A Day Out in Hackney Wick

As soon as the sun just slightly begins to come out, the number one area of London we want to be in is East, more specifically Hackney Wick.

The way the light catches on the canal and the vibe of people in cafes and bars, in our opinion, it's a cultural hotspot, and we would love to walk you through an ideal day out in E9.

Repot, Plant Store

Why begin here? It's a soft, grounding start to the day. In order to move with intention, well-needed after the bustle of leaving the station, especially if you are out of breath from all the stairs at Hackney Wick station. This plant shop is always our first point of call. So whilst you think about your plan of action for the day, peruse to your heart’s content. Touch the leaves, have a conversation with the lovely sales assistant working that day, and then maybe pick up a small plant you will forget to water in a few weeks, okay!

A Hot Beverage

We have two main recommendations: Badu Cafe and Kubo Garden. BADU is a Black-led non-profit organisation that was founded with the aim of offering unparalleled support to the local community. You can also get fantastic coffee, a breakfast sandwich and a little sweet treat to start the day.

At Kubo Garden, which we visited the very day it opened, it is a pan-asian cafe with stunning interiors. We would recommend more of an experimental brew. Yes they do the classics, but you can find handcrafted brews and a matcha with some pizazz here. Also a spot where you can eat substantial food, we do actually recommend Kubo more for their pastries and desserts.

Canal walk

The actual highlight of Hackney Wick! Please plan this into your day SOMEHOW. There are spots to rent a bike to go down the canal paths, but even a stroll, matcha latte in hand, is unrivalled! Within the context of the guide, however, it makes most sense to plan your route in the direction of Here East, towards the Olympic Park, that is.

V&A East Storehouse

The new, innovative "working museum" opened last year and currently acts as an accessible storage facility for over 500,000 items spanning across textiles, books and collectors' items. We have not yet taken advantage of the scheme, but if preplanning a visit, try the unique "Order an Object" feature, which allows visitors to book a personal viewing of items from the archive that are not on regular display.

The museum is free and open daily, but at times the organisation of the archive can seem overwhelming. Expect organised chaos, but we recommend opting for a quieter visiting time, during weekdays if possible, just to fully enjoy the experience without being overstimulated by constant 'excuse me's. Also, because there are so many objects stacked, we recommend giving yourself a short amount of time, like an hour, just so you don't overdo it. It is the type of space you will want to come back to rather than rush through.

JuJuHome Store

Is two matcha stops overkill? Perhaps. One of our favourite matcha cafes in all of London, in fact, JujuHome stands out because it doubles as a homeware store. The newly extended attic is sure to provide much-needed interior inspiration, along with the home items that adorn the shelves, each from independent brand owners. Perfect if you are looking for a niche gift for your creative friends. You need some incense; they have got it, little trinkets for your stationery-obsessed family members – they will have pens coming out of their ears. Love the store, love the friendly staff, love the matcha.

Yard Theatre

One of the smallest in London, it’s a really intimate experience, and it often means the places shown are more experimental. We would recommend having a look at what is on and showing in advance.

Then if you still have energy:

Grow Hackney, Hackney Bridge and Crate Brewery are great spots for canalside pizza (Crate specifically), music and drinks; you can allow your day to close itself.

Listen, we promise by the end of this day, you will leave Hackney Wick feeling a little lighter. In our opinion, there is nothing more fulfilling than a successful gallivant to get your creative juices flowing or simply just to dedicate a full day to whisky. There is a quiet brilliance tucked away between railway arches and redevelopment plans of an area once the industrial fringe of the city.

Written by: Bridget Eke