Things to do in London Borough of Hackney, Greater London
Location:
The London Borough of Hackney is one of the central boroughs of London, located to the east of The london Borough of Islington on the northeast side of the city.
Facts and Figures:
Hackney is one of London's smallest boroughs. It covers less than 19 km. and has a population of over 202,000 people which are ethnically diverse. It is one of the few London boroughs to have an elected mayor as leader of the council.
One of Hackney's main claims to fame is that Hackney Marshes has the largest concentration of football pitches anywhere. Over 100 amateur games are played there every weekend in season.
Two authors of renown have connections with Hackney: Edgar Allan Poe attended the Manor House School in Hackney and Daniel Defoe, of Robinson Crusoe fame, once lived in the borough.
Description:
The London Borough of Hackney was once an upmarket area where aristocrats and government officials had their country residences. It has long since been swallowed up into the suburbs of London. It now has pockets of inner-city decay and many upmarket homes are in gated communities.
Hackney boasts 1300 listed buildings including the Hackney Empire, a Grade II architectural icon; the Tudor Sutton House, and the medieval St Augustine's Tower which is the remains of a former parish church.
The eastern part of the borough of Hackney around the River Lee had light industry employing 3,000 people, but the area has recently been cleared to be used for events in the 2012 Olympics. Dalston, in west Hackney, is proud of its title as one of the Coolest places on earth according to Italian Vogue magazine.
Despite its urban reputation, Hackney borough has 25 conservation areas including Clapton Common and Clissod Park.
Hackney's two main towns in the southwest of the borough are Hoxton and Shoreditch. With their many restaurants, clubs and bars in the Victorian buildings around Hoxton Square, they are the centre of the London arts scene.
Some of the square's best known residents are James Parkinson, who discovered Parkinson's disease; John Thomas who founded the Christadelphian movement and Peter Durand who created the process for tinning food.
The London Borough of Hackney has had a large Charedi Jewish community since the late 17th century with an influx of Asian and Afro-Caribbean immigrants since the 1950s
Borough Attractions:
Hoxton Square is a major attraction in southwest Hackney. The well-known White Cube Art Gallery, in particular, showcases the work of young British artists. Hoxton Square is also the home of the Shh! Women's Erotic Emporium.
Sutton House is a museum and heritage centre, situated in a Tudor manor house which was built in 1535. It is now managed by the National Trust. It is the oldest building in Hackney and has been the home to Henry VIII's secretary of state, wealthy merchants, sea captains, Huguenot silk-weavers, Edwardian clergy and World War 2 fire-wardens in its time. A visit will reveal more of its fascinating history.
Getting There:
Hackney surprisingly has just one tube station, Manor House, on the Piccadilly line. It is right on the boundary with Haringey. The borough is easy to reach by overground trains on the North London Line and the East London Line.
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Days Out in London Borough of Hackney
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Hackney City Farm (<1 Mile)*
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Geffrye Museum (1 Mile)*
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V&A Museum of Childhood London (1 Mile)*
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Sutton House (1 Mile)*
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Spitalfields City Farm (1 Mile)*
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Museum of London (2 Miles)*
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Stepping Stones Farm (2 Miles)*
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Bank of England Museum (2 Miles)*
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Museum and Library of The Order of St. John (2 Miles)*
Places to Visit near London Borough of Hackney
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City of London (1 Mile)*
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London Borough of Islington (2 Miles)*
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Bloomsbury (2 Miles)*
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London (3 Miles)*
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London Borough of Haringey (4 Miles)*
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London Borough of Southwark (4 Miles)*
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London Borough of Camden (4 Miles)*
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London Borough of Greenwich (5 Miles)*
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London Borough of Lambeth (6 Miles)*
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Notting Hill (6 Miles)*
Also near London Borough of Hackney |
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