Perch blog - 5 things to do after coworking in...Hackney


Introduction

We’ve got coworking spaces all over the world that you can Perch at, but we’d say London is home to most of the team (for now) so we know it like the backs of our hands. 


Every single part of the bustling city has a different story to tell, and no area is the same. There’s something new to get involved in or a piece of history to marvel at wherever you end up - luckily, we’ve got a growing number of Perch coworking spots throughout all of London (and beyond *wink), so everything they have to offer is quite literally at your doorstep. 


First in the series? The one, the only, the area of Hackney. 


With several spaces dotted around this up-and-coming part of the east, here are some of the things you can do after a coworking session done right…


Get a bird’s eye view of your new stomping ground on…St Augustine’s Tower and Peer onto the Rooftops of Hackney


image credit - https://www.instagram.com/staugustinestower

(They don’t all sound this touristy, promise.)


First things first - what are we working with here? Scout out the area of Hackney yourself by peering onto its rooftops when you get to the top of this very tower, the oldest building in the area. 


The view from the top of it is amazing, and this plus its staggering age makes it justifiable in the council’s coat of arms. If you’re lucky to get inside the Grade 1-listed tower too, don’t leave without having a read of all the graffiti displayed on its walls.


Transport yourself to another world at…Hackney Picturehouse


image credit - https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/hackney-picturehouse

Located on famous Mare Street, the Hackney Picturehouse cinema is East London’s biggest screen, showing a selection of indie films, blockbusters and curated film festival selections. It’s a proud screening partner of the National Theatre too, if there’s a play you fancy seeing. Better yet, Picturehouse will be taking films outside this summer as they do every year - outdoor cinema eve, anyone?


But it’s not just its screenings that it’s known for - the Picturehouse is also home to a bar and restaurant serving up delicious food, which is handy when you’ve worked up a post-work appetite. 


Pet your troubles away at…Hackney City Farm

Image credit - https://hackneycityfarm.co.uk/visit/

‘A farm in the middle of a busy capital? You’ve gotta be kidding me.’


We certainly aren’t! 


Hackney City Farm offers a free insight into country life slap-bang in the middle of London. Grown-ups and children alike are encouraged to get up close to its large range of farm animals (who could say no to an afternoon spent with baby goats after a chain of meetings, eh?), see, smell and try their hand at planting vegetables, and all in all enjoy themselves with activities that are as equally low in environmental impact as they are heart-warming. 


There are classes that you can get involved with too, such as pottery, bike maintenance and art classes.


Wholesome, and we love it.


Indulge in local retail therapy at…Broadway Market


Image credit - https://broadwaymarket.co.uk/gallery/

At the tail end of London Fields is a street that is home to a variety of pubs, restaurants, and shops that sell books and trinkets aplenty. Whether you’re indulging in lunch or experiencing what it has to offer in between meetings, the only bad thing about this chain of shops is that you’ll want to stay there for hours.


On Saturday, the street becomes even livelier from 9am-5pm as the famous Broadway Victorian Market opens up its doors to the public. Vendors sell everything you can think of, from handmade juices to prints and rich scarves, and it wouldn’t be a market without food stalls serving up every mouthwatering cuisine that exists.


Get very, very distracted by…Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and UnNatural History


Image credit - https://www.theldngal.co.uk/the-viktor-wynd-museum-of-curiosities-london-review/

A couple of the Perch team have frequented this place after a day of coworking in Hackney, so you could say it comes highly recommended by a very cool group of people.


The Viktor Wynd Museum is a collection of weird and wonderful artefacts that forego the normal artefacts you might see when you go to, well, a normal museum. Its unique collection of objects include a preserved 2-headed kitten, too many dolls to be left alone with in the dark, many diaries and letters from famous celebrities, and some rude things we don’t know whether we’re allowed to mention on a professional platform *zip emoji*.


Has that enticed you to pay a visit yourself? If yes, then our job is done.


The museum is also attached to a low-lit bar serving up wacky cocktails and food options. If you fancy a memorable one, Viktor Wynd is the one for you.


Anything you think we’ve left off the list? Slide into our DMs on Instagram, TikTok or Linkedin and tell us which other Hackney gems deserve a mention!