Beyond the glass towers of Silicon Roundabout lies an East London neighbourhood rich with literary ghosts, radical history, and unexpected pockets of quiet. Here are the best things to do near Old Street if you want to explore like a (thoughtful) local.
Why Stay Near Old Street?
“In 1838, this was was a private house…dairy cows once grazed up to the back door.”
So says a sign on the York Pub, just a short walk from Old Street.
And so begins the stories of London’s neighbourhoods, a patchwork of characters caught up in ripples from central London and now part of one of the greatest cities on earth.
You won’t find the area around Old Street in a travel guide under “best things to see” or “top things to do” but that’s so much the better. It’s close enough to the main sites to make staying here a strategic choice. But far enough away to have a character away from tourist crowds.
Every time I visit, I discover something new.
It’s an energising blend of cutting edge chrome and steel, cosy pubs, modern art, boutique shops and a surprising preponderance of cool of another kind: tranquil gardens and green hideaways.
Here’s my collection of the best things to do near Old Street, London.
Where to Stay Near Old Street: nhow London – A Design Hotel with East London Personality
Blazing onto the scene with Big Ben as a missile in its lobby, the nhow London sits between Old Street and Islington, bringing design and comfort together with some lovely quirky features.
Unlike many London hotels that could be anywhere in the world, nhow London embraces its surroundings.
The design also reflects the area’s constant conversation between old and new.
Traditional London references sit alongside contemporary artwork, echoing the wider Shoreditch area where Victorian warehouses now house galleries, restaurants and design studios.
It’s a good choice for travellers who enjoy hotels with personality rather than the vanilla, anonymous luxury, where if you woke up with amnesia, you’d have no hope of working out where you were.
Rooms: The soundproofing is second to none and I loved the little touches, like Henry VIII on the do not disturb sign, saying make up my chambers nhow, and a suspended bowler hat as a lamp in the reading area.
The shape of the suite was wild, too, with a long corridor, triangular spot for reading and then a hairpin turn to reach the bedroom and bathroom. Watch the video on instagram for the grand tour.
Facilities: There’s an open plan reception, library, bar and restaurant on the ground floor, decked out with bright red lips and violet teardrops, and you’ll see a mix of business meetings and friendly catch ups taking place.
The restaurant, Guilty, lives up to its name by serving hearty pub classics like fish & chips and fragrant chicken tikka and the breakfast buffet combines healthy options with the one and only Full English too.
It’s an absolutely fun yet high quality place to stay.
My Favourite Things to Do Near Old Street, London
See Contemporary Art in an Oasis at Victoria Miro
Right at the top of my list is this lovely little art museum.
With no open door, Victoria Miro is harder to find than most of London’s top museums – instead you need to buzz to be let in. This former furniture factory now houses bright white, airy galleries that showcase intriguing exhibitions from internationally renowned artists.
The real twist is the tranquil garden area, a secret green heartbeat in the city. It overlooks a large, glossy office, where you can watch modern work in full flow: lines of people staring at screens.
It’s about as provocative as the art itself.
Best of all, admission is free, allowing you to taste thoughtful design and contemporary culture as many times as you like during your stay.
Even if modern art isn’t usually your first choice, the setting alone is worth the short walk.
- Recommended reading: how to spend 3 days in London
Regent’s Canal and a Chance for Calm
From Victoria Miro, continue along Regent’s Canal for one of London’s loveliest urban walks.
Narrowboats drift past converted warehouses, cyclists ring their bells and locals jog, chatter or pause with takeaway coffees beside the water. It’s an altogether gentler side of the capital, tucked away just minutes from the crowds.
It’s also particularly beautiful during autumn in London…
Camden Passage in Islington
Not to be confused with Camden Market, Camden Passage looks ripe for a setting in the west side story Notting Hill or the beautiful London living in Love Actually.
This historic car-free alleyway dates back to the 18th century and has long been celebrated as a haven for antique collectors, vintage lovers, and independent treasure hunters.
On market days (primarily Wednesdays and Saturdays), the cobblestones come alive with open-air stalls brimming with Art Deco jewellery, mid-century glassware, rare prints, and vintage apparel, while permanent independent storefronts, ranging from Japanese tea houses to artisan cheese shops, await all the time.
Just by having coffee here, I feel cooler, craftier and more connected.
Arnold Circus and the Boundary Estate: A Victorian Vision of City Living
One of the most fascinating hidden gems near Shoreditch is Arnold Circus, at the heart of the Boundary Estate.
Built at the end of the nineteenth century, the estate was one of the earliest examples of social housing created by the London County Council. Before it was developed, this area was known as the Old Nichol, one of the most overcrowded and impoverished parts of the East End.
Today, it feels surprisingly peaceful. A circular garden sits at the centre, surrounded by attractive brick buildings and leafy paths.
Visit the Museum of the Home
Formerly known as the Geffrye Museum, the Museum of the Home explores the story of domestic life in Britain over the last four centuries.
Rather than focusing on kings and queens, it recreates the rooms where ordinary people cooked, celebrated, argued and relaxed. Period interiors chart changing fashions and family life, while contemporary galleries ask bigger questions about what “home” means today.
For my take on this, read What is home anyway?
Old Spitalfields Market: A London Institution
One way or another, Old Spitalfields has shared her wares for over 350 years.
Details come and go but OS remains one of the best markets in the city of London, if you ask me. (Not the City of London. The capital C makes all the difference – find out why in this article on London’s nicknames.)
Housed within a grand late-Victorian iron-and-glass market hall (the Grade II-listed Horner Buildings), the space perfectly encapsulates the East End’s knack for reinventing historic infrastructure.
Under the soaring roof, independent artisans, vintage clothing traders, record dealers, and jewellery makers set up alongside ‘The Kitchens’ – a central hub of street food concepts offering everything from hand-pulled noodles to gourmet wood-fired pizza.
It’s one of my favourite spots to spend a rain-proof afternoon browsing unique, handcrafted finds before wandering out into the surrounding Georgian conservation area of Fournier Street.
Brick Lane Market: Spices & Street Art
On Sundays, Brick Lane Market comes alive, with vintage clothing, antiques, records and independent makers filling the surrounding spaces.
Food is a major part of the experience and the words “Brick Lane” have become synonymous with Indian street food – although you can also find Ethiopian dishes, salt beef bagels and more.
Brick Lane is also one of the best places to appreciate Shoreditch street art. Look upwards and around the side streets, where huge murals cover warehouse walls and alleyways.
Columbia Road Flower Market: A Sunday Morning Ritual
Around a 20-minute walk from Old Street, this Sunday morning tradition feels like another world from the louder streets of Shoreditch.
Columbia Road Flower Market fills the road with florals, plants and the distinctive calls of traders selling their blooms.
Connections from Old Street
Old Street station connects you quickly across London, while Liverpool Street station is within walking distance for Elizabeth Line connections and trains across the city. Many of the area’s highlights are also easily reached on foot, with Brick Lane, Spitalfields and the Barbican all nearby.
That said, for London, it does feel as though there are some gaps. You can’t reliably fall out of the Tube and into what you want. But it’s not too far to walk to the central Covent Garden area.
Neighbourhoods Near Old Street
Shoreditch
Ask people what Shoreditch is known for and you’ll probably hear about its street art, nightlife and independent spirit. Here is the place to find people in harlequin onesies with blue hair and purple nail varnish en route to a business meeting.
Beyond the iconic artwork on Rivington Street and Redchurch Street, Shoreditch thrives on a spirit of eclectic independence – where subterranean cocktail dens, coffee roasters, and concept stores sit alongside beloved institutions like the 24-hour Beigel Bake on Brick Lane.
Hoxton
Just north-east of Old Street station lies Hoxton. Once the cradle of London’s late-1990s Young British Artists movement, the area has retained its indie creative flair.
Quiet residential streets lined with Victorian terraces give way to former printing presses and furniture warehouses, now reimagined as independent art galleries, loft spaces, and neighbourhood bistros.
Clerkenwell
Just west of Old Street lies Clerkenwell, an atmospheric neighbourhood defined by its medieval monastic origins, radical political history, and world-class culinary reputation. Once London’s historic centre for clockmaking, printing, and distilling, its character lives on in cobbled alleyways, quiet leafy squares like Clerkenwell Green, and the grand 16th-century stone archway of St John’s Gate.
Top tip: check out Exmouth Market and its weekday street food stalls and independent boutiques.
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