Dalston Area Guide

Dalston is a district of East London, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Charing Cross. Its historical borders are Kingsland Road and Kingsland High Street in the west, London Fields in the east, Downs Park Road in the north and the Shoreditch parish boundary in the south. Its main shopping street, Kingsland High Street, follows the route of the Roman Ermine Street and has the road number A10. Modern Dalston is often seen as the area surrounding both sides of Kingsland High Street, even though some of the west side is within the London Borough of Islington. As such, it bestrides the main route north from the City of London. Contemporary Dalston is a lively neighbourhood with a varied population. Architecturally it is a mixture of 18th and 19th-century terraced houses and 20th-century council estates.

Highlights and attractions

Busy Dalston is centred on Kingsland Road, home to vintage fashion stores, hip cocktail bars, and basement clubs. From late-night parties to excellent comprehensive schools, living in Dalston certainly does offer a little bit of everything. Stalls at Ridley Road Market sell fruit, vegetables, and household goods. Seen as more residential than Shoreditch and better for nightlife than Islington, Dalston is the go-to neighbourhood for young partygoers and families. It’s quite the mix.

Commuting

On the Overground East London Line, Dalston Junction is at the northern end and runs services south around every 15 minutes to West Croydon, Crystal Palace New Cross and Clapham Junction.

Local Transport Links

• Stoke Newington Railway Station - within a mile
• Rectory Road Railway Station - within a mile
• Stamford Hill Railway Station - within a mile
• Clapton Railway Station - within a mile
• Manor House Underground Station - within a mile
• Dalston Kingsland Railway Station - 1 mile S
• Hackney Downs Railway Station - 1 mile SE
• Canonbury Railway Station - 1 mile SW
• South Tottenham Railway Station - 1 mile N
• Finsbury Park Station (Railway Station) - 1 mile W
• Finsbury Park Underground Station - 1 mile W
• Arsenal Underground Station - 1 mile W
• Seven Sisters Station (Railway Station) - 1 mile N
• Harringay Green Lanes Railway Station - 1 mile NW
• Hackney Central Railway Station - 1 mile SE
• Drayton Park Railway Station - 1 mile SW
• Seven Sisters Underground Station - 1 mile N
• Harringay Railway Station - 2 miles NW
• Highbury & Islington Underground Station - 2 miles SW
• Highbury & Islington Station (Railway Station) - 2 miles SW
• Holloway Road Underground Station - 2 miles SW
• London Fields Railway Station - 2 miles SE
• Essex Road Railway Station - 2 miles SW
• Homerton Railway Station - 2 miles SE
• Crouch Hill Railway Station - 2 miles W

Nearby Points of Interest

• St Thomas Church - within a mile
• Springfield Park - within a mile
• Arsenal Stadium - 1 mile W
• Emirates Stadium - 1 mile W
• Clapton Park - 2 miles SE
• Tottenham Hotspur FC (Stadium) - 3 miles N
• St Giles-without-Cripplegate (Church) - 3 miles S
• St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate (Church) - 3 miles S
• St Alphage London Wall (Ruin) - 3 miles S
• St Bartholomew-the-Great (Church) - 3 miles S
• All Hallows-on-the-Wall (Church) - 3 miles S
• St Bartholomew-the-Less (Church) - 3 miles S
• St Alban (Tower) - 3 miles S
• Dutch Church, Austin Friars - 3 miles S
• St Botolph's Aldersgate (Church) - 3 miles S
• Postman's Park - 3 miles S
• St Anne and St Agnes (Church) - 3 miles S
• City Temple (Church) - 3 miles S
• Christ Church Greyfriars (Ruin) - 3 miles S
• St Andrew Undershaft (Church) - 3 miles S
• Elim Pentecostal Church - 3 miles E
• St Andrew, Holborn (Church) - 3 miles S
• Leytonstone United Free Church - 3 miles E
• Bow (Castle) - 3 miles SE
• St Paul's Cathedral (Church) - 4 miles S

Food and drinks

This genuinely diverse area also offers delicious (and affordable) food and bargain buys. Dalston’s main drags, Kingsland High Street and Ridley Road, serve as two of the main shopping streets for the diverse borough of Hackney, and its strong Turkish community makes it one of the best places in London.

Eating: Living in Shoreditch means being able to eat almost anything at any time, whatever your budget. Mother Clucker is just one of a cluster of brilliant street food stalls in the car park of the Truman Brewery, and the curry houses of Brick Lane and Vietnamese restaurants on Kingsland Road are internationally renowned. These days there's much more posh nosh available too, Prescott & Conran have both The Albion and The Boundary on Boundary Street and Mark Hix has Tramshed on Rivington Street. The Clove Club was awarded their first Michelin Star in September 2014, and is located in Shoreditch Old Town Hall.

Drinking: The choice of pubs, bars and clubs is almost overwhelming, but off the main drag, things are more manageable. Most of the pubs around here have a history, from The Carpenter's Arms, which was once owned by the infamous Kray twins, to The Ten Bells, where Jack the Ripper stalked his victims. The delightful Lounge Lover serves out of this world cocktails and has the accolade of having hosted Madonna's 48th birthday party.

Here are some of our favourite places to eat and drink:

Gordos Pizzeria

Gordo’s Pizzeria is simply too good to resist! It has built a reputation for doing simple but pristine pizzas that are the perfect sustenance for Dalston Roof Park’s big events.

Pineapple Xpress

Pineapple Xpress is the story of two friends who have one thing in common - a true passion to bring people from diverse backgrounds together with food, music, drinks and very good vibes. The exotic menu blends elements of traditional food originating from different countries and cultures and is served inside carved Pineapple bowls.

All Nations Vegan House

All Nations Caribbean Vegan House offers inventive yet homely plant-based cooking. Great wholesome portions with lots of character and flavour and the desserts are refined-sugar free.

Shops

Amazon Fresh opened in Dalston in September 2021, which is the sixth convenience store in London that offers ‘just walk out shopping’.

Towards Shoreditch, Redchurch Street has been reborn as a place of upscale shopping, including fashion, interiors, beauty and foodie stores. Head to Brick Lane for unique fashion and vintage and a busy Sunday market. Calvert Avenue remains a somewhat secret destination for stylish shoppers and there are frequent pop-ups and sample sales in the Truman Brewery.

Schools

All of Dalston’s primary schools are judged “good” or better by Ofsted. Rated “outstanding” are Holy Trinity CofE in Richmond Road; Our Lady and St Joseph RC in Buckingham Road and Queensbridge in Queensbridge Road. Primary free schools, Halley House in Arcola Street and the Hackney New School in Downham Road opened in September. At the same time Brook Primary School in Sigdon Road became Mossbourne Parkside Academy, part of the Mossbourne Federation.

The “outstanding” local comprehensive school is Mossbourne in Downs Park Road. The other local comprehensives are Petchey Academy in Shacklewell Lane, Hackney New School, and Bridge Academy in Laburnum Street.

The Children’s House with a nursery in Elmore Street and an Upper School in King Henry’s Walk is a private primary school for children ages two to seven.
The nearest top-performing private schools are City of London boys’ school in Queen Victoria Street and City of London girls’ school in the Barbican, both in the City.

Closest Airports

• London City Airport - 7 miles SE
• Northolt - 15 miles W
• Biggin Hill - 17 miles S
• London Heathrow Terminal 1 - 17 miles W
• London Heathrow Terminal 2 - 17 miles W
• London Heathrow Terminal 4 - 17 miles SW
• London Heathrow Airport - 18 miles W
• London Heathrow Terminal 3 - 18 miles W
• London Heathrow Terminal 5 - 19 miles W
• Luton Airport - 25 miles NW