London has grown dramatically over the past few years as been a quirky, start up city, especially in Shoreditch, Dalston and surrounding areas. These areas are thriving with independent retailers and cafes, start-up hubs and community events, and regular social gatherings on a variety of topics from art, film and fashion to technology, business, and social media. 

However, if you are only in London for a short period of time and are looking for a quirky way to see the city, these are some great places to try.

A Coffee in Timberyard

Timberyard started as a small cafe in Old Street but has since moved its main hub to Soho. It offers a variety of different coffees, often changing daily to allow for variety and experimentation, as well as fast broadband and meeting rooms for people to work from. This cafe is often busy but there’s always a little room for you to squeeze in and can be a great place to meet new, interesting people. 

A Beer in Brewdog

Brewdog is a growing brewery based in Scotland, creating some of the quirkiest beers such as a Chilli Ale and a Coconut Stout. They offer free tasters if you want to see what it is like before buying a full pint, and also offer some interesting food. They have two bars, one in Soho and one by Old Street, which also have some super fun retro arcade games.

See the Art in Whitechapel Gallery

Whitechapel Gallery is one of London’s best smaller galleries. It often only has one or two key exhibitions at a time but they are very selective and often pick great artists to discover. 

They are based just around the corner from Brick Lane as well, allowing you to explore another interesting sight at the same time. 

Shop in Boxpark

Boxpark is right by Liverpool Street station and is a series of shipping containers which have been kitted out to play host to some of the best clothing, food, and jewellery shops. They have everything you need, as well as great bars and restaurants on their roof. In summer they often also have a lot of live music events.