A design enthusiast's guide to east London
A day spent pottering around east London is a design lover's dream. For centuries, writers, artists, designers, and musicians have converged here, long establishing this corner of the capital as a creative hub. But while the cultural identity of a borough can often shift over time, east London has held onto its artistic credentials. This month, when the new V&A East Museum in Stratford opened, I was reminded of just how central art and design are to my home borough. I have lived all my life in Hackney, and as a born-and-bred east Londoner I can attest to the way the mix of creative sensibilities – the industrial and the artisanal, the time-worn and the cutting-edge – has an effect on you. There is a vibrancy that can be felt everywhere, whether you're wandering between the Georgian terraces of the old Huguenot silk weavers before delving into Brick Lane's thrift shops, or cycling down the Regent's Canal towpath, past the houseboats with potted flowers balancing on their roofs.
It makes for the perfect place for a little holiday in your home city. And for anyone interested in design, art and interiors, it's easy to make yourself an itinerary of places to visit. This is a thriving ecosystem, one where studios and ateliers sit next to galleries and museums. Boundaries between disciplines blur in organic and fascinating ways.
There are options for people who want to while away the day in a museum, plenty of opportunities for antiques shopping, and high-end design studios for those in need of renovation inspiration. Venture east away from the famous west London haunts of the Portobello and Pimlico roads and you may find yourself starting your morning in a meticulously curated furniture store that feels more reminiscent of a gallery, and ending the day in a design-led restaurant tucked within a group of artists' workshops (try Tom's Pasta in Hackney Downs Studios for beautiful interiors by House of Dre and an incredible beef shin lasagne).
This is an area of London that rewards curiosity. The history is plain to see, but there is also an energy about east London – a feeling of momentum and possibility. So here is your handy House & Garden guide to navigating that richness. From museums and galleries to independent design shops, studios and seasonal fairs, these are the places that show east London to be one of the city’s most vital cultural centres – one that is worth returning to, again and again.
- The Hackney Draper</a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0","index":0,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"offersLength":0,"component":"gallery_slide_component","image":{"altText":"best interior design shops in London The Hackney Draper","caption":"For The Hackney Draper, a dedication to craftsmanship and sustainability are at the heart of things. The Clapton-based shop – part studio, part sanctuary for fabric lovers – celebrates the tactile side of interiors and aims to produce high quality fabrics built to last a lifetime. Owned by Pat Giddens, the team source fabrics from all over the world, and hand-sew their textiles in their London workshop.\n<a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://www.instagram.com/thehackneydraper//" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@thehackneydraper</a> |<em>25 Chatsworth Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 0LH</em>","contentType":"photo","credit":"","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0/master/w_320,c_limit/hackney-draper-212206301_1950x.jpg"},{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0/master/w_640,c_limit/hackney-draper-212206301_1950x.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0/master/w_640,c_limit/hackney-draper-212206301_1950x.jpg"},{"height":854,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0/master/w_1280,c_limit/hackney-draper-212206301_1950x.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":683,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0/master/w_1024,c_limit/hackney-draper-212206301_1950x.jpg"},{"height":1366,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0/master/w_2048,c_limit/hackney-draper-212206301_1950x.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":854,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0/master/w_1280,c_limit/hackney-draper-212206301_1950x.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":854,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/61893a0030743c94d4ce98c0/master/w_1280,c_limit/hackney-draper-212206301_1950x.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
1/12The Hackney Draper
For The Hackney Draper, a dedication to craftsmanship and sustainability are at the heart of things. The Clapton-based shop – part studio, part sanctuary for fabric lovers – celebrates the tactile side of interiors and aims to produce high quality fabrics built to last a lifetime. Owned by Pat Giddens, the team source fabrics from all over the world, and hand-sew their textiles in their London workshop.
@thehackneydraper |25 Chatsworth Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 0LH
2/12The Museum of the Home
Set in the heart of Hoxton, the Museum of the Home plays an important role in the community, archiving domestic history. Since re-opening after a major six-year renovation in 2024, it has added seven additional rooms to its permanent ‘Rooms Through Time’ exhibition, exploring everything from migration to everyday home life from the 19th century, with tv sets, floral wallpapers, and leather sofas that will be nostalgic for many.
@museumofthehome | 136 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8EA
- House of Hackney</a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8","index":2,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"offersLength":0,"component":"gallery_slide_component","image":{"altText":"Image may contain Lamp Furniture Desk Table Home Decor and Couch","caption":"Unapologetically maximalist, and deeply inspired by nature, since 2011 House of Hackney has become synonymous with a very British approach to pattern and print. Florals, folklore and a touch of the gothic run through its textiles, wallpapers and furnishings, all grounded in a commitment to traditional craft. Stepping into the store is an immersive experience.\n<a href=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/"https://www.instagram.com/houseofhackney//" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@houseofhackney</a> | <em>St Michael's, Mark St, London EC2A 4ER</em>","contentType":"photo","credit":"","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":427,"width":320,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8/master/w_320,c_limit/House%20of%20Hackney%205%20-%20shot%20by%20Chris%20Horwood.jpeg"},{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8/master/w_640,c_limit/House%20of%20Hackney%205%20-%20shot%20by%20Chris%20Horwood.jpeg"}],"md":[{"height":853,"width":640,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8/master/w_640,c_limit/House%20of%20Hackney%205%20-%20shot%20by%20Chris%20Horwood.jpeg"},{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8/master/w_1280,c_limit/House%20of%20Hackney%205%20-%20shot%20by%20Chris%20Horwood.jpeg"}],"lg":[{"height":1365,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8/master/w_1024,c_limit/House%20of%20Hackney%205%20-%20shot%20by%20Chris%20Horwood.jpeg"},{"height":2731,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8/master/w_2048,c_limit/House%20of%20Hackney%205%20-%20shot%20by%20Chris%20Horwood.jpeg"}],"xl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8/master/w_1280,c_limit/House%20of%20Hackney%205%20-%20shot%20by%20Chris%20Horwood.jpeg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1707,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.houseandgarden.co.uk/photos/6797ae8af9dd5f54b0a8ffe8/master/w_1280,c_limit/House%20of%20Hackney%205%20-%20shot%20by%20Chris%20Horwood.jpeg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
3/12House of Hackney
Unapologetically maximalist, and deeply inspired by nature, since 2011 House of Hackney has become synonymous with a very British approach to pattern and print. Florals, folklore and a touch of the gothic run through its textiles, wallpapers and furnishings, all grounded in a commitment to traditional craft. Stepping into the store is an immersive experience.
@houseofhackney | St Michael's, Mark St, London EC2A 4ER
Kristen Peres4/12Milagros
For over three decades, Milagros has channelled the colour and craftsmanship of Mexico into a richly layered homeware edit. From terracotta tiles to hand-blown glass, each piece carries the mark of the hand and a sense of provenance, giving the small Columbia Road shop its distinctive charm.
@milagros_london | 61 Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG
- Loop Images/Getty Images5/12
Labour & Wait
In trendy Shoreditch, this shop is a treasure trove of straightforward, well-made homewares. You'll find enamel mugs and hardy work jackets inspired by 1950s and 1960s utilities, plus a stylish selection of stationary. Its distinctive green tiled façade is hard to miss.
@labourandwait | 85 Redchurch St, London E2 7DJ
6/12Townhouse Spitalfields
Townhouse wears its many hats with ease: antiques dealer, ceramics shop, book corner, gallery – and, importantly, a café with excellent homemade cake. Set inside one of Fournier Street’s historic houses – just across from the Hawksmoor-designed Baroque masterpiece that is Christ Church Spitalfields – and filled with a curious variety of art and objects from ceramics to books, there is always something to catch the eye.
@townhousespitalfields | 5 Fournier Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6QE
Hufton+Crow7/12V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse
The V&A in South Kensington has long been a cornerstone of the city’s art and design landscape, and its East London counterpart looks as if it's set to continue that tradition. The new Stratford museum will act as more than an outpost, bringing vast collections and a vibrant exhibition programme into a closer dialogue with the the local creative community, embedding itself amongst its creative neighbours such as Sadlers Wells theatre.
The V&A East Storehouse – which opened in Spring 2025 – lets visitors explore thousands of objects which would usually be kept in storage. Within its walls are furniture, textiles, rock and roll artefacts and more. You also get to glimpse the work that goes into running one of the world's most treasured museums.
@vam_east | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, East Storehouse, V&A, Parkes St, London E20 3AX
Rob Harris8/12Ruup & Form
Part gallery, part concept space, over the past seven years Ruup & Form has championed art, craft and collectible design through its international community of artists. The latest exhibition by interdisciplinary artist Bridget Harvey explores found objects and fragmented materials.
@ruup.and.form | 7 Tilney Ct, London EC1V 9BQ
© Beth Davis9/12The Mix by Bert & May
The Mix by cult handmade tile brand Bert & May opened last year near Regents Canal, offering visitors a fresh take on the showroom. It aims to be a creative hub set within a former warehouse, bringing together a carefully curated mix of design-led interiors and brands under one roof.
@bertandmay | 67 Vyner St, London E2 9DQ
Photos by Lucinda Douglas-Menzies10/12Dennis Severs' House
Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields offers an unusual opportunity to connect with east London's history, through a sequence of rooms staged as though they're still in use. The red brick Georgian townhouse was the project of the eponymous artist. It invites you to imagine the domestic life of a Huguenot family. There are flowers in vases, half-eaten meals, fires and lit candles, all of which evoke the past, like a still-life painting made into a real, tangible thing.
@dennissevershouse | 18 Folgate St, London E1 6BX
© William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest11/12William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow
Set within the childhood home of one of Britain's most influential designers, the museum is a must-visit for anyone who has caught a bit of Morris-mania. The gallery traces his impact on textiles, pattern and print alongside the wider Arts and Crafts movement through a mix of carefully curated decorative works and archival objects. It's a museum but still has an intimate atmosphere, showing both how the world shaped Morris's ideas and how his designs still echo today.
@morrisgallery | Lloyd Park, Forest Rd, London E17 4PP
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Courtesy of Hackney Flea Market Ltd12/12Hackney Flea Market, various locations
It typically takes places in Stoke Newington, but the flea market pops up in other locations around the borough and beyond, bringing a mix of vintage furniture, lighting, ceramics, art and other one-off finds. It began as a pop-up vintage fair in 2013, and can now be found at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Waltham Forest and Docklands. There is no regular schedule, which keeps things lively. For vintage lovers, it's a treasure trove.
@hackneyfleamarket | See website for locations
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