5 Things You Must Do At Brick Lane

8 Oct , 2015 Culture,Things To Do In London

So you’ve arrived in Shoreditch, plonked your bags down and maybe had a bit of a nap… but now it’s time to explore! And where better to start than with the cultural center of East London, Brick Lane! Also known as Bangla Town, due to the famous curry houses (some of the best in London) towards Osborn Street, Brick Lane also offers a huge array of vintage and commercial shops, amazing coffee houses and loads of hidden treasures. Here’s our list of the 5 things you’ve just got to do on Brick Lane.

 

Scoff a beigel at Beigel Bake

If you’re exploring the impressive length of Brick Lane, not to mention the side streets, you’re going to need something hearty to keep you going. And what’s better than a delicious signature beigel packed full of salt beef with pickle and mustard? Ok, maybe cream cheese and salmon? How about a massive array of pastries, cakes and bread? Open 24-hours, 7 days a week, you can get these delicious delicacies first thing in the morning, as a mid afternoon treat, for dinner or as a late-night snack after a night out (be prepared to queue!)

 

Relax with a gorgeous coffee from Nude Espresso

Brick Lane is pretty famous for its coffee and there are plenty of establishments to choose from. Our favorite, and arguably the most famous, has got to be Nude Espresso. Slightly off piste, Nude sits on Hanbury Street and inside you can find an impressive selection of freshly baked brownies, flapjacks, muffins, cookies and more, all of which can be perfectly paired to the amazing coffee that Nude brew. If you’re a bit of a bean nut then don’t be shy to chat to the team about their methods. Their favourite thing to do, aside from brewing, is pretty much talking about coffee all day. Plus they’re an extremely knowledgeable bunch!

 

Browse the vinyl selection at Rough Trade East

Rough Trade is off to the side on Dray Walk, but you definitely won’t be able to miss it. Located in the Old Truman Brewery, Rough Trade has established itself over the years as a true leader in the independent record business. Selling vinyl, cd’s and books, each item has a written descriptive label so you can browse and discover for hours. If you want a memento to take home with you, make sure you hit up the famous Rough Trade photo booth, which gives you 4 black and white photos to experiment with! All you need to do is ask for a £3 token at the counter. At the back of the store, you’ll find a high-spec stage where artists over the years have played intimate, 200 audience free shows. Artists in the past include the likes of Suede, Queens of the Stone Age, Royal Blood and Public Enemy. Keep an eye on those listings, you never know who’s going to rock up!

 

 

Visit the Brick Lane Markets

You are pretty much guaranteed to find something you’re after at one of the many Brick Lane markets. Seriously, anything goes here, one stall used to sell nothing but rusty cogs for many, many years! The main Brick Lane Market operates every Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM selling anything and everything, from antiques to fruit and veg! Aside from the Sunday market, Truman Markets also run weekly markets inside the confines of the Old Truman Brewery. These include Sunday UpMarket, Backyard Market, Boiler House, Tea Rooms and The Vintage Market, each selling an array of unique and mostly hand-crafted items.

 

Try some curry

If you’re on Brick Lane, you just have to try one of the many curry houses. There is a massive selection, but our favourites are Sheba, Cinnamon and Muhib. Brick Lane has long been considered the official home of London’s best curry houses, with numerous restaurants popping up after the city experienced an influx of Bangladeshi migrant workings in the 70’s. If you’re after authentic Indian food, this is the street to be on.

 

Bonus extras! Make sure you also check out the Brick Lane Gallery, featuring the artwork of Banksy, David Shackleton and Sandra Mennant amongst others, the amazing street food on offer and the incredible street art, which you can find under ‘points of interest’ on our app! Download the app now for iOS and Android to check out the latest events, popular spots and frequently asked questions at the hostel.

brick lane, budget travelling, Coffee, Espresso, Fashion, Food, Foodies, Hostels, London, Shoreditch, The Dictionary Hostel