# London/Hackney

Hackney is a district of London. Hackney has a diverse population and the area has undergone massive regeneration in recent decades. Hackney is now very fashionable with a thriving arts scene in the south of the district for example.

## Understand

Hackney staged some of the events during the 2012 London Summer Olympics such as hockey in the Lea Valley Arena and hosted the world's media. Many of the big events happened in the nearby Olympic Stadium and VeloPark. This was a hot spot for tourists and locals during the action.
In the far north of the district near Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill and Woodberry Downs is the centre of the Hasidic and Adeni Jewish communities in London and the largest in Europe. A visit here certainly provides a very different cultural experience to anywhere else in Britain.
Hackney is also known for its wide open green spaces such as Hackney Marshes, (home of 88 football pitches) being the most notable and known as the spiritual home of grass roots soccer in the UK.

### Visitor information

* Hackney Council

## Get in
### By bus

Hackney is well served by buses from all over the capital, with the routes converging on Hackney Central, Dalston and Stoke Newington. Bus routes serving Hackney include the 30, 38, 48, 55, 56, 67, 76, 106, 149, 242, 243, 253, 254, 277, 488 and D6
* 30 bus. From Marble Arch to Hackney Wick via Baker Street. (updated Mar 2023)

### By train

The London Overground network has many stations throughout Hackney across different lines:

#### Chingford Line

The Chingford line goes from Chingford to London Liverpool St via Walthamstow:
* Clapton (Zone 2 + 3)
* Hackney Downs (Zone 2)

#### East London Line (ELL)

The East London Line (ELL) goes from Highbury & Islington to Croydon:
* Dalston Junction (Zone 2)
* Haggerston (Zone 2)
* Hoxton (Zone 1 & Zone 2)

#### Enfield & Cheshunt line

The Enfield & Cheshunt line goes from Cheshunt to London Liverpool St via Stratford:
* Stoke Newington (Zone 2)
* Stamford Hill (Zone 3)

#### North London Line (NLL)

The North London Line (NLL) goes from Richmond to Stratford via Willesden Junction:
* Dalston Kingsland (Zone 2)
* Hackney Central (Zone 2)
* Homerton (Zone 2)
* Hackney Wick (Zone 2)

### By tube

There are no stations in the district but northern parts can be easily reached from these stations on the Piccadilly line:
* Finsbury Park (Zone 2)
* Manor House (Zones 2 + 3)

## Get around

The best way to get around the borough is to walk, cycle or get buses. The many parks and green spaces dotted around make Hackney much nicer to walk around than its inner London location would suggest and local residents often cycle via the many routes of London’s Cycleways.

## See
### Landmarks

* 51.545-0.05641 Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, E8 1EA (rail: Hackney Central), ☏ +44 20 8356-5000. Built in the 1930s including the surrounding square and gardens.
* 51.5484-0.05042 Sutton House, 2 & 4 Homerton High St, E9 6JQ (rail: Hackney Central), ☏ +44 20 8986-2264, suttonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk. Th-Su 12:30-4:30PM. Tudor House in Homerton, owned by the National Trust. £0.80-2.90.
* 51.5492-0.05323 St John-at-Hackney Community Space Centre, Lower Clapton Rd, E5 0PD (rail: Hackney Central ), ☏ +44 20 7613-9525. This tower of St John-at-Hackney Church is the oldest building in Hackney and a famous landmark of the borough.
* 51.54785-0.05454 St Augustine's Tower. On the last Sunday of every month, except December, the tower is open to the public between 2PM and 4:30PM Free. (updated Jan 2024)

### Parks

* 51.537-0.0385 Victoria Park. Commonly called the People's Park, it's huge and hosts summer festivals. On an island in the park is a Chinese pagoda, a reconstruction of a pagoda built in 1842. On Sundays the park hosts a popular street food market.
* 51.561111-0.0880566 Clissold Park, Greenway Cl, N4 2EY (tube: Manor House PIC ), info@hackney.gov.uk. Park with a rich history. It is a former country house and estate and was first opened to the public in 1889.
* 51.5553-0.0613897 Hackney Downs. Near Clapton Ponds, has free tennis courts and is nice for cycle, though a bit plain and squarish.
* 51.54-0.06088 London Fields, Richmond Rd, Hackney, E8, ☏ +44 20 8356-8428, +44 20 8356-8429, info@hackney.gov.uk. There are records of a public park at this site going back to the 16th century. Every Saturday, there is a farmers' market selling here, complemented by many others selling hand-made jewellery, gifts, childrenswear and vintage clothing.
* 51.57-0.0880569 Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs), 1 Newnton Cl, N4 2RH (tube: Manor House PIC ), ☏ +44 20 8802-4573. Two former Thames Water reservoirs which are now managed as a nature reserve in urban Hackney by the London Wildlife Trust. Has a small visitor centre.
* 51.5649-0.078110 Abney Park Cemetery, info@abneypark.org. 8am-dusk. One of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ garden cemeteries of London, which has become a woodland memorial park, popular with local dog owners. There are free guided walks that you can book tickets for online (updated Jun 2024)

### Museums

* 51.5444-0.073311 The Clowns Archive, Holy Trinity Church, Beechwood Rd, E8 3DY, ☏ +44 870 128 4336. Museum of clowning, unique collection of faces on eggs. Open only first Friday of every month from noon-5PM. Free.
* 51.531714-0.07618512 Museum of the Home (Geffrye Museum), 136 Kingsland Rd, E2 8EA (tube/rail: Old Street NOR ), ☏ +44 20 7739-9893, info@geffrye-museum.org.uk. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Furniture museum which charts the evolution of London urban interior design and furnishing since 1600. Free. (updated Nov 2022)
* 51.544508-0.05582513 Hackney Museum, Technology & Learning Centre, 1 Reading Ln, E8 1GQ, ☏ +44 20 8356-3500, fax: +44 20 8356-2563, info@hackney.gov.uk. Tu W F 9:30AM-5:30PM, Th 9:30AM-8PM; Sa 10AM-5PM. Providing a history of Hackney and periodic exhibitions.
* 51.53473-0.05757114 Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare St, E8 4RP, ☏ +44 20 7998-3617, gallery@thelasttuesdaysociety.org. W–F 5-10PM, Sa noon-10PM, Su 3-10PM. A macabre museum modelled on a 17th-century cabinet of curiosities. The museum has no particular theme connecting its exhibits, which are seemingly the most unusual and unnerving objects the owner could find: taxidermy, skulls (human or otherwise), bizarre photographs, strange sex manuals, idols from faraway lands, and similarly eccentric oddities. Upstairs is a bar (free entry) with an emphasis on cocktails and absinthe, and the museum itself is down a gilded spiral staircase beside the counter. The owner has an excellent collection of Leonora Carrington paintings. The space is small, so try to come when it's not too busy (avoid Saturdays). Children are only allowed before 7PM. Museum entry is £10, £6 if you visit the bar too, £2.50 on Thursday evenings. (updated Oct 2020)

### Galleries

* 51.538322-0.0441115 The Residence Gallery, 229 Victoria Park Road, E9 7HD (train: Hackney Wick), ☏ +44 20 8986-2324, info@residencegallery.com. By appointment. Avant garde gallery with up-and-coming and newly established artists.
* 51.53843-0.05732716 Space Gallery, 129-131 Mare St, E8 3RH, ☏ +44 20 8525-4330.
* Elevator Gallery and the Chocolate Factory both near Hackney Downs on Stoke Newington Rd.

### Artworks

* 51.5476-0.054617 Custard Apple, Breadfruit and Soursop by Veronica Ryan. The first permanent artworks to honour the Windrush generation in the UK. (updated Feb 2024)
* 51.545255-0.05563618 Warm Shores by Thomas J Price. Nine-foot-high bronze sculptures celebrating the Windrush Generation. (updated Feb 2024)

## Do

* 51.545622-0.0554791 Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, E8 1EJ (London Overground to Hackney Central; Rail to Hackney Downs; tube: Bethnal Green CEN then 10 min by bus no 106 or 154), ☏ +44 20 8985-2424. Historic theatre and music hall, offering an eclectic mix of entertainment.
* East London Art Walks (Comment Art Walks), ☏ +44 20 7739-1743, +44 7799 776 016. A friendly, qualified art guide will take you around a selection of the most interesting exhibitions on at the moment and also talk about the history of contemporary art in East London. call for times and meeting points.
* 51.54262-0.061542 London Fields Lido, London Fields Westside E8 3EU (London Fields Rail Stn), ☏ +44 20 7254-9038. Lovely old-fashioned outdoor swimming Lido with a 50-metre pool run by Better. £3.35-5.70. (updated Feb 2024)
* 51.5496-0.07563 Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High St, E8 (London Overground to Dalston Kingsland or Dalston Jct), ☏ +44 20 7241-9410, mail@riocinema.org.uk. A splendid old cinema dating back to the 1900s. Specialises in foreign language films, offbeat arthouse productions and children's programming.
* Walk Hackney Marshes. Lovely walk along the River Lea and canal which stretches across much of East London and further. A surprisingly rural experience in an otherwise densely built district of London.
* 51.549952-0.0428774 The Castle Cinema, 64-66 Brooksby's Walk. Independent cinema with two screens, and an art deco bar. (updated Jan 2024)
* 51.5519-0.0738895 Arcola Theatre. (updated Feb 2024)
* 51.5469-0.07476 Cafe Oto, 18–22 Ashwin St. Intimate venue hosting free jazz, experimental and free improvisation performances. (updated Feb 2024)
* 51.545682-0.0545587 MOTH Club, General Browning Club, 83 Valette St. Intimate venue hosting live music, club nights and comedy. (updated Feb 2024)
* 51.541883-0.0552558 Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare St. Cinema with six screens, and a bar serving food. Has accessible screenings, accommodating those with autism or dementia, and sometimes puts on dog friendly screenings. (updated Apr 2024)
* Hackney Half. London's biggest half-marathon, with a course that takes in many of the sights of Hackney. It has become very popular and sells out quickly. (updated Jun 2024)

## Buy

* 51.5387-0.05811 London Fields Brewery, 365–366 Warburton St, E8 3RR (come out of London Fields station on the Mare Street side, turn right, and continue on for 200 m; it's at the end of the road), ☏ +44 20 7254-7174, info@londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk. M Tu noon–7PM, W–Su noon–9PM. Every Saturday, London Fields Brewery run brewery tours. Come down and have a guided tour of the brewery and learn how they are making their superbly tasty beers. Also included in the price are tastings of the beers in the BrewHouse, the brewery's very own pop-up bar. £10–25. (updated May 2021)
* 51.5508-0.05262 Ümit & Son Store, 35 Lower Clapton Rd, E5 0NS (rail: Hackney Central or Hackney Downs), ☏ +44 20 8985-1766. M–Sa 10AM–7PM. DVD, VHS, Videodiscs, 8mm film reels and more are all sold here. Projectors and equipment for some of the less standard formats are available for hire and the shop also offers a video-to-digital transfer service.
* 51.55309-0.045063 London Borough of Jam, 51D Chatsworth Rd. Sa Su 11AM-4PM. Boutique jam shop, selling all natural jams free of commercial pectins. (updated Jan 2024)

### Shopping centres & markets

* 51.5367-0.06174 Broadway Market. Market: Sa 9AM–5PM; Street: 24 hours daily, individual business hours vary. Visit on a Saturday. Has a variety of gastropubs and trendy clothes! (updated May 2021)
* 51.5482-0.07295 Ridley Road Market, Ridley Road, E8 2NP. M–Sa 9AM–3PM. Mix of traditional East-end fruit and veg alongside Afro-Caribbean delicacies, imported films, clothes and household items. Little of interest for the tourist to buy, but a great experience. Watch your pockets in the crowded pavements behind the stalls. There are also market stalls on the side streets surrounding Dalston Kingsland station.
* 51.5477-0.07346 Kingsland Shopping Centre, Kingsland High Street, E8 2LX (opposite Dalston Kingsland station), Centre.Manager@criterionhospitality.com. M–Sa 8AM–10PM, Su & holidays 11AM–5PM, closed Christmas & Easter. The main shopping mall in the borough. (updated May 2021)
* 51.571661-0.0730677 Stamford Hill. The centre of the Hassidic Jewish community and has many kosher bakeries, delis and supermarkets.
* 51.5621-0.08048 Stoke Newington Church St. Many small bookshops and antique stores.
* 51.553287-0.0447019 Chatsworth Road Market. Sunday 11AM-4PM. (updated Feb 2024)

## Eat

Stoke Newington (Church Street), Broadway Market and Mare Street have a variety of gastropubs and restaurants. There are many great Turkish and Asian restaurants on Kingsland Road. To the south of Mare Street there are a great number of very reasonable Vietnamese restaurants. Some also have the bonus of being able to bring your own alcohol, which brings down cost considerably.

### Budget

* 51.5405-0.05571 Green Papaya Xi'Viet, 191 Mare St, E8 3QE, ☏ +44 20 8985-5486. Tu–F noon–3PM & 5–11PM, Sa 1–11PM, Su 1–10:30PM, closed M. Offering great Vietnamese food for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Mains from £5. (updated Apr 2021)
* 51.5482-0.05692 Mess Cafe, 38 Amhurst Rd, E8 1JN, ☏ +44 20 8985-3194. Great quality caf breakfasts. £4.
* 51.5308-0.0773 Sông Quê Café, 134 Kingsland Rd, E2 8DY, ☏ +44 20 7613-3222. M–F noon–3PM & 5:30–11PM, Sa noon–11PM, Su & holidays noon–10:30PM. Rated by Zagat as the best Vietnamese on Kingsland Rd. (updated Apr 2021)
* 51.5293-0.07744 Viet Hoa, 70-72 Kingsland Rd, E2 8DP, ☏ +44 20 7729-8293. M–F noon–3:30PM & 5:30–11:30PM, Sa Su 12:30–11:30PM. You must try the salted prawns! Mains from £5.30. (updated Apr 2021)
* 51.534435-0.0482765 Victoria Park Market, Bonner Gate W2 9JW. Sundays 10AM–4PM. Lots of street food from around the world at a weekly outdoor market. (updated Nov 2020)
* 51.559484-0.0740846 Sutton and Sons, 90 Stoke Newington High Street, ☏ +44 20 7249-6444, chips@suttonandsons.co.uk. Su–Th noon–10PM, F Sa noon–10:30PM. Fish and chips to eat in or take away. Offers an excellent vegan menu including "fish" made from banana blossom. In addition to the flagship restaurant in Stoke Newington, has two branches at 218 Graham Rd in Hackney Central and 356 Essex Rd in Islington. £10–15. (updated Dec 2021)
* 51.55141-0.055437 Black Cat Cafe, 76A Clarence Rd. Independent vegan café. (updated Sep 2024)
* 51.544538-0.0757098 Andu, 528 Kingsland Rd, ☏ +44 20 7254-1780. Ethiopian vegan café, cash only. (updated Feb 2024)
* 51.545913-0.0541759 Temple of Seitan (Temple of Hackney), 10 Morning Lane, E9 6NA. Noon-10PM. London’s first vegan fried chicken shop. (updated Feb 2024)

### Mid-range

* 51.537-0.061410 Buen Ayre, 50 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ, ☏ +44 20 7275-9900, info@buenayre.co.uk. M–Th 5–11PM, F–Su noon–11PM. Argentine Grill restaurant. Mains £8-22.50. (updated Apr 2021)
* 51.537-0.044811 The Empress (formerly The Empress of India), 130 Lauriston Rd, E9 7LH, ☏ +44 20 8533-5123, hello@empresse9.co.uk. Su M-F noon–10PM, Sa 11AM–10PM. Modern British gastropub in 19th-century surroundings. Mains from £12.50. (updated Apr 2021)
* 51.5623-0.078212 Il Bacio Express, 90 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 0AP, ☏ +44 20 7249-2344, Ilbacioexpress90@gmail.com. M–Th noon–10:30PM, F–Su noon–11PM. A small Sardinian pizza place that has been open since 2000, which serves a variety of pizza and pasta dishes, and has beautiful art on its walls. (updated Apr 2021)
* 51.538726-0.07682213 Lekki, 323 Kingsland Rd, ☏ +44 20 7923-2050. Nigerian restaurant with generous servings. £12–25. (updated Nov 2020)
* 51.5311-0.071514 Premises Cafe & Bistro, 209 Hackney Road E2 8JL, ☏ +44 20 7684-2230. M–Sa 8AM–11PM, Su 8AM–7PM. Warm café serving a mix of English and Turkish dishes. Several vegetarian and vegan options, including a vegan interpretation of a full English breakfast. Try the fruit smoothies. (updated Jan 2022)
* 51.54836-0.0535415 Bad Manners, St John At Hackney churchyard. Kiosk in the church gardens with outdoor seating, serving coffee and Mexican inspired food dishes. (updated Mar 2024)
* 51.54888-0.05444516 We Are Vegan Everything (WAVE), 11 Dispensary Lane. Vegan café tucked away off Mare St, with plenty of outdoor seating. (updated May 2024)
* 51.546955-0.07416317 Acme Fire Cult. BBQ restaurant where at least 50% of the menu is plant-based (updated Aug 2024)
* 51.555726-0.06653218 Bean's Cafe, Unit 2, 1 Mapple Path. Plant-based café serving breakfast and sandwiches (updated Sep 2024)

## Drink

* 51.5532-0.0531 Biddle Bros, 88 Lower Clapton Rd, E5 0QR, ☏ +44 20 8985-7052. M–Th 6PM–midnight, F 4–12:30PM, Sa 12:30PM–12:30AM, Su 12:30–11PM. Lively pub with a good local following. Often have a live band or DJ in the evenings,. (updated May 2021)
* 51.5663-0.07262 The Birdcage, 58 Stamford Hill, N16 6XS, ☏ +44 20 8806-9097, manager@thebirdcagen16.co.uk. Daily noon–midnight. Friendly Stoke Newington pub that often has live bands playing. (updated May 2021)
* 51.5375-0.0613 The Cat & Mutton, 76 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ, ☏ +44 20 7249-6555, info@catandmutton.com. M Tu 4–10PM, W–Sa noon–10PM, Su noon–9PM. Beers £3-3.80. (updated May 2021)
* 51.5464-0.05534 The Cock Tavern, 315 Mare St, E8 1EJ, ☏ +44 20 7248-2918. M–Th 4–11PM, F Sa noon–11PM, Su noon–9PMM. Beer £2.90-3.50. (updated May 2021)
* 51.543-0.02225 Crate Brewery, Unit 7, Queens Yard, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN, ☏ +44 20 8533-3331, bar@cratebrewery.com. S–Th noon–11PM, F Sa noon–11PM. Beer and pizza focused bar on the canal, close to the Olympic Park. (updated May 2021)
* 51.5476-0.050136 Chesham Arms, 15 Mehetabel Rd. Historic pub that is Hackney's first Asset of Community Value. It has a large beer garden, and won CAMRA East London Pub of The Year in 2016. (updated Jan 2024)
* 51.54935-0.059257 Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Rd, ☏ +44 20 8986-8597. (updated Feb 2024)
* 51.538681-0.0580818 Saint Monday, 4 Warburton Rd, E8 3RR. Bar and brewery, serving vegan versions of smoke house dishes, including ribs and brisket (updated Jan 2025)

## Sleep

* 51.5746-0.07941 Amhurst Hotel, 45 - 47 Amhurst Pk, N16 5DL (train: Stamford Hill OGD ), ☏ +44 20 8800-7587. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. Budget hotel in north London with self-catering facilities. £35. (updated Aug 2023)

## Stay safe

Hackney is safe provided you're careful. Most violent crime occurs amongst the gangs in the rougher parts of the borough, which you'll be unlikely to encounter, especially if you stick to the areas where the main entertainment establishments are based. Avoid walking alone at night around Hackney Wick, housing estates and anywhere that looks rough.