Four hours in London: Shoreditch

Head west out of Shoreditch High Street station up Great Eastern Street and you’ll quickly come to Dinerama, a vibrant patchwork of street food stalls and bars that is not to be missed. The labyrinth of more than 15 vendors serves dishes from around the globe, including Taiwanese steamed buns, Jamaican jerk and everything in between. Join the lively crowd seated at picnic tables and barrels on the ground floor, or head upstairs for a more relaxed experience at the Winerama wine bar. The rooftop patios are covered in the winter, so you can enjoy this fun destination all year round. Open from 5pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from noon on Saturdays. Families (and pet pooches) are welcome as well. streetfeast.com

For the best views of the street art the area is famous for, take Holywell Lane back to Shoreditch High Street. Walk north for five minutes and you’ll come to Cargo, to the left on Rivington Street. What is by night a young and trendy venue that hosts gigs and club events is by day a peaceful spot to take in works by some of the most well-known street artists in the world. Two pieces by Banksy, arguably the most famous name here, decorate the courtyard wall under glass protection. Don’t miss works by other top-notch street artists such as Bambi, Thierry Noir (the first artist to paint on the Berlin Wall), Christiaan Nagel (known for his mushroom sculptures) and Stick, as well as many other talented types. cargo-london.com

Head east down Calvert Avenue and you’ll pass St Leonard’s church, a Palladian-style building dating from the 18th century. Further on, you’ll find the Calvert 22 Foundation headquarters and art gallery. This non-profit organisation works to showcase contemporary creativity from the “New East”, an area that spans Eastern Europe to Central Asia. The gallery hosts seasonal exhibitions, talks and screenings, while the Calvert Forum encourages research and discussion on how to better the artistic communities in the New East. Meander down to nearby Redchurch Street, a smorgasbord of galleries and trendy shops, to see a more refined side of the eclectic art scene in the neighbourhood. calvert22.org

Back on Calvert Avenue is Leila’s Shop. Nearly hidden beneath its generous awning, this relaxed grocery and café offers a wide-ranging menu of light meals, snacks, drinks and gourmet ingredients to take away. A few steps beyond is Arnold Circus. In the centre of this little park is a quaint green bandstand with park benches around the periphery. It’s a picture-perfect place to enjoy the quieter side of Shoreditch. Close by is Rochelle Canteen, a hidden gem of a café/restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Thursday to Saturday (ring the doorbell for access), with al fresco dining when the weather is clement. On Sundays, the Columbia Road flower market is only a few blocks away and well worth the detour. rochelleschool.org/rochellecanteen

Walk back towards Shoreditch High Street station. If you’re hungry, Lyle’s is an acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant serving British dishes or, not far away, there’s Brat, a fashionable wine bar and Spanish grill (see businesstraveller.com for a full review). Across from Lyle’s is Boxpark, an assortment of shops housed in old shipping containers. Boxpark opened in 2011 and started a London trend. There are two storeys of shops, bars and restaurants in the 60 shipping containers. It was originally only intended to stay open for five years, but its popularity endures because it mirrors the kaleidoscopic creativity and diversity that make Shoreditch such an interesting place to be. boxpark.co.uk