Walk amid streets of post-industrial buildings now housing the most vibrant grouping of working artists in Britain – more of them than in Quattrocento Florence. Hackney Wick attracted them from the Nineties because of premises availability and closeness to the London market.

SITE 1 Hackney Wick Station, White Post Lane, E9 5ER

This is eye-catching for its 2018 ticket hall upgrading by Landolt+Brown in concrete and glass.

Turn right and walk up Wallis Road northwards. Pass Limeworks and Liquid studios at 55 Wallis Road – once a big artist space, this now has a small gallery space which is occasionally rented. Turn left into Prince Edward Road, a no-through route to motor vehicles which now houses cafes and creative spaces. You will pass Wood Mill Studios (photography) on the corner. Turn left into Felstead Street, where Felstead Studios (framing specialists) is at number 12.

10 Minutes

SITE 2 Felstead Studios, 12 Felstead Street, E9 5LG

Framing specialists with a gallery. Access by appointment only
Retrace steps along Prince Edward Road, then go straight on into Wallis Road. Arbeit Studios is at 117 Wallis Road, home to musicians, photographers and artists. See the large mural on the building frontage; to the side there is a smaller rainforest mural. Turn right into Mainyard at the top of Wallis Road.

20 Minutes

SITE 3: Mainyard Studios / Grow, 90-98 Wallis Road, E9 5LN

Large studio space with lots of external art. 92-94 is still an active artist studio; other spaces have been converted to bars and other industrial spaces. Grow is a venue for music, art, food and community. Opening Weds-Sun, from 5pm on weekdays and 12 midday on weekends.

Exit the yard and use the bridge on the right to cross the river. Step-free access to the bridge is available. Come down to the towpath and turn left, heading downstream/south. Walk along the short stretch of the River Lea from where you can see the backs of the warehouses at Mainyard studios, as well as the river-side bars such as Grow. Head west down White Post Lane (crossing the bridge) to reach Schwarz Wharf. Here you will find studios such as Monamas and East London Tales.

35 Minutes

SITE 4: East London Tales, Unit 310, Schwartz Wharf, E9 5ER

Turn right out of Schwartz wharf then left into Queen’s Yard.

40 Minutes

SITE 5: Mothers Studios, Queen’s Yard, E9 5EN

Queen’s Yard houses the Yard Theatre and two breweries as well as a glass framer and various artists.

Exit Queen’s Yard at the western end; Hackney Wick station is a minute or two on your right.

SITE 6: Hackney Wick Station

TOTAL 50 MINUTES