Exploring
East London
Route 2
Stratford to Hackney Wick
Start at Stratford (DLR, Tube, Overground) station and spend the day wandering your way over to Hackney Wick (Overground).
Zoom in and click on each pin for info, reviews, opening times and photos.
NB: What the map refers to as the A10 is Kingsland Rd/Stoke Newington High St.
A PERFECT DAY
-
Start with a coffee at Dalston Curve Garden if the weather is fine, or Dusty Knuckles bakery if you’re HUNGRY.
Get stuck into the charity shops after that, Traid may require an hour to fully investigate. -
When in Rome… we recommend lunch of Turkish or Jamaican food. Rest those feet!
Beyond Retro and Reign Vintage offer a huge range of eras and styles. Maybe you need lederhosen, maybe you need a 1920’s neglige?
Fresh air break: Explore Abney Park Cemetery and wonder about ivy and ghosts.
OR
Cake. Embark on a baklava degustation washed down with stiff Turkish tea. -
Start with a Guinness at The Auld Shillelagh, or another one of Stoke Newington’s wonderful pubs.
Dinner: Families may head to Sutton and Sons for a chippie, or head to a cozy pub like the Red Lion in Stokey for pizza and board games. Friends and lovers may want to hit trendy restaurant like Ta-Ko or Acme Fire Cult.
Live or late: Go see a random band/DJ/theatre production! Chances are you will hit upon a gem. You only live once, guys.
Route Highlights
Green Spaces
-
Dalston Curve Garden: The community reclaimed this disused railway plot and turned it into a quirky green marvel.
Abney Park Cemetery: Overgrown, historic and atmospheric space to wander. Kids and dogs will especially love getting lost here.
Clissold Park: The green heart of the area with cafe -playgrounds, splash park, tennis courts, picnic spaces, goats and more. -
Dogs can get a good a run round Abney Park cemetery and Clissold Park.
The Rose and Crown pub (on Church St. in Stokey, on the round-a-bout just before Clissold Park) welcomes dogs.
Many restaurants and pubs have outdoor tables, and others (The Good Egg, Esther’s, Fox and Pie) are pet friendly.
Family Friendly
-
Pubs and kids mix well here. Pizza, crisps and board games are usually on offer and kids are welcome until the evening crowd rolls in.
Loading Gaming Bar welcomes families and offers video and board games. Book ahead to be sure of a space.
Abney Park has lots of tree cover.
Charity shops are a never-ending source of toys to tinker with, fun clothes and costumes for a few pounds.
The Rio Cinema in Dalston has an old-school feel and great programming.
The Young V+A museum is worth the detour if the weather is proper rotten. It’s a little bit off this route, take the Central Line to Bethnal Green, it’s just across the street. -
Fish and Chips from Sutton and Sons is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Turkish food is an easy sell with lentil soup, turkish ‘pide’ very much like pizzas. The rice is plentiful and delicious, chargrilled veg and meat are simple and delicious.
Cafe Z Bar in Stokey has a massive menu and friendly atmosphere that welcomes families. Fresh juices and smoothies, lots of brunch and lunch options to please little ones.
Olympic Legacy
-
Traid: Near Dalston Kingsland
Mind: Stoke Newington Church St
Mary’s Living and Giving: Stoke Newington Church St -
Beyond Retro is like walking into a Hollywood wardrobe warehouse.
Reign Vintage is one of the best for quality and variety and price we’ve ever seen. Anywhere in the world.
Pubs
-
Closing times during the week are listed on each pin - often 11pm. Closing time is usually midnight on Fri/Sat.
Kids are welcome usually till about 8pm.
Pub Food is often really good if you are looking for more than crisps and nuts. Some do a pub menu, others bar snacks… many offer surprisingly good pizza made on-site, and Sunday roasts. -
Bar Lotus has some wonderful whisky and exciting, well-crafted cocktails. Buzzy, and fills up quickly!
392 Kingsland Rd. is the currently the perfect East London bar, worth the slight detour.
A Mini Bar is just that. Cozy and drinks that feel high end, great for twosomes.
If you wander from Stoke Newington to Dalston you will come across lots of charming bars, all full of personality, and most of the time you can’t go wrong!
Local Cuisine
-
Windrush Bar + Kitchen is just across from the junction with Church Street, and is as friendly as it is well established.
Jambay Kitchen: Jamaican cuisine in all its spicy and smoky glory. -
Sweet
When you need perking up, stop at Bebek Baklava or Super Baklava for some super fresh pastries, cakes and tea.
Savoury:
The Mangal Rivalry was mainlyTwitter banter. It has fizzled out and Mangal 1 has stayed traditional while Mangal II is chic modern Turkish. What team are you on?
People come from all over London to enjoy a Best Kebab. -
RasaN16: South Indian, vegetarian, many consider it one of London’s best. Book ahead.
Acme Meat Co: Book ahead! This fire-y rock and roll meat joint is having a moment.
Dusty Knuckles is an award-winning bakery and social enterprise. You won’t soon forget their sandwiches.
Evenings
-
The quality of the live music and theatre here is top notch.
The Arcola Theatre: One to book ahead, a chance to see some brave and excellent work.
Cafe Oto: Top quality music, always underground and international.
SJQ: An underground atmospheric bar with live music (often jazz) and great sound.
Shacklewell Arms: A rock and roll bar with gigs most nights. The acts are up and coming and worth seeing - though some may require booking ahead.
Club Makossa: This is your sweaty night out dancing. -
Sass and style in spades!
The Karaoke Hole: Both drag bar and glitzy karaoke - come for laughs, leave the wallflowers at home.
Dalston Superstore: Drag brunches, food and drink during the day that slides into night.. and a bijou sweatbox club in the basement.
Vogue Fabrics: Open for special events, and when they do it - they do it right. Check their website for happenings.