Looking for cool things to do in Clapton? Look no further.
Clapton is a neighbourhood with a long and interesting history, and as such there’s plenty to see and do in the area.
From walking in the charming Lea Valley to ice skating at its swanky new ice rink, and exploring the history of a strange church cult to dining out at some very quirky restaurants, you’re never short of a good reason to explore this part of town.
To make that exploration easier for you we’ve put together a guide of our favourite things to do and places to eat.
Read on for the best things to do in Clapton…
Best Things to do in Clapton
Walk the Lea Valley
Bordering Clapton to the east is the Lea Valley, one of London’s loveliest areas of untouched nature. It’s got a history that stretches back hundreds of years, functioning as an artery for grain imports to the city and a source of water for local communities.
Nowadays it’s a great spot to get away from the concrete and noise of the big city and offers some really nice walks.
If you’ve got the energy, one of those walks runs the whole length of the river and right to the banks of the River Thames in central London. It’s a long way but watching nature fade into town and then town into city is really quite pleasant.
Check out a Church with an Extremely Strange History
You’ll find churches in most neighbourhoods of London, but it’s rare to find them with a history as odd and creepy as The Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lord.
It was built in 1892 by a sect of Christians called the Agapemonites. These folks were actually less of a sect and more of a cult. Throughout their years they produced some very unique religious leaders.
There’s one who claimed to be immortal, Henry James Prince (Died in 1899) and another who went the whole hog and actually claimed to be the messiah. Clapton locals not being folk to be taken for fools challenged this John Hugh Smyth-Pigott to walk across the water of Clapton Pond. He declined of course and was set upon by a mob of thousands.
When these guys were running the church it was somewhat creepily named The Church of the Ark of the Covenant, but perhaps even creepier is the name the locals gave it: The Abode of Love.
That’s because as well as being makers of bold claims, the reverends were also notorious sex pests, and used their cult-like powers to keep many “spiritual brides”. Eurghh.
All this is long past, but some features on the church still retain the Agapemonites eccentricities. Notice the bizarre winged animals around the nave and the rather beautiful beatific art.
Catch a Movie at The Castle Cinema
Nothing beats a good movie, and you can’t do better for that than a good independent cinema. In Clapton that would be The Castle – a one-of-a-kind place movie theatre that dates back to 1913.
Keeping the place open has not been easy though. In fact the only reason we can still write about The Castle Cinema is because of a successful crowdfunding effort back in 2016. With that money they even managed to keep the place looking as it did when it opened, and we’re not gunna lie, sometimes it’s just as nice to look at as the films on the silver screen.
And what’s on that screen? A good mix of new-release features and old classics, rotating regularly so there’s always something new to watch.
Spend a Sunday at Chatsworth Road Market
There are tons of Sunday markets around London. Few of them are as historic as Chatsworth Road Market. Back in the 30s this was one of London’s most popular Sunday spots, with over 200 vendors turning up to flog their wares.
That dwindled and finally came to an end in the 90s, but was revived in 2010. Now Chatsworth Road Market is steadily growing in popularity for its great spread of artisanal food, hand-made arts and crafts and a good sense of community that goes with it.
We’re wondering if it can creep back up to its 30s era popularity…
See a Performance at The Round Chapel
Clapton is home to one of London’s coolest venues: The Round Chapel. This nonconformist building began life as a religious centre for the residents of Hackney and Clapton but has since been turned music venue.
Thanks to its Grade II listing much of the original decoration has be retained giving this place a very unique feel, especially when lit up with the multi colours of show lights and pyrotechnics.
Unique as it is the place can sign some pretty cool acts. Arlo Parks, Paloma Faith and even Coldplay have performed on its stage over the years. If you want to see some music in Clapton, this is the place to do it.
Relax at Clapton Pond
Here’s the famous pond that the Clapton locals wanted that crooked vicar, John Hugh Smyth-Pigott, to walk across. We don’t suggest you try walking across it either, just sit by its side and relax.
The pond is a particularly beautiful space – well kept and maintained – and has existed in various forms since the 1600s. Over the years the communities that have called Clapton home have shaped the pond in their own ways.
The form you see today is mostly from the Victorian era. You can see a bit of that classic Victorian taste in the pond’s grand fountain.
Go Skating at the Lea Valley Ice Centre
One of the area’s newest arrivals is the Lea Valley Ice Centre. It opened in the summer of 2023, boasting not one, but two Olympic-sized ice rinks.
The space also doubles up as a community hub, offering a gym and dance studios, a space for community projects and of course, a cafe.
There’s plenty of slots on both the rinks if you’re looking for a good bit of fun in Clapton. If you want to up your skating game you can even take classes with professionals…
Things to do in Clapton: Eating & Drinking
The Tram Store
This restaurant/cafe has made a home of a disused tram depot – which is obviously where it gets its name. The interior is all reclaimed industrial, with an abundance of plant life to splash some greenery in the space.
Food at The Tram Store is all pretty delicious but you should really be coming here for their Sunday roasts. They make them mostly using ingredients from small-scale farms so that they can ensure the quality and it shows.
Veggies will be pleased to know that the mushroom wellington might actually be better than some of the meat options…
My Neighbours the Dumplings
Another Clapton restaurant with a supremely quirky interior is the wonderful My Neighbours the Dumplings. The place is a moodily lit boutique of east-Asian trinkets and decoration and makes for some highly instagrammable dinner shots.
You’ll have to put down your chopsticks for that though, not easily done when the food comes this good. You’ll be dining on plates of expertly prepared dim sum made from only the finest of ingredients, something they take very seriously – these guys even fly their prawns in from specialist dim sum prawn suppliers in Ecuador.
Wanan learn to cook like these guys? They also offer dumpling making workshops where you can learn how to prepare your own dim sum.
Bake Street
Clapton boasts a cafe that’s worth travelling much of the city to get to. Really, Bake Street has a bit of a cult following for its ice cream – soft serve that comes in flavours as strange and wonderful as Snozzberry Sherbert or Iranian Saffron.
There’s more to the place than just what they put in a cone. The menu of mains is also worth a look over if you’ve got an appetite.
Smash burgers here are a great shout, as are the selection of tacos and burritos – all hearty feeds and ones that pack a punch with the flavour.
Practical Tips for Exploring the Best Things to do in Clapton
- Make sure you try some of the ice cream from Bake Street. Trust us when we say you do not want to miss out on that.
- Make sure to book your tickets in advance if you want to catch a performance at the Round Chapel, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to pick any up on the door.
- If you go to The Castle Cinema, buy your snacks at the counter. Independent cinemas make their biggest margins from snacks, not tickets. If you want to support them, don’t go sneaking that Tesco bag of Minstrels.
