Facts you may not have known about…Shoreditch

Shoreditch is a great area of London to visit but surprisingly, few people actually know much about Shoreditch. It has a great history, and more recently is seen as a ‘hipster’ part of the capital. Whatever your reason for visiting Shoreditch, take a moment to read these fascinating facts:

#1 It’s a pretty pricey place to live. Sure, London is one of the most expensive places to live in the world, but Shoreditch itself is also very pricey. Shoreditch property prices have soared 46% in the last three years. If you are thinking of relocating to this part of the city, you’ll need a lot of money in your back pocket!

#2. There’s a lot of investment happening in Shoreditch RIGHT NOW. Some pretty big international brands are investing in Shoreditch, including hotel chains Montcalm. Montcalm hotel London is just one of the new places to stay in this area of London, offering superb luxury, facilities and much more. Hotels in Shoreditch are not hard to find, so if you’re looking to stay overnight, you should be able to find somewhere perfect to rest your head.

#3. Shopping is great in Shoreditch. BOXPARK is the world’s first pop-up mall, which has 60 shipping containers in it that have been converted for into shops and restaurants. If you want to do something a bit different, this is a good place to start.

#4. Shoreditch means ‘Sewer’s Ditch’ if translated from Latin, but many people think that the name was attributed to Jane Shore, who was a mistress of King Edward IV and died and was buried in a ditch in the area. Whatever one you believe, it is pretty fascinating.

#5. Shoreditch has a big history when it comes to theatre. The first two London theatres were built in Shoreditch – The Theatre and The Curtain Theatre. Lots of actors come to the area to see local plays and upcoming stars rise. You never know who you might bump into when you come and visit the area – someone from the big screen may well be around the corner!

#6. William Shakespeare came to Shoreditch and his plays ‘Henry V’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ are believed to have premiered at The Curtain Theatre in the late 1590s. Anyone who is a big into their Shakespeare, this could be a good place to visit to feel closer to the man himself.

#7. Other famous people from history also liked visiting the area. Charles Dickens visited Shoreditch and Mr Micawber from ‘David Copperfield’ lived at Windsor Terrace on City Road. Not only this but if you ever read Oliver Twist as a child, he lived in South Shoreditch.

#8. Into your nursery rhymes (or have a child who is?) The English nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’ makes references to St Leonard’s Church in Shoreditch, ‘When I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch.’

#9. Crossrail, otherwise known as the Elizabeth line, will be fully introduced at nearby Liverpool Street in a few years in 2019. There are so many benefits to this but the main one is that it is likely to cut journey times to Canary Wharf from 22 minutes to just 6 minutes, and the West End from 8 minutes to 4 minutes. It will also be more convenient if you’re heading to Heathrow Airport. Getting connected is important in London, and you’ll want to be sure if you visit the area that you can get from A to B pretty easily. The introduction of this new tube line is particularly attractive for local people who want to get around easily.

#10. Did you ever watch and enjoy the Carry On films? Even if you didn’t but you did enjoy a bit of Eastenders, Dame Barbara Windsor was born in Shoreditch. Yes, that is Peggy Mitchell of course, the famous actress who was known for shouting ‘Get out of my pub!’ If you’re a fan of the famous actress you might want to take a visit there to soak up the atmosphere.

#11. If that isn’t enough, English film director Sir Alfred Hitchcock started his career at Gainsborough Studios in Shoreditch. It seems a lot of famous people start out here or visit here for inspiration in the early stages of their careers. How could you not want to be in such a historic and inspirational place?

#12. Urban Food Fest is a pop-up street food market that is held every Saturday in the area, a very popular place for many foodies to visit. What’s great about this food festival is that it focuses on street food and craft beers which is different to other food festivals going on around London. You’ll also be able to enjoy live music there every week if you really want to make a morning or afternoon of it.

#13. Old Spitalfields Market is one of London’s oldest markets, dating back to 1638. You’ll be able to find loads of things at this market, from fresh fruit to furniture and everything in between. Don’t miss out on a visit to this market if you’re in the area.

#14. Shoreditch is considered THE place to be in London if you’re after entertainment, innovation, art and creativity. Around 15,000 new businesses decide to set up shop here in 2014 alone! If you’re looking to start a business in the area, you’ll need a firm grasp of your clientele to be sure you can get the right footfall. You’ll also need the money, of course, because the rent on the shop floors isn’t cheap. But all in all, if you pitch it right, setting up a business here can be really lucrative.