Discovering Hackney: how riders use Uber to explore the London borough

Hackney has got the best our city has to offer in terms of food, drink, fashion and fun. But, if you’re not lucky enough to live in an E8 postcode, getting to the borough’s hotspots can involve military-precision planning, a lot of waiting around or a very long walk. With so much going on and no tube lines to get you there, it’s no surprise Hackney has become a top destination for Uber.

The absence of tube stops in Hackney means that more people are relying on Uber to get around the area. As Hackney’s small businesses flourish, we can see how people are using Uber to get to those destinations that are hard to reach but well worth the journey.

Uber compliments the tube as a way to get into Hackney – in fact, people are using Uber as an extension of the network, getting as far as they can on the tube before hopping into an Uber to complete their journey.  The map below shows trips taken into the borough of Hackney from within 200m of a tube stop in the month of May 2015.

As Hackney’s small, independent businesses – shops, bars and restaurants – continue to flourish, they attract visitors from across the city, eager to sample the latest new trends. These visitors are increasingly using Uber to finish their journeys in Hackney. The blue lines on the two maps below compare trips to or from Hackney in January 2013 with those January 2015.And it’s not just Londoners – it seems that over the years Hackney has developed an international reputation with visitors to the city from across the world making the journey to the East London borough.  The map below represents trips taken in Hackney by Uber riders from around the world so far this year; the thicker the line, the more riders from that area have paid a visit to Hackney.

And it’s well worth the journey. Check out our top picks for a day – and a night – out in Hackney.

Broadway Market

Whatever you’re searching for, from food to fresh flowers to antiques, you’ll find it at Broadway Market. This hustling, bustling stretch of road is packed full of colourful characters. Once your bags are full, put your feet up in one of the street’s independent bars and restaurants and watch the world go by.

Dalston Roof Park