets, cafes and fine restaurants line the street, where several people come every day for daily essentials ranging from groceries to household items. This is a very popular location that has even appeared in films and movies such as the “Eastern Promises” (2007), “Buster” (1988) and, “Odd Man Out”(1947).

Broadway Market

Address: Hackney, London, UK

5. Enjoy fine entertainment at Hackney Empire

Constructed in the early 1900s, Hackney Empire is a historical theatre. The theatre has recently been refurbished and renovated to include a 60-seat orchestra hall, a studio theatre, better dressing rooms, dining spots, and educational facilities. The building itself is listed as an iconic landmark in the United Kingdom. A visit here will be rewarded with unrivaled fun from the live performances and fine dining experience blended with history lessons on how the “Take Your Pick” show was broadcast live from here back in the 1950s.

Hackney Empire

Address: 291 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 1EJ, United Kingdom

Website: Hackney Empire

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

6. Explore Shoreditch, the creative hub of London’s East End

Shoreditch region is an enchanting destination tucked away in the East End of London within the London Borough of Hackney. An exploration through this region will bring you to discover several cool pubs, wonderful bars, and nightclubs worth trying out. The dining scene here is also very vibrant with elegant restaurants, fine eateries, good coffee shops, and even noodle bars. Other than the entertainment and dining, you can also experience the “shop till you drop” kind of moments in Shoreditch, with several fashion shops and renowned outlets offering anything you would need from gifts to souvenirs you would like to take away with you.

Shoreditch

Address: East End of London, Hackney

7. Family day out at Hackney City Farm

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

At the junction of Hackney Road and Goldsmith’s Row, Hackney City Farm will undoubtedly draw your attention. This wonderful destination makes for a perfect place for a family day out with the young ones. The children will excitedly learn new things about a variety of farm animals at the farm and even have an opportunity to participate in manual farm activities such as planting vegetables. On your tour of the farm, pop into their award-winning café, Frizzante, for a bite for the much-needed energy to keep you going. A visit here is a perfect way of blending fun with lessons on how to lead a healthier life.

Hackney City Farm

Address: 1a Goldsmiths Row, London E2 8QA, United Kingdom

Website: Hackney City Farm

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 4:30pm (closed on Mon)

8. Visit Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities

Have you ever imagined an experience where fine art and natural history are perfectly blended together with a cool bar? The result is automatically fantastic for anyone who loves history and arts, and also loves enjoying their drink in an intimate atmosphere. Well, Visit Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities offers you all that in one place in Hackney. A visit here will undoubtedly stir your curiosities with its unique collection, such as the two-headed kittens, occultists’ paintings, Dodo bones, and Fiji mermaids.

Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities

Address: 11 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 4RP, United Kingdom

Website: Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities

Opening hours: We - Sun: 12pm - 11pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

9. Spend your day at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

A visit to a park or a walk in the back is a better way to unwind and get away from the daily hustle and bustle of life. Create some time and head to the famous Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to enjoy a fine day out with your group of friends, your loved ones or perhaps just alone. Being the venue of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the Paralympics, there is always something new to discover in the park. The park boasts of stunning attractions, such as the London Aquatics Centre, Lee Valley VeloPark, Northern Parklands, and Eton Manor.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Address: London, United Kingdom

Website: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

10. Learn the art of weaving at The London Loom

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Perhaps you have for a long time wished to learn something about the magic of weaving but you don’t know exactly where to head to. Well, The London Loom is ready to welcome you and teach you a trick or two on how perfect weaving is done. Other than the fun, a visit here may lead you to discover a passion for weaving, which may have been hidden in you. You will love the colourful atmosphere with the yarns on display and by the time of your leaving, you shall have known how a loom works.

The London Loom

Address: Shop 8, 17 Amhurst Terrace, Lower Clapton, London E8 2BT, United Kingdom

Website: The London Loom

Opening hours: Wed: 7pm - 9pm; Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 6pm (closed on Sun - Tue)

11. Travel back in time at Sutton House

A visit to the historical Sutton House is no doubt a journey back in time. Dating back to the 16th century, it became a boys’ school in the 18th century with one of the famous alumni being an English Writer and novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton. The moment you step into the house, you will be charmed by the Oak paneled rooms, Tudor windows and even the hand-carved fireplaces, all of which are still intact. The house is nestled within a beautiful garden that makes for a perfect place to sit and relax as you reminisce about the historical architectural masterpiece standing before your eyes, the Sutton House.

Sutton House

Address: Sutton House, Homerton High St, London E9 6JQ, United Kingdom

Website: Sutton House

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

12. Commune with nature at Abney Park Cemetery

Everyone loves peace and serenity, and in case you are looking for a perfect place to enjoy both, you should stop the search and make your way to Abney Park Cemetery. The park, located on Stoke Newington High Street, offers a quiet environment to relax amidst lush green, mature trees. As you commune with nature at the park, you will not only have an opportunity to learn its amazing history but also learn something about stone carving.

Abney Park Cemetery

Address: 215 Stoke Newington High St, Stoke Newington, London N16 0LH, United Kingdom

Website: Abney Park Cemetery

Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 10am - 4pm; Sat: 11am - 4pm (closed on Sun - Tue)

Experience the historical Hackney

Whether it is discovering world-famous sites or just sampling the dining scene, Hackney has more than enough to offer. From marveling at the age of iconic landmarks to the fantastic shopping experience in the Shoreditch, the above list of things to do in Hackney will allow you to experience the best.