Date spot in Shoreditch and Hackney
Hackney Empire
See comedy, theatre, music or the famous Christmas pantomime in an ornate Edwardian music hall.
Mare Street, Hackney Central
Address: 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
Why it's a good date: The gilded auditorium is a treat before the show even starts, and the programme is wide enough that there's always something you'll both enjoy.
Photo: Emmabellechan, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
More from our Shoreditch and Hackney guide
Queue for a hot salt beef beigel with mustard and pickle, or a classic smoked salmon and cream cheese, at the Brick Lane bakery.
Why it's a good date: Cheap, filling and a proper East End institution. A good last stop after a night out, or eat on the way to Columbia Road.
London Fields Lido
London Fields West Side, Hackney
Address: London Fields West Side, London E8 3EU- Activity
- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Active
Swim lengths together in a heated 50-metre outdoor pool on the edge of London Fields.
Why it's a good date: It's heated all year, so a swim under the open sky works even when it's cold out. Book a slot ahead, then warm up with a coffee on Broadway Market.
Photo: Peter Smith, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Happiness Forgets
Hoxton Square, Hoxton
Address: 8-9 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Cosy
- Romantic
Duck down the stairs to a small, candlelit basement bar for well-made classics and a short menu that changes regularly.
Why it's a good date: It's small and unhurried, and the staff are warm without any fuss. You can book, but some tables are kept for walk-ins if you decide on the night.
