Student Guide to Hackney Wick
How to make the most of London's most exciting neighbourhood - without breaking the bank...
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Whether you’re a wide-eyed fresher keen to get your bearings, one of the 14,000 students attending the seven big unis in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or are studying further afield, here’s your pull-out-and-keep guide to the capital’s most dynamic neighbourhood.
From the coolest underground warehouse venues in which to dance all night, to the best secret spots to eat out on the cheap, plus hidden boutiques, secret galleries, cool places to learn new skills and loads more, we’ve packed in masses of highlights waiting to be discovered, on and off the beaten track…
Tucked along the River Lea towpath behind imposing innovation workspace, Plexal, and looking over towards Hackney Wick, Canalside at Here East is a buzzing strip of restaurants, bars and independent businesses offering alfresco activities and entertainment on the waterfront, and all kinds of student-friendly deals.
Born right here on Canalside and since voted Europe’s No.1 wing restaurant, Randy’s Wing Bar do 15% off for students Mon-Fri, plus other offers through the week, too. Check their bestselling, secret recipe Buffalo Wings drizzled with their family’s signature truffle blue cheese sauce.
Perennially popular brekkie and brunch aficionados The Breakfast Club do 20% off their entire bill Mon-Fri, while rustic Italian specialists Gotto Trattoria go for 15% off throughout the entire week and the weekend.
Fancy a drink? Flash your student ID anytime for 15% off a round at atmospheric indie local pub The Lock Inn. It’s run by the same family behind Gotto’s, meaning you’ll find top pizzas, juicy homemade burgers and bar snacks alongside a massive line-up of different 17 beer taps showcasing local breweries.
Four Quarters offers a different kind of food and drinks vibe, with pizza, craft beers and cocktails consumed while playing your way through masses of nostalgic arcade games, from Space Invaders and Pacman, or on classic Nintendo & Sony consoles. Students get 15% off all food and drink, free advanced booth hire and deals like £6 doubles and £15 for 5 shots, Mon-Fri.
Your grooming and wellness needs are also catered for on the verdant waterside, with a branch of F45 Training offering student rates (just drop by to find out more) and new Pilates, tone and yoga studio FS8 recently joining the line-up, too, offering a 5-class intro offer.
And if you’re looking for a sharp haircut (and famously a free beer while it’s being done, too), you’re welcome to just walk-in to the laidback Bucks Barbers without an appointment. They’re dog-friendly, too, and students get 15% off Mon-Tues. Or treat yourself to a proper pamper session at the Aura Organics day spa with a range of treatments like reflexology, hot stone massage, waxings, nails and facials.
Just around in the central area at Here East, food truck Burritos & Bowls does 15% off with student ID, or there’s roast-on-site coffee (and all other drinks) with 10% off at Saint Espresso and community coffee van Change Please, which offers employment to formerly homeless baristas, does 10% off, too.
More info on all that’s on offer on and around Canalside at Here East
Colour Factory
Hackney Wick’s large nightclub, live music venue and food court has a brilliant line-up of events throughout the week. They also happen to be one of the most culturally divers and inclusive party spaces in the capital. Their new Student Ticket Bundle encourages you to turn a group chat into a group night out with mates, offering 1 free ticket for every 4 you buy.
Grow
Legendary self-organised music and arts venue hosts some of the best live music and DJ nights around, with afternoon sessions on the River Lea a speciality. 10% discount on everything with your student ID plus ease into the weekend with 25% off food Fridays 5-7pm.
No.90
Sprawling connected music and dining venues and a boat set alongside the river, including the hot new No.90 Hideout venue, which offers superior sound and a gorgeous wood panelled interior. Their current Sunday Funday promo gets you 20% off food and drink 5-9pm and a line-up of live jazz.
Block C & Nicos
As well as offering a streetfood market and a legendary garden for parties, events and sports on the big screen terrace, Hackney Bridge is also the home of intimate cocktail and music bar Nico’s, where you’ll catch DJ sets and performances from up-and-coming artists, while at the cavernous Block C, which hosts parties such as LGBTQ+ community event Queer Edge.
Crate Brewery
At the centre of the Queen’s Yard social scene, you can sup their fantastic beers on the waterfront terraces, tuck in to an affordable pizza in the main beer hall or venture upstairs to the zero waste restaurant Silo. Crate also hosts a range of day and night parties, live music pop-ups, yoga brewery tours and other events.
Howling Hops Brewery & Tank Bar
Another vast beer joint in Queen’s Yard with 10 poured-from-the-tank beers and Latin fusion streetfood specialist La Cumba in the kitchen. Get 30% off a selection of beers from 4-6pm
All My Friends
The local hangout from DIY party collective The Cause, this record shop, pizzeria and party space hosts a rolling programme of events including open decks for you to bring your own tunes to play on their big system.
LVLS
New live music, comedy and sports bar on Fish Island offers special student drinks deals with up to 50% off regular prices from Sun-Wed each week.
Two More Years
Workspace by day, lively bar and party venue by night, this warehouse on the canal has stunning views over to the London Stadium from the floating terrace, and a line-up of innovative DJ crews on rotation.
Beer Merchant’s Tap
Serious about beer, with an epic international selection, they will be hosting an extended Oktoberfest season from 19th Sept, with German food as well as drinks (and tunes) in the beer hall.
Vittoria Wharf Studio
Look out for the parties in this loft at one of the areas last remaining warehouses, where you’ll catch exciting DJs and London’s underground party promoters throwing intimate in-the-know bashes.
Coven
The brand new queer bar and arts space located upstairs at Fabwick offers late night DJ sets, drag shows and sober raves.
HWK
The coffee by day, cocktails by night venue next door to Hackney Wick Overground is also where you’ll find DJ crews in the courtyard and stand-up comedy club Wicked Funnies on Thursdays, where they have food and drinks deals, too.
The Lord Napier
Graffiti-covered iconic boozer on the outside, with a nest of social breakout areas inside, from the cosy garden or roof terrace to the karaoke rooms, with regular DJs and special events through the week, including popular £5 pints on Wednesdays.
Sadler’s Wells East
The hot new venue and studios dedicated to dance runs the amazing free Barclays Dance Pass scheme, which gets anyone under the age of 30 tickets to see all their shows at just £10. Valid the East Bank venue, plus all Sadler’s other sites in London, too.
V&A Storehouse
Free access to thousands of objects in the museum’s collection at this smash hit new facility, which also include the newly opened David Bowie Centre, and a lovely café hangout by E5 Bakehouse.
Felstead Art
Gallery inside The Trampery Fish Island Village workspace, specialising in modern contemporary art and prints.
Not For Sale Gallery
Visit by appointment on Sundays to see showcases of artists work where they set the conditions of any sales.
Stratford East
Atmospheric Victorian theatre that puts on truly diverse programming, ranging from new twists on beloved classics to sold out stand-up specials featuring the biggest names in comedy. Join their free under 25s (or local resident) schemes to get £12 tickets for selected shows.
Lanterna
Pizzeria, bar and deli on Fish Island that offer 30% off the whole bill to students on Mon-Thurs.
Clarnico Club
The large, modern cafe at East Wick & Sweetwater do 10% off food and drink anytime with student ID.
Thingy Café
Hidden away in the lovely Trowbridge Gardens community hub, offers students 20% off food, drinks and even ticketed events, too.
The Pirate’s Hub
A tiny hole-in-the-wall sandwich bar and micro party space serving proper Italian produce in freshly-baked paninis from £7.50, and worth every penny.
Mapps Café
A rare traditional greasy spoon doing all-day breakfast for under a tenner, baguettes from £3.50 and classics like beef, lamb or turkey with potatoes and veg for a tenner.
Barge East
A proper date night venue, located on an old Dutch barge, but you can also grab a £10 burger and drink lunchtime bargain in the towpath gardens or get 15% off your bill with ID.
Hearth Bakery
Found at the back of Mainyard, this is a perfect spot for an affordable bun, sandwich, soup or salad, hidden away in their agroecological social enterprise bakery.
Natura pizzeria
These long-established local guys have an unbeatable lunchtime deal of pizza or pasta plus a drink for £10 or upgrade to wine or beer for £11.
Discover all Fish Island’s best places to eat in our dedicated guide
The Bath House
Home of events ranging from early morning yoga and ecstatic dance sessions through to Hackney’s own Death Café and then parties with resident soundsystem Giant Steps at the weekends. The Community Sauna Baths out back have helped lead the nation’s love affair with hot cabins and cold plunge.
The Lighthouse & Garden
Community hub and meanwhile gardens opposite Stratford International offering regular social and wellness events, chess club plus a second local outpost for the Community Sauna Baths.
Viewtube
Shipping container-based hub for the QEOPs biking, social running and designer-maker communities, with an on-site café and regular running schedule
Fashion & Circular Economy
Fibrelab
The Fish Island-based textile recycling and innovation hub runs workshops and develops new materials and products from textile offcuts and hospitality sector waste, making this an essential destination for fashion students looking for low impact solutions.
The Loop
A cluster of circular economy businesses under one roof, this large warehouse is home to the likes of Are You Mad, who education on plastics recycling and Silo, who ferment tasty new foods from brewers and bakers waste.
Workshops & Learning
Mary Ward Centre
At the heart of Stratford High St, this centre offers creative courses where you can learn new techniques or brush up on essentials that can help alongside your degree. From how to use a sewing machine to photoshop, video editing, painting and drawing skills. There are day or evening classes in pottery, glass, painting, drawing, textiles and more plus a community space to meet people, and a quiet space for study away from campus or student lodgings.
Mobile Garden
From wellbeing tours to volunteering and getting in among the weeds at the newly-planted textile garden at Hackney Bridge, this charity organisation has multiple ways for you to get involved in shaping the nature in and around the Olympic Park.
Cosy Corner
Learn and develop your artistic talents solo or as part of a group at these locally-run workshops, sip and paint sessions and masterclasses.
The Cave
Basement creative hub inside the historic former Algha Works spectacle factory, offering everything from tattoo training to clothing swaps and excellent coffee at the Think+ café.
