London Guide
Hoxton
Despite the area's lack of obvious aesthetic charm, over the last decade or so Shoreditch has been colonized by artists, designers and architects and transformed into one of the city's most vibrant artistic enclaves. At the same time it has been rejacketed: what was once Shoreditch is now better known as Hoxton, previously a much smaller neighbourhood confined to the north of Old Street. Whatever its real name, the area is, in actual fact, rich in literary and artistic associations. It was here that James Burbage established the country's first public theatre – called simply the Theatre – in 1576 (he subsequently took it down and reassembled it on Bankside as the Globe). There are a couple of specific sights – Wesley's Chapel and House and the the Geffrye Museum of period interiors – but the majority of folk come here for the area's bars, clubs and art galleries.