Hoxton & Shoreditch

The center of London's cutting-edge art and media scene, these East London boroughs have undergone remarkable regeneration. In the streets surrounding the bustling Spitalfields and Caledonian Flower markets lies an eclectic mixture of warehouse-cum-art-galleries, designer furniture and clothing shops, trendy eateries, and traditional pubs and cafes. Check out the area around the revamped Spitalfields market and the slowly gentrifying Brick Lane. Spots such as Cheshire Street host a fabulous selection of boutique shops and galleries alongside thrift stores and the like. Heading north, the center of Hoxton is Hoxton Square itself, where on summer evenings the crowds from the square's numerous bars and restaurants or visitors to an evening viewing at one of the area's many art galleries (including the White Cube) spill onto its green lawn.