My Chase Evans
Shoreditch, EC1 & EC2
Shoreditch is a captivating London district adjacent to the City boasting a convenient central London location and well-preserved heritage assets. The district borders Islington, Bethnal Green, and Whitechapel and is a formidable part of the London tech industry. Shoreditch is often referred to as ‘Tech City’ or Silicon Roundabout with Great Eastern Street, Old Street and Shoreditch High Street, forming its core. The district encompasses London neighbourhoods of Hoxton, Columbia Road and Brick Lane, and is known for its thriving contemporary arts and culture scene and a dynamic night-time economy.
Shoreditch has some of the best-preserved Georgian terraces and houses in London. As a result of long campaigns by locals, the wonderful period gem houses in Elder Street, Folgate Street, Fournier, Wilkes, Princelet, and Hanbury Streets are still standing intact today. The rich historic fabric of Shoreditch has been enhanced with remarkable contemporary architectural projects from the Boundary Estate and Arnold Circus by Owen Fleming built in the 1900s, Sivill House by Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin constructed in the 1960s, to the more recent London landmarks such as Principal Place by Foster & Partners or the Black & White Building by the Waugh Thistleton Architects.
Shoreditch is home to a large lifelong residential population as well as temporary dwellers, mostly young city professionals and new creatives who are settling closer to the City border at the start of their careers. Young families tend to occupy Shoreditch properties located closer to parks such as London Fields and Victoria Park.
The western edge of Shoreditch is part of the City Fringe/Tech City Zone, an attractive Investment opportunity area marked in the Mayor’s London Plan as a ‘key location with potential for new homes, jobs, and infrastructure’.
History
The history of Shoreditch goes back to the Middle Ages and times when the district was part of the historic Middlesex County. A large nunnery called the Augustinian Priory dominated the area at the time. Remains of the village that grew around the Priory are visible today and include aspects of Shoreditch High Street, Holywell Lane, and Curtain Road.
Curtain Close near LIverpool Station is the location of The Curtain Theatre, an iconic Shoreditch playhouse dating from 1577. The theatre is associated with William Shakespeare and is close to “The Theatre”, the very first London playhouse. At the time, playhouses were viewed as a ‘breeding ground for the plague and for unseemly behaviour’ and were banned within the City walls. By placing both Elizabethan playhouses right outside the Lord Mayor’s jurisdiction, the City population was able to enjoy unrestricted entertainment. Shoreditch remained a great entertainment hub well into the early 20th century.
With an influx of refugee residents moving in the area from other London districts during the 17th century, Shoreditch became a location for the flourishing textile, and later, furniture manufacturing.
Shoreditch was considered an outer suburb of London until the 1800s, when it officially became part of the County of London.
Like most of the East End districts in the 19th century, Shoreditch was a run-down industrial suburb suffering from overcrowding, poverty, and crime. The urban decay continued well into the 20th century with considerable urban damage by the Blitz of WWII.
During the early 1990s, East London including Shoreditch became a location where emerging artists, musicians and fashion students could find cheap housing.
Today, as a magnet for innovative businesses, ‘hipster counter-culture’, and forging a very diverse cultural mix, Shoreditch is a very different district from what it was a few decades ago. Highlights along Shoreditch High Street include various food, arts and culture venues. The neighbourhood around the Truman Brewery is a strong fashion and creative commercial hub, while the area around Old Street roundabout remains dominated by the creative and tech industry.
Culture and entertainment
Shoreditch is associated with a wide range of markets, restaurants, galleries, members clubs, and community cultural hubs. London’s top rooftop bars and restaurants hosting live, immersive music, art events and installations are set in the district.
After redevelopment in the mid-2000s, the Old Spitalfields Market was reborn as a large public space and one of the top London visitor attractions. The charming period building structure and the modern market extension offer a flexible retail and events environment that fits various trades and interests throughout the year. Other markets include Petticoat Lane (est. 1650) and Columbia Road.
Shoreditch is London’s main centre for the most innovative urban/street art. The ever-changing large artworks can be found at locations including New Inn Yard, King John Court, Brick Lane, Wheeler Street, Holywell Lane, and Ebor Street.
Boxpark, on Shoreditch High Street, is an institution, a groundbreaking retail quarter made from shipping containers. It houses sellers of vegan, gourmet, artisan, and global street food and is home to independent bars, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Nearby is the Village Underground events and studio complex encompassing a Victorian warehouse topped with Tube carriages and shipping containers
Brick Lane historically known for brick kilns, silk waiving and breweries, hasexcellent curry houses and traditional bagel shops. Most recently, the street has been crowned as the best place for vintage fashion shops which attracts eco-conscious customers from all over the world.
The Museum of Home on Kingsland Road occupies wonderfully preserved, Grade I-listed former almshouses built in 1714. Through a sequence of period-designed living rooms, the museum explores the history of domestic living in England from the 1600s to the present day.
Shoreditch has buildings of various architectural styles and merits including Renaissance, Classical, Palladian, Ammonite, Georgian, and Modern. A fine example of a converted industrial building is Shoreditch House, the historic Tea Building repurposed as a hotel, art venue, and members club with luxury fitness facilities including a rooftop swimming pool.
Other places of interest include Shoreditch Town Hall, Hoxton Square, Columbia Road Flower Market, Christ Church Spitalfields designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, and Shoreditch Church also known as the ‘Actor’s Church’.
The Museum of Shakespeare has been planned for the near future. It will be located within the archaeological remains of The Curtain Playhouse on Curtain Road EC2. The project aims to recreate the historic surroundings of 1598 by reconstructing the playhouse setting with its original objects.
The north border of Shoreditch runs along the Regents Canal. Bigger parks include Shoreditch Park, Hagerstown Park, and Spitalfields City Farm. The district is conveniently located for the vast urban green spaces of London Fields and Victoria Park.
Council
Shoreditch is a district in the London Borough of Hackney encompassing the neighbouring parts of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets too.
For the current Hackney Council Tax rates CLICK HERE
For the current Tower Hamlets Council Tax rates CLICK HERE
Transport (Zone 1 & 2)
Old Street and Liverpool Street are the two main London Underground stations in the area offering access to Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and the Northern Line services. Both stations are in Travel Zone 1,
Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street give access to the London Overground services running trains to Highbury & Islington and Clapham Junction.
Old Street Station runs trains within the National Rail network.
Shoreditch is well-serviced by London bus routes from Shoreditch High Street to Old Street Roundabout, Kingsland Road, the City, Aldgate, Victoria, Elephant and Castle, London Bridge, Stratford and Canary Wharf.
Shoreditch is on The Cycle Superhighway map, the bike freeway network of routes providing faster cycle journeys to destinations across London.
New Homes and Developments
· 250 City Road
· 95-97 East Road
· Avantgarde Place, Avantgarde Tower
· Canaletto
· Eagle Point
· Hackney Yards
· London Square Spitalfields
· Long and Waterson
· Principal Place
· Shoreditch Square
· The Arc
· The Fusion
· The Makers
· The Stage
Bishopsgate Goodsyard
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