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Hackney is a district of London.

[edit] Understand

This is a very diverse and multicultural district and one which has undergone massive regeneration in recent decades. Formerly known best as an area with huge social problems and a massive crime rate, parts of Hackney are now very fashionable with a thriving arts scene in the south of the district for example.

Some problems still remain though and for the visitor it is best to stick to well trodden routes. In particular, the Homerton/Hackney Wick area is known as a place to avoid after dark and Clapton Road has the nickname murder mile.

Hackney is known for its wide open green spaces with Hackney Marshes (home of 88 football pitches) being the most notable.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By tube

There are no tube stations in the district.

[edit] By bus

Hackney is well served by buses from all over the capital, with the routes converging on Hackney Central, Dalston and Stoke Newington.

[edit] By train

London local train services serve the district well. The North London Line from Woolwich to Richmond has four stations in Hackney: Hackney Wick, Homerton, Hackney Central and Dalston Kingsland. National Express East Anglia [1] run rail services from Liverpool Street to a number of stations in Hackney, with the principal station on the line being Hackney Downs.

[edit] Get around

The best way to get around the borough is to walk 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.

The main north-south bus routes in Hackney are the 38, 55 and 149.

[edit][add listing] See

• Victoria Park. The best of the great parks in the district.  edit

• Clissold Park.  edit

• Galleries. There are many private art galleries, throughout the borough.  edit

• The Clowns Archive. Museum of clowning, unique collection of faces on eggs.  edit

• Geoffrye Museum. Contains displays of furniture through the ages. Housed in row of 16th century Almshouses, with original chapel.  edit

• Hackney Museum. Providing a history of Hackney as well as periodic exhibitions.  edit

• Sutton House. Tudor House in Homerton, owned by the National Trust.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Hackney Empire. 1901 Music Hall, offering eclectic mix of entertainment.  edit

• 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.  edit

• Walk Hackney Marshes. Lovely walk along the Lee Canal and River, stretching all across East London and further.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Broadway Market. Visit on a Saturday. Has a variety of gastropubs.  edit

• Ridley Road Market. 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.  edit

• The Kingsland Centre, (Opposite Dalston Kingsland Station). The main shopping mall in the borough, Tchibo has new stock every week and there is a recently opended Matalan.  edit

• Stamford Hill. The centre of the Hassidic Jewish community and has many kosher bakeries, delis and supermarkets.  edit

• Stoke Newington Church Street. Many small bookshops and antique stores.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

Stoke Newington (Church Street), Broadway market and, more recently, Hackney Central, have a variety of Gastropubs.

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.

• Green Papaya. Offering great Vietnamese food for veggies and meat eaters alike.  edit

• Au Lac, 104 Kingsland Road, ☎ +44 20 7033 0588. BYO. The pancakes are recommended as a starter (this was a batter parcel containing chicken and beansprouts, rolled into lettuce leaves, lovely), also the steamed sea bass, which had a delicious sauce. The service is attentive, and they are obviously very proud of their food. More of a restaurant for a group of friends, rather than a romantic meal.  edit

• Song Que Cafe, Kingsland Road. Rated by Zagats as the best Vietnamese on Kingsland Road.  edit

• Viet Hoa. You must try the salted prawns!  edit

• Mess Cafe, Amhurst Road. Great quality caff breakfasts. £4.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

At the southern end of the borough is Shoreditch/Hoxton, with a plethora of drinking places. The main stretch is from Old Street tube to Shoreditch High Street, and also Hoxton Square.

There are several gay bars, the best of which is the George and Dragon in Shoreditch. Stoke Newington also has a small cluster of pink nightlife.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Days Hotel London Shoreditch, 419-437 Hackney Road, ☎ +44 20 7613 6500, [2]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Air conditioned rooms, each with fair trade coffee, chocolate, tea and biscuits. From £69.  edit

[edit] Stay Safe

Despite its reputation as a dangerous place, it is relatively safe provided you're careful. Most violent crime occurs amongst the gangs in the rougher parts of the borough. Stick to commercial areas where there will be lots of people. Keep away from housing estates, (projects to Americans) some can be very dangerous. Hackney Wick and some of the surrounding areas should be avoided. Hackney becomes much more dangerous at night, and it would be highly foolish to go out walking alone.

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