Shoreditch on a Budget Trail

1. Jolene‍

We’re starting out the day on Redchurch Street with a mission to find one of the best yet non-extortionate spots to grab a coffee, tea, or any hot beverage of your choosing, and that place today is Jolene. Perched right on the Club Row corner, this aesthetic coral bakery is always guaranteed to be worth the trip. Choose from a selection of buttery cream-filled pastries, sandwiches lovingly made with fluffy focaccia, lattes with intricate art on top, or a range of fruity kombuchas. You may have seen Jolene go viral on TikTok as a go-to for croissants and coffee in the city, as well as their trendy tote bags (which no, we won’t be buying because we’re on a budget remember! But they are cute).

‍Location: 67 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DJ

‍The streets of Shoreditch have so many iconic spots to grab a latte or a cheeky sweet treat, to find your next go-to café, delve into our Shoreditch Cafés & Desserts guide.

2. Go On A Street Art Tour

‍Next on the list is a free activity! It is none other than London With A Local’s street art tour of the most popular area in the city for street murals, graffiti art, sculptures, and paste up collections. The art that decorates the brick walls of Shoreditch is ever-changing amongst a number of long-standing pieces that have become a part of the furniture. If learning more about the history of East London street art and its creators excites you, then make sure to book this one in advance to avoid disappointment. The meet up point is just outside of the Shoreditch High Street Overground station on Braithwaite Street. The tour, which will last two hours, will most likely be guided by Ben, who is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable of the area, the artists, and the history of each particular piece. Ben will conclude the tour on Commercial Street which is perfect for leading us on to…

‍Location: Braithwaite Street, London E1 6GJ

3. Old Spitalfields Market‍

You must be feeling ready for lunch after learning all about the area’s street art, and conveniently you are standing right next to one of the oldest markets in London, known all over the world for its accumulation of street food vendors and budget-friendly bites. Open seven days a week with plenty of seating, visitors have many options to explore from pan-fried dumplings, pulled pork bagels, an Indian rice box, to an indulgent dessert. As well as delicious food options, the market is packed full of stalls offering antiques, artworks, clothing, accessories, and many more unique bits and bobs to rifle through. We suggest stopping by the Dumpling Shack for pork pan-fried, soup dumplings - you can grab four of them for only £6.50!)

‍Location: 16 Horner Square, London E1 6EW

4. Brick Lane Bookshop

‍Now that you’re in the browsing mood, why not head down to Brick Lane to explore all of the unique independent stores that it has to offer on every corner. Brick Lane Bookshop is a crowd favourite. Having provided progressive literature to the East End for over 30 years, it has become a piece of precious furniture to the area for its roots in the community’s history. Often buzzing with book lovers, this petite airy shop stocks a wide selection of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays, and political literature ready for visitors to spend hours discovering. Regular browsers adore this spot for its huge support of independent publications, making their selection unlike any other bookshop in the city.

‍Location: 166 Brick Lane, London E1 6RU

5. Vintage Basement‍

Just a two minute stroll away from the bookshop, you can pop into Vintage Basement on Cheshire Street and explore their downstairs sale area where every piece is just £10 and under. Having been in operation for many years, this vintage store has become a staple to the East End thrifting scene and is a total vibe decked out wall-to-wall with rare fashion pieces from the 90s, disco balls, and vinyl records. Visitors can rummage through the basement for hours to find that perfect retro gem at an incredible price.

‍Location: 7 Cheshire Street, London E2 6ED

‍Loving the vintage shopping scene and eager to find more rare gems? Don’t hesitate to check out our Shoreditch Vintage & Markets guide, happy thrifting!

6. Rum Kitchen Shoreditch

‍Shopping can be thirsty work (yes, we believe that shopping is indeed a sport), and so now you may want to sit down and have a refreshing drink. Take a little pit stop at Rum Kitchen, a cocktail bar and restaurant inspired by the Notting Hill Carnival, which emulates all things summertime and the Caribbean. Offering a happy hour deal of £5 cocktails every single day until 7pm, this spot is ideal for getting into the party spirit without splashing the cash. If you’re feeling peckish, they also serve up succulent jerk bbq chicken which has been marinated for a whole 48 hours for a great taste experience, chefs kiss.‍

Location: 34 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6JY

7. Bao Noodle Shop‍

We hope that you’ve enjoyed your cocktails - as it’s time for some dinner! We may have saved the best until last with the cosy Taiwanese food spot, Bao Noodle Shop. Transporting the beef noodle shops of Taiwan all the way to London, this casual eatery has a buzzy, sociable atmosphere allowing guests to feel at ease whilst slurping on delicious noodle bowls (gluten free too!) and chatting with a friend or even their newest squeeze. Here, you can find many incredible dishes for under £10 including Taiwanese Fried Chicken, Crispy Tripe, and Cull Yaw Dumplings. By ticking items on their menu, which is always fun, choose from a rich or light style broth for their iconic beef noodle bowls which are £13 or less with a vegan tofu option on the cards as well. If you’re feeling cheeky, go for their Fried Horlicks Ice Cream for dessert, thank us later.

‍Location: 1 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DJ

‍To check out more of the incredible eateries that populate Shoreditch, sneak a peek at our Shoreditch Restaurants guide to see a full-list of places to eat, from brunch spots to vegan havens.

If you’re looking for things to do in Shoreditch on a Sunday afternoon or curious what the famous nightlife has to offer… then check out our Shoreditch Trails guide by downloading the Bindy Street App for free.

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