Shoreditch and Hoxton, just north of the City of London, were working-class furniture-making districts until the early 1990s. Empty warehouses attracted artists, then galleries, then bars, then restaurants, then technology companies, then money. The story of Shoreditch is the story of creative-led gentrification playing out over 30 years.
The Original Scene
In the early 1990s, artists including Damien Hirst and the Young British Artists used disused Shoreditch warehouses for exhibitions. The Approach Gallery, White Cube’s original space on Hoxton Square, and a dozen artist-run spaces made this the centre of contemporary British art. Jay Jopling opened here in 1993.
The Tech Scene
From around 2010, Shoreditch became “Silicon Roundabout” — a cluster of technology start-ups around Old Street roundabout. Google, Amazon and Facebook all established offices here. The Tech City initiative brought government attention and investment. The original creative community was largely displaced by the resulting rise in rents.
What to Do Now
Brick Lane is a five-minute walk. The Sunday markets — Columbia Road Flower Market, Brick Lane, Spitalfields — are the best reason to be here at the weekend. The street art, while now partly managed, is still impressive. Boxpark on Shoreditch High Street is a food-court worth knowing.
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