Some people believe that Shoreditch may have had its day as the trendy part of London. However, a walk through Brick Lane Market is enough to convince you otherwise. Not only will you see hordes of wonderfully, and sometimes weirdly dressed people, but they are packed into independent shops, and bars across the triangle, which makes up Old Street, Shoreditch, and Great Eastern Street.
Shoreditch is one of those areas in London that has something for everyone, whether you are seeking entertainment, education, perhaps tantalize your taste buds with some street food, there is always something new to try across its many often busy street corners. While it’s evident that Shoreditch has become more affluent, yet it continues to maintain that urban, gritty often graffiti-laden shops, and bars. So, the grim, according to visitors and residents is part of the appeal.
The Columbia Road Flower Market
It is one of the most visually appealing street markets in Shoreditch, and Columbia Road tends to overflow with bucket loads of flowers every weekend. The best time to visit is any from 8am to 3pm, here traders can be seen lining the narrow streets selling everything from shrubs, herbs, bulbs, and houseplants to exotic flowers.
Whether you love just taking photographs or intend on buying a couple of house plants shopping around this often very busy street is well worth it. The market is popular with both tourists and locals alike, though midday rush is usually the worst, and you stand a good chance of being elbowed away from that perfect plant. The best way to beat the crowds is to arrive 30 minutes before the market opens usually that means 7:30AM.
After you’ve purchased all the blooms you want, it is time to head to one of the food street stalls which have everything from coffee and tea to antiques, delis, and small galleries. All of these shops are open during market hours. The only thing missing is perhaps a couple of entertaining websites where you can try your luck by shooting some craps.
Ballie Ballerson
Ever envied your kids in the ball pit? Ever wanted to get into a large ball pit of your own but were too shy to try? If you’ve answered yes to both these questions, then the Ballie Ballerson will make your dream come true. The venue features two private ball pits and a ball pit waterfall. It is the biggest ball pit for adults in London.
Once located in Dalston, they recently moved to Curtain Road in Shoreditch, and the place is now bigger than it ever was before with more balls than you’d think possible. So, not only does this place measure around 4000 ft, it also packs over a million balls, complemented by a large mirrored cage and an accompanying waterfall. You’ll also be treated to some urban UV murals across the walls, to give it that night club vibe. The good news is that the bar serves adult beverages and a couple of sweet cocktails just in case your inner child needs pacifying. To top it off, you get to hear deep pumping bass from the resident DJs to keep the party going until the wee hours of the day.
The Geffrye Museum
To us no visit to Shoreditch is complete without a visit to the 18th-century almshouses turned into Geffrye Museum. It has stuff dating back to over a century, and exquisite English interior decoration. What you’ll see here is perhaps something that’s nowhere else to be found outside of the UK. The museum houses some of the oldest English furniture, decorative arts, and paintings. It also has recreated rooms to show how the middle class lived back in the 1600s right through to the present.
The museum presents domestic history in a way that’s unlike any other exhibit at any other museum. Not only that, there are intriguing details that will catch anybody’s eyes like a bell jar filled with stuffed birds and decorative chairs.
It is important to note that at the moment the museum is closed, but it is scheduled to open sometime in 2020.
Conclusion
Shoreditch is one of the best places to spend some time when in London. However, the longer you stay here, the more you’ll fall in love with the place.