Date spot in Shoreditch and Hackney
Regent's Canal towpath
Walk the towpath past moored narrowboats and old gasholders from Haggerston towards Victoria Park, stopping at canal-side cafés along the way.
Regent's Canal, Haggerston
Address: Regent's Canal towpath, Haggerston, London E2 8BS- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
Why it's a good date: An easy, flat walk that feels miles from the traffic above, and it costs nothing. Keep to one side: cyclists use the towpath too.
Photo: Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
More from our Shoreditch and Hackney guide
Mangal II
Stoke Newington Road, Dalston
Address: 27 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 8BJ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Foodie
- Cosy
Share inventive Turkish plates cooked over the charcoal grill at a long-loved Dalston restaurant, now run by the founder's two sons.
Why it's a good date: Relaxed and buzzy, with cooking that's much more interesting than the old grill-house front suggests. Order a few plates to share and let the staff steer you.
Hackney Empire
Mare Street, Hackney Central
Address: 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
See comedy, theatre, music or the famous Christmas pantomime in an ornate Edwardian music hall.
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)
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.
