Date spot in Shoreditch and Hackney
Victoria Park
Walk round east London's big Victorian park, past its lakes, fountain and pagoda, and take out a pedalo or rowing boat on the boating lake.
Grove Road, between Hackney and Bethnal Green
Address: Victoria Park, Grove Road, London E3 5TB- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Why it's a good date: Plenty of room for a long walk or a picnic, and a turn on the lake is a proper date. The boats are seasonal, so check they're out before you go.
Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
More from our Shoreditch and Hackney guide
Satan's Whiskers
Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green
Address: 343 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9RA- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
Order a classic or a house twist from a menu that keeps changing, in a small bar with a scruffy front and a smart, friendly room inside.
Why it's a good date: Serious drinks without any stiffness, and the bartenders are happy to make you something off-menu. It's popular and small, so book ahead.
Rio Cinema
Kingsland High Street, Dalston
Address: 107 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PB- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Watch anything from a new release to an arthouse classic in a community-run Art Deco cinema with a big single screen.
Why it's a good date: A cinema with character, and you're supporting a not-for-profit while you're at it. Take turns picking the film, and walk on to Dalston's bars afterwards.
Photo: Andrew Woodyatt, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Broadway Market
Broadway Market, by London Fields
Address: Broadway Market, London E8 4PH- Activity
- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Graze your way down the Saturday food market, from street-food stalls to bakers and cheesemongers, then sit out on London Fields.
Why it's a good date: Each of you picks a stall and you share everything. It's a short walk to the Regent's Canal, so you can make a whole afternoon of it.
Photo: Bikeboy, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
