Open House and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets invite you to explore a curated collection of vibrant creative spaces and cultural venues in the Hackney Wick Fish Island Creative Enterprise Zone.
Designated as one of London’s first Creative Enterprise Zones in 2018, Hackney Wick and Fish Island is where creative businesses are protected and have affordable space to grow, and where local communities are connected with opportunities. Today, the area continues to evolve fast, but its creative spirit remains strong.
This special Open House collection offers a rare glimpse into the beating heart of London’s creative industries. You’ll find events, workshops, and guided tours that showcase the diversity and ingenuity of the local scene—from grassroots collectives to internationally acclaimed artists, from fine art and music to sustainable fashion and circular economy pioneers.
Creative spaces included in this collection tell the story of the area’s industrial heritage while businesses working in them shape its future. Many of these buildings are under threat, making this celebration not just timely, but vital. It’s an invitation to connect with the artists, makers and thinkers who make this part of London so unique.
Beyond the programme, Hackney Wick and Fish Island offers something for everyone. Stroll along scenic canals, admire world-class street art, sample some of East London’s best street food, or dive into its inclusive nightlife. The area’s bold mix of industrial legacy, cutting-edge architecture, and natural beauty makes it a must-visit. Just across the canal, you’ll find Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and East Bank, London’s newest creative destination.
As Justine Simons notes in her Open House collection, “Culture is also about what happens behind the scenes.” In Hackney Wick Fish Island, culture thrives not only within studios and galleries, but in the spaces in-between. Come and be inspired!
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community/cultural, concert/performance space, entertainment, gallery, event, walk/tour, restaurant/bar
On a site once home to a Victorian sweet factory, Grow Studios repurposed two warehouses in Main Yard, Hackney Wick in 2007. Today, they house artist studios, small independent businesses, and a working yard. The canalside warehouse - formerly a sausage factory - became home in 2014 to Grow, a grassroots music and arts venue with bars and a kitchen.
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