Journal - iconiK London

6th March 2023

Celebrating International Women’s Day In East London, Kip Style

International Women’s Day is fast approaching (literally this Wednesday, 8th March), and although we shouldn’t need an excuse to celebrate all the incredibly badass women out there, we also love an excuse to celebrate! Considering we’re based in East London, […]

2nd March 2023

Beyonce Is Coming To London, Here’s Some Tips On What You Can Be Getting Up To Near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The Queen B, Beyonce, is coming to London, specifically Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which funnily enough is right near us at Kip, so we thought you’d give you some ideas on what to get up to when you’re not at the […]

1st February 2023

Your Valentine’s Day In East London, A Kip Guide…

It’s officially February, the month of love…apparently. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and we think that East London is where you should be spending your time on the 14th of February. Whether you’re in a relationship, being bold and opting […]

9th January 2023

Our List Of January Events Happening Near East London

It is indeed January, and while it can be a bit of a miserable month with the whole “back to life, back to reality” thing going on, that doesn’t mean we can’t keep enjoying life and having some fun! This […]

2nd December 2022

Cosy Things To Do In East London

Okay, so here is one thing we’re absolutely sure of…winter IS cosy season; it’s totally acceptable to go out in public wearing slippers, live in joggers and knitwear, and drink a boozy hot choccie at 11am. Of course, with cosy […]

29th November 2022

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Our festive Hackney picks

As you probably imagined, our journal is going to be all about Christmas…for the foreseeable, so you may as well get used to it! In our opinion Hackney is where it’s at when it comes to a Christmas activity to-do […]

22nd November 2022

Our Go To Hot Chocolate Spots In East London

If you didn’t know/haven’t seen Christmas lights on every street, Christmas is very much on the way… One thing we LOVE about Christmas season (that even the haters couldn’t say no to) is a good hot chocolate. East London is […]

26th October 2022

A Hackney Halloween: what to do?

Halloween is fast approaching. And whether you’re staying with us at Kip Hotel, or just looking for some spooky inspiration around Hackney, we’ve got you covered with our favourite upcoming special events nearby. Halloween Disco @ Night Tales Loft NT’s […]

20th September 2022

Some Tasty New Restaurants In East London

We LOVE a new restaurant, c’mon…who doesn’t? New restaurants are even better when they’re in East London, so here’s some tasty ones for you… Cadet A brand new, super cute wine bar and shop, which opened in Summer 2022 in […]

15th August 2022

It’s almost here! What to expect from All Points East 2022

All Points East is almost HERE, and we cannot wait! All Points East is our favourite UK festival, just a stone’s throw away from us at Kip and located in East London’s finest park, Victoria Park, and always with an […]

1st August 2022

The Kip Guide To East London’s Beer Gardens

SUMMER IS HERE! AKA beer garden season! If you’re looking for the perfect spot to soak up the sunshine this weekend, or for that after work drink, we’ve got you covered… here are our favourite beer gardens in East London! […]

30th July 2022

Happy International Friendship Day!

Happy International Friendship Day! It seems there’s a ‘day’ for everything these days, but we are TOTALLY here for celebrating friendship, we’ve got the ideal bedroom for you and your mates, the Kip Friends room, AND we’ve got some ideas […]

21st July 2022

Summer is here! What’s on in Hackney this Summer

Hellooo summer, you have arrived, you are beautiful and we love you…just not when you’re 40 degrees and nobody in London has AC. Anyway, we digress. Summer in London is the very best, people actually smile at each other on […]

1st July 2022

Craving Tacos & Margaritas? Our Favourite Mexican Restaurants in East London

Tacos and Margaritas anyone?! Yes, yes, yesss…all day every damn day!! Okay…maybe not for breakfast, unless you’re in an airport, in which case, anything goes. East London is the hub of intimate, independent restaurants, which means the vibes are always […]

6th June 2022

Kips Guide To Pride Month In London

June is PRIDE MONTH in London, and it’s even more special because it marks 50 years since the country’s first ever Pride event! In true Kip style we want to offer our guide to Pride month in London… Let’s kick […]

23rd May 2022

Kips Guide To Hackney Picnic Spots

Summer in London is very much starting to kick off, al fresco dining is back, every day of the week feels like a Saturday, and we’re all LOVING the fresh sunny air. In true British fashion we love a good […]

13th May 2022

It’s World Cocktail Day! Our guide to the best cocktails in East London

Happy World cocktail day! There literally seems to be a day for everything, but we certainly are not complaining about world cocktail day. In true Kip fashion we give you our ULTIMATE list of East London cocktail bars that you […]

26th April 2022

Festival Season At Kip Hotel

Festival season is starting to peep out the clouds, it’s one of the best things about summer in London. For those of you that don’t know, London festivals are the VERY BEST…All Points East, Field Day, Wireless, and Cross The […]

8th April 2022

Kip’s Top 5 Sunday Roasts In Hackney – For Easter Sunday

A roast on Easter Sunday…doesn’t get any more British than that, does it? We are totally here for it, we’re ready to drown some roasties in gravy, eat 50 chocolate eggs back to back, and polish it off with a […]

4th April 2022

April In Hackney

Spring is here, the blossom trees are blooming around all of our favourite Hackney parks, people seem to be smiling more, and the sun is around…a bit. We definitely feel like there’s more of an urge to be out and […]

14th March 2022

A Window To Hackney: Meet Natalie

A Window To Hackney: Meet Natalie Natalie is a local East London artist, musician, photographer, and yoga and sound therapist. All of her practices are centred around the therapeutic benefits of creative self expression and she often runs workshops to […]

7th March 2022

A Window To Hackney: Meet Tom

So, who are you? I am a London born multidisciplinary artist and poet making both physical and digital art. I am passionate about multiple things such as wine, art, fashion, music and have a bad habit of only looking at […]

3rd March 2022

A Window To Hackney: Meet Sam

So…who are you? Hello! I’m Sam, an artist based in London. I’ve always been creative, but I really got into art when I began doing street art around 18 years old. This then transformed into a more studio based practice […]

22nd February 2022

A Window To Hackney: Meet Franco

We are happy to introduce Thion, whose artwork features on Kip Wall. So, who are you? Hi, I’m Franco La Russa aka Thion, an Italian multimedia artist living and working in London. After graduating in Fine Art I went to […]

22nd February 2022

A Window To Hackney: Meet Eloisa

We are happy to introduce Eloisa, whose artwork features on Kip Wall. So who are you? I’m Eloisa, an artist from London who absolutely loves colour. I like to make people happy through my work, my sunny personality and my […]

11th February 2022

What’s happening in London this month

We’re out of the January darkness and moving into brighter…shorter months, with February. In London, especially East London, we’re never short of events and things to do – of course we’re super generous at Kip, and so want to share […]

1st February 2022

Veganuary in February

We know that January is a time for resolutions, challenging yourself, doing the whole health and wellness thing, and believe us – we back that! One of the biggest January trends is Veganuary, aka being vegan for the whole month […]

26th January 2022

What’s Up This Week In Hackney?

Simple and to the point, we’re letting you know what’s up this week in Hackney, aka – what’s on, where you should be snacking, drinking, painting, hanging out…and of course, staying. With us…at Kip. “Paint Your Feelings” in London Fields […]

14th December 2021

A Christmas Date Night In London – By Kip

The festive Christmas period is also known as “cuffing season”…basically, when everyone gets all coupled up (excuse the Love Island reference, we couldn’t help it) and breakups are forbidden! We’re all freezing cold, looking for someone to spoon, and romantically […]

1st December 2021

WFH Spots in East London

Working from home (WFH) is a THING, it’s a real life THING! We’ve all gotten very used to joining meetings from the comfort of our own living room, and swapping suit trousers for trackie bottoms, but working from home can […]

23rd November 2021

Kip’s Guide to East London Christmas Party Venues

Did you know that Christmas is coming?! After bonfire night it’s basically all anyone talks about…With Christmas comes the tradition of Christmas parties, whether that’s an office Christmas party, another excuse for a party with your mates, or a semi-awkward […]

10th November 2021

Kip’s Guide to Singles Day

Okay so…Thursday is ‘Singles Day’…yep, it’s actually a thing, a whole day dedicated to celebrating being romantically unattached, we really do love an excuse to celebrate! Singles Day sounds a little bit morbid, but really it’s pretty empowering, being single […]

20th October 2021

Kip’s Guide To A Spooky Halloween in Hackney

Spooky season is very much upon us, we’re kind of already sick of seeing pumpkins and skeletons everywhere we go, but also secretly love it. Let’s be honest, Hackney is home to the most eclectic people, restaurants, bars, parks etc… […]

28th September 2021

Things to do in Hackney This Weekend…

It’s Tuesday, and let’s be honest, nobody likes a Tuesday. You don’t have the whole ‘Monday Blues’ excuse, and the week is definitely not over…but don’t worry, as per we’ve got you covered. We are here to prep you for […]

14th September 2021

Kips Solo Travel Guide – Top 6 Things To Do Alone In East London

Why is it we feel like we need to be around other people to do “things” or have fun?! Honestly, at Kip, we think that’s a load of rubbish. In fact, some alone time in London can be the exact […]

31st August 2021

Kip’s Lowdown on London Fashion Week 2021

September is very much upon us, and although summer is over we don’t need to start crying into our box of chocolates (pure Elle Woods style), because London Fashion Week is within touching distance! From 16th-21st of September, London is […]

10th August 2021

Kip’s Guide To The Hackney Rave Scene

When was the last time we were all under one roof raving (in the words of Jamie XX), maybe recently, but probably not for quite some time?! Hackney is Kip’s home turf, and we know it’s one of […]

27th July 2021

Kip’s Guide To All Points East Festival

August bank holiday weekend is upon us, and we all know what that means…All Points East festival, Victoria Park, be there or be square! We absolutely love All Points East, not just because we are biased to East London and […]

13th July 2021

East London’s Broadway Market: Our Favourite Shops and Traders

If you didn’t know then you’re gunna get to know, and if you know you know…Broadway Market brings the biggest energy to East London! Think quirky coffee shops, fresh flowers, delicious food and independent clothing shops that’ll keep your wardrobe […]

29th June 2021

A Guide To The Best Croissants (And Cheese Toasties) In East London

If you were a pastry, which one would you be? We at Kip choose almond croissants, all day, EVERYDAY! For this reason and because they are essential to our diet and happiness (kind of), we thought it would be a […]

15th June 2021

Our Favourite LGBTQ+ Friendly Spots In East London

Happy PRIDE Month!! Here at Kip we are long standing supporters of the LGBTQ+ community and welcome, with very open arms, all members of the community! At Kip we do not discriminate, we love and respect every single human being […]

3rd June 2021

Where To Eat Out In Hackney

Are you hungry? We are…and if you’re not, you will be after this. We’re about to give you some tasty, saucy spots that’ll get you salivating for all of the right reasons! SO, here goes…Kips guide to eating out in […]

6th May 2021

Curating Your Perfect East London Date

Alright, so we might have been stuck inside for a million years, and we might have forgotten how to date…but romance is not dead, trust us! There are so many romantic (but not too cringe) spots around East London for […]

5th May 2021

A Window to Hackney: Our Hotel Wall As a Canvas For Your Work

We are here to give progressive artists a voice, plastering their work over one of London’s most talked about areas, Hackney! Annually 5.8 million people access Hackney directly through Hackney Overground Station. The first thing they see is a vast […]

28th April 2021

Our Favourite London Based Female Artists

We LOVE East London…obviously, not just because it’s the home of Kip, has some of the most stunning parks, and vibey restaurants, but also because of the level of incredible art that decorates the streets, walls and art galleries! Walking […]

9th April 2021

Reasons why you should definitely stay with us!

We are Kip Hotel, Hackney, in case you didn’t already clock…We are the spot in the middle of East London culture, with super affordable prices, a super trendy & Scandi vibe, and GREAT coffee…if we do say so ourselves! You’re […]

18th March 2021

Kips Guide To The East London Festival Scene

Summer in London is going to be EPIC, we have utter faith in that! Sure, so many people want to get away and get some Vitamin D, but there is nothing better than being a big park, listening to […]

10th December 2020

Your Hackney Christmas Weekend Spelled Out

This year may have been a wee bit dodgy but that does not mean that Christmas has to be! In fact, here at Kip, we believe this month should be even more festive than ever, which is why we’re giving […]

10th September 2020

Reasons not to sleep in

Yes, we know that Kip has the cosiest beds in East London and it would be rude not to maximise that, however now that we’re out of lockdown the urge to get up and out of your pyjamas a little […]

13th August 2020

The Kip Neighbourhood: Our Guide, Post-Lockdown

As life in London slowly eases back into a new kind of “normal”, we couldn’t be happier to welcome you all back to Kip and our vibrant neighbourhood, Hackney! We wanted to remind you of all that Hackney has to […]

13th March 2020

Where to Stop on a Canalside Walk in East London

From Hackney Wick to Camden Lock—if you’re walking alongside London’s iconic canals, here’s where eat, drink and drop by… It’s a sunny Sunday in London and you have a day to explore, where do you go? London’s Canal network was […]

29th January 2020

Valentine’s Day in London: Some of the best date ideas

Coming round faster than an arrow from Cupid himself, Valentine’s Day is almost upon us once again. And if you’re looking for somewhere to take your numero uno, or are hoping to impress someone new out in the city of […]

16th January 2020

The Kip Guide to Peckham

From retro arcade games to a rooftop bar on a multistorey car park—where to eat, drink, shop and explore in Peckham. If you’re looking for a hidden gem, Peckham’s got you. Just like our Hackney home-turf, it has everything you […]

12th December 2019

Where to Find Exhibitions in London

The best places and venues to find the coolest art, cinema, photography and interactive exhibitions around the city. Picture this—you’re visiting London with plans to walk around and explore the city, but the weather forecast has different ideas. If you’ve […]

21st November 2019

Alternative Christmas Activities In London

There’s no shame in being a scrooge, honest! If you’re quite frankly over Christmas markets and mince pies, we’ve curated a little list of alternative activities you can get stuck into this Festive season in London.. Indi Cinema Trip Christmas […]

7th November 2019

A Guide to East London’s Best Markets

Consider this your local’s guide to the best places to shop independent brands, vintage and street food this side of the capital. Markets are up there with dogs in pubs and rush hour on the tube—London wouldn’t be London without […]

23rd October 2019

Autumn in East London : Where to get the best seasonal grub

Autumn is nice for many reasons; auburn leaves crunching underfoot, cosy nights in, and bonfire night to name a few. But why do we really love autumn here at Kip? The food. Root veggies, warming stews and carb-loading are what […]

30th September 2019

October Festivities in London

The summer nights are drawing in and although we don’t like to readily admit it, we’re starting to look forward to getting our knits out for Autumn. That said, just because the weather is starting to cool down, your social […]

16th September 2019

The best under-the-radar spots to enjoy an alternative day of sightseeing in London.

Big Ben, Tower of London, Hyde Park, Tate Modern… the list of world-famous landmarks and attractions to see in London is endless, but what about the hidden gems you don’t hear so much about? We’ve dug below the surface to […]

8th September 2019

The Best Minimalist Accounts to Follow on Instagram

From photographers, to brands and magazines – the ultimate guide to which minimalist accounts to follow on Instagram. Is there anything better than a monochrome colour palette, clean lines and sharp finishes? If our hotel is anything to go by, […]

7th August 2019

5 Things to do in London this August

It’s been a jam-packed summer already in the capital, but it’s not over yet… Here are 5 things to do in London this August. BBC Proms – From now until September This world-famous annual celebration of classical music returns to […]

24th July 2019

6 All-Summer Long Things to Do in London

Our pick of the 6 best, non-date-specific things to do in London this Summer. One of the best bits about coming to London is planning your trip full of places to go and experiences to have (that, and staying in […]

1st July 2019

5 Things to do in London this July.

The summer is finally upon us, and whilst there’s no shortage of things to do in the capital, we thought a handy guide to where some of the best goings-on are happening throughout London this July. Whether it’s world-class sport […]

19th May 2019

Go-To Breakfast Spots in East London

After you get your kip, kickstart your morning with our pick of the best breakfasts this side of London… They say you should start off the day with a good breakfast, and in East London, you’re not short of places […]

30th April 2019

11 of the Best Rooftop Bars in London

Summer’s on the horizon – get ready with our pick of the best places to cool down, on hot days in the city… Summertime, living is easy. And what comes easier on a hot day than following your feet to […]

26th March 2019

Designing a Hotel for Content Creators

Cool, minimalist interiors in the heart of Hackney – a place to catch some Zzz’s (and the perfect shot for your next post) For us, hotels are about more than a seriously comfy bed – they’re about giving people […]

27th February 2019

Hot Desking Spaces in (and around) Hackney & East London

Whether you need a quiet spot to send a few emails or a meeting room for a workshop, check out these ‘work anywhere’ spaces around our neighbourhood. Out with the old ways of being chained to the same desk, in […]

11th February 2019

5 Must-Visit Places Within 5 Minutes of Kip Hotel

Surrounded by cool places to eat, dance and stretch – here are five local spots to check out during your stay at Kip Hotel, East London. When it comes to London neighbourhoods, Hackney’s like that friend who always knows the next […]

18th June 2018

The Freelancers Guide to Hackney Coffee Shops

We need good coffee like we need good WiFi – freelancers, we’ve got your back, with the best coffee spots in Hackney, East London. In Hackney, a borough that’s bursting with creative flair, it comes as no surprise that there […]

15th May 2018

Where are the best Burger Joints in Hackney?

Did someone say food? Our round up of the best burgers this side of London… Pretty much every restaurant in Hackney has burgers on its menu, but where do you go to find the best ones? Here’s our list of […]

10th April 2018

Traditional Pubs to visit in Hackney

Our round up of favourite local pubs in Hackney, London. Boozer, pub or rub-a-dub, you don’t have to venture far from Kip to find a decent Hackney watering hole. Those of you visiting from outside the UK, it’s obviously very […]

23rd March 2018

Kip Picks: What to do in London for Easter

Spring is here! Check out our top picks of things to do in London this Easter holiday… With the expected arrival of Spring and some well-deserved time off around Easter, planning a trip to London feels like the perfect treat. […]

10th February 2018

A Street Art Guide to Hackney & East London

From Banksy to Lord Napier – the Kip Hotel street art guide to East London. East London is home to one of the world’s largest commissioned and uncommissioned collections of street art. Take a walk around Shoreditch or a stroll […]

3rd January 2018

The Minimalist Design Inspiration Behind Kip Hotel

From Calvin Klein to Apple stores – 10 resources for minimalist hotel design inspiration (that aren’t other hotels) As Alex Polizzi mentioned when she featured our Hackney hotel, Kip as an example of minimalist hotel design on The Hotel Inspector, […]