Simon's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Peaceful garden oasis with drinks and sometimes pizza. In winter ask for a blanket and hot water bottle. Live music some nights.
178 locals recommend
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston LnPeaceful garden oasis with drinks and sometimes pizza. In winter ask for a blanket and hot water bottle. Live music some nights.
Lovely park with Olympic velodrome and swimming
Pool. Take the overground from Hackney central or Dalston Kingsland
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Lovely park with Olympic velodrome and swimming
Pool. Take the overground from Hackney central or Dalston Kingsland
World famous flower market Sunday mornings only - it does get busy but there are some nice cafes to escape the crowd and of course thousands of plants
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadWorld famous flower market Sunday mornings only - it does get busy but there are some nice cafes to escape the crowd and of course thousands of plants
Take the overground from Dalston Junction to Wapping then walk along the Thames path and through St Katherine’s dock to Tower Bridge and Tower of London
17 locals recommend
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge RoadTake the overground from Dalston Junction to Wapping then walk along the Thames path and through St Katherine’s dock to Tower Bridge and Tower of London
North and south of Dalston Junction endless bars, nightlife, restaurants: Turkish, Vietnamese, West Indian, vegan, pizza, fish n chips, modern European...a multicultural experience
Kingsland Road
Kingsland RoadNorth and south of Dalston Junction endless bars, nightlife, restaurants: Turkish, Vietnamese, West Indian, vegan, pizza, fish n chips, modern European...a multicultural experience
Get on the 38 bus to Cambridge Circus for Chinatown, Soho, Leicester Square, National Gallery, Oxford Street and Covent Garden
34 locals recommend
Soho
Get on the 38 bus to Cambridge Circus for Chinatown, Soho, Leicester Square, National Gallery, Oxford Street and Covent Garden
Endless antiquities from around the world plus some great special exhibitions. 38 bus get off at Museum Street.
6 locals recommend
British Museum Reading Room
Great Russell StreetEndless antiquities from around the world plus some great special exhibitions. 38 bus get off at Museum Street.
Free entry to a park high above the city but you will need to book a ticket in advance - no under 18s after 6pm. If you can - get a ticket for sunset
300 locals recommend
Sky Garden
Free entry to a park high above the city but you will need to book a ticket in advance - no under 18s after 6pm. If you can - get a ticket for sunset
56 bus takes you to St Pauls, after the cathedral you can cross the river on the footbridge to the Tate Modern Gallery. If you are still feeling adventurous walk south along the river to Borough Market ( weekends only) and on to Tower Bridge, cross back over for Tower of London
845 locals recommend
St. Paul's Cathedral
56 bus takes you to St Pauls, after the cathedral you can cross the river on the footbridge to the Tate Modern Gallery. If you are still feeling adventurous walk south along the river to Borough Market ( weekends only) and on to Tower Bridge, cross back over for Tower of London
Cultural pursuits
Rio Cinema
107 Kingsland High StreetArt Deco cinema showing a range of mainstream and arthouse films
London’s premier fringe theatre. Check what is on as can be sold out. Great bar if you dont want to see a play
199 locals recommend
Arcola Bar
24 Ashwin StLondon’s premier fringe theatre. Check what is on as can be sold out. Great bar if you dont want to see a play
International centre for live experimental and improvised music, from free jazz to folk to Electronica
203 locals recommend
Cafe OTO
18-22 Ashwin StreetInternational centre for live experimental and improvised music, from free jazz to folk to Electronica
International modern art
Most exhibitions free. 56 bus and get off at St Paul’s Cathedral then walk over the Thames foot bridge https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
2008 locals recommend
Tate Modern
BanksideInternational modern art
Most exhibitions free. 56 bus and get off at St Paul’s Cathedral then walk over the Thames foot bridge https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
Free entry and an easy trip on the 38 bus. Small but packed with an amazing mixture of Soane’s collection of arts and antiquities. Just across the park is the Hunterian Museum of surgery - not for the squeamish! Discover the art and science of surgery from ancient times to the present day.
Including the extraordinary specimen collection of the 18th century surgeon anatomist John Hunter.
183 locals recommend
Sir John Soane's Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn FieldsFree entry and an easy trip on the 38 bus. Small but packed with an amazing mixture of Soane’s collection of arts and antiquities. Just across the park is the Hunterian Museum of surgery - not for the squeamish! Discover the art and science of surgery from ancient times to the present day.
Including the extraordinary specimen collection of the 18th century surgeon anatomist John Hunter.
Liesure
Olympic size open air heated pool in London Fields Park. 10
Minute walk away.
591 locals recommend
London Fields
London Fields West SideOlympic size open air heated pool in London Fields Park. 10
Minute walk away.
Everything from hipster fashion to food to secondhand. Overground from Dalston Junction to Shoreditch High street. The market is only Sunday’s but Brick lane is lively all week. Lots of new vegan stalls and restaurants at the south end
825 locals recommend
Brick Lane Sunday Market
Brick LaneEverything from hipster fashion to food to secondhand. Overground from Dalston Junction to Shoreditch High street. The market is only Sunday’s but Brick lane is lively all week. Lots of new vegan stalls and restaurants at the south end
Good selection of beers and burgers - live music some nights in the secret venue behind the bookcase http://www.jaguarshoes.com/venue/the-victoria/
30 locals recommend
The Victoria Dalston
451 Queensbridge RdGood selection of beers and burgers - live music some nights in the secret venue behind the bookcase http://www.jaguarshoes.com/venue/the-victoria/
The Three Compasses
99 Dalston LnCool pub with music and good food https://www.3compasses.com/
Quieter local pub with good food and beer, great on a cold day when the fires are lit
http://www.theprincegeorgepub.co.uk/
73 locals recommend
Prince George
40 Parkholme RdQuieter local pub with good food and beer, great on a cold day when the fires are lit
http://www.theprincegeorgepub.co.uk/
Farr's Dalston
Big lively young pub, sometimes events in the basement bar
Food scene
Turkish supermarket that makes me feel like i am on holiday when I buy my groceries. Fresh fruit and vegetables, Turkish butchers and bakers and all the usual stuff. More fun than Sainsbury’s!!
25 locals recommend
TFC Dalston
89 Ridley RdTurkish supermarket that makes me feel like i am on holiday when I buy my groceries. Fresh fruit and vegetables, Turkish butchers and bakers and all the usual stuff. More fun than Sainsbury’s!!
Weekend street market - food, vintage, craft, street entertainment https://broadwaymarket.co.uk/
1735 locals recommend
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketWeekend street market - food, vintage, craft, street entertainment https://broadwaymarket.co.uk/
Possibly the widest selection of quality artisan food and drink in one market anywhere, gets busy and weekends only. A nice stop off of walking the river between Tate Modern and Tower Bridge
1617 locals recommend
Borough Market
Borough High StreetPossibly the widest selection of quality artisan food and drink in one market anywhere, gets busy and weekends only. A nice stop off of walking the river between Tate Modern and Tower Bridge
Andu Café
528 Kingsland RdInexpensive, one menu, tasty Ethiopian vegan food
So many Turkish restaurants in Dalston and the prices have gone up with the neighbourhood - Sominye do a lovely lentil soup and stews are good value and come with bread and salad
20 locals recommend
Somine
131 Kingsland High StSo many Turkish restaurants in Dalston and the prices have gone up with the neighbourhood - Sominye do a lovely lentil soup and stews are good value and come with bread and salad
Ignore the Bengali/Indian restaurants on Brick Lane ( well they are ok!) and head a bit further south for this busy but delicious Punjabi restaurant. The lamb chops are the best but the whole menu is good. Overground to Whitechapel
381 locals recommend
Tayyabs
83-89 Fieldgate StIgnore the Bengali/Indian restaurants on Brick Lane ( well they are ok!) and head a bit further south for this busy but delicious Punjabi restaurant. The lamb chops are the best but the whole menu is good. Overground to Whitechapel
Cheap, Fresh and Tasty takeaway curries, Bhaji & Somoza served by the friendliest crew.
Kashmir Kebabish
Cheap, Fresh and Tasty takeaway curries, Bhaji & Somoza served by the friendliest crew.
City advice
Getting around
If possible use contactless payment card or on phone
If you don’t have contactless payment on your card or mobile phone you will have to get an Oyster card from a station and either link to your bank account or top up credit. Travel in London isn’t cheap but oyster or contactless will cap your maximum charge each day. We are well served by London overground with quick connections from Dalston Junction to Victoria Line Underground at Highbury and to the Elizabeth Line at Whitechapel. Dalston Kingsland/Hackney Central will take you East to Stratford or West to Camden, Hampstead and Kew Gardens. Buses are cheaper and we are well connected
Getting around
Buses
Buses are cheaper and we are well connected. You will still need contactless payment or an Oyster card. 38 to/from British Museum, Oxford Street, Soho. 242 for Shoreditch. 56 for Islington, Barbican, and St Paul’s Cathedral. Sit on the top deck and enjoy the view.