Shoreditch

Shoreditch turned from garment-trade backstreet into the epicentre of London's hipster and street-art scenes in the 2000s, its brick warehouses colonised by galleries, converted into loft offices for tech startups, and repainted with rotating murals, particularly around Great Eastern Street and the Truman Brewery. Brick Lane, on its southern edge, adds curry houses, vintage shops, and a Sunday market to the mix. By night the area's converted warehouses and rooftop bars make it one of London's busiest nightlife zones, especially around Old Street and Curtain Road. It changes fast — today's gallery is tomorrow's coworking space — which is part of its appeal.