My partner and I are moving to London, and we have organised to stop in a place off Globe Road for the first week until we find a place to get settled and determine whether Shoreditch is for us long-term.

It's challenging to gauge what the area is like from street view, however I've heard it's where the "hipsters" hang out... I don't know how much truth there is to that stereotype. Is there much going on close to the area? Good places to eat, local pubs, shops? Where are the major streets?

I'm more concerned in places where the typical Londoner chooses to go on a standard basis.

A little background: We're in our early to mid-twenties and we're coming to London for a year or two from Brisbane, Australia (don't hold this against us, we are not the characteristic drinking-bogan-Aussies). Shoreditch is initially appealing to us as it sounds in the vein of a young-ish area and is quite close to the City of London. We are not involved in the clubbing scene, but have heard Shoreditch has live music, which does attract us.

Would love area information, your opinion on the best places to go, and also alternative areas to test out for living fairly central. If this post has been made in the past and is all but a duplicate don't be shy to direct elsewhere... :)

You've pretty much nailed it: Shoreditch is bursting of hipsters and pretty pretentious, but likewise it's central, and it's got fantastic bars and nightlife.

You might also like to consider Camden which has fantastic music and bars, and - though it's not totally as central as Shoreditch - is very easy to get to for the West End and centre.

Shoreditch is very much a hipster hangout but don't let that put you off, it's packed with hipsters because it is filled with fantastic places to eat drink, shop, hang out and watch music in small venues before the artists get too well-known and no longer worthy of your attention.

You are perhaps better off not really thinking about living in Shoreditch per se, more think that you want to move to East London. Hoxton, Old Street, Whitechapel, Aldgate, Bethnal Green, London Fields and South Hackney are all close enough and comparable enough to Shoreditch to be worth considering.

If you are looking to things to see and do before finding someplace then visit Brick Lane (try on a Saturday for the busy market or at night for a party and a curry), Columbia Road flower market (Sundays), Borough Market (Saturdays - check out London Fields while you are there), Spitalfields (everyday though Thursdays is antiques and frequently the best day) and take a walk through the back roads round Curtain road and Rivington Street.

If you are staying on Globe road then go towards Roman Road and hop on the number 8 bus, that will take you to the other end of Bethnal Green Road and Shoreditch High Street Station. Get off the bus at the station and you will be a short walk from most of the places above.

Whatever you choose, welcome to London and sorry about the weather.

You may know this by now but of London is not same as London so unless you work in the City and want to stay nearby (expensive) that shouldn't be a major issue when choosing an area.

As an departure to this, if you want something a bit more laid back whilst you're here, head north (about ten minutes walk from Globe Road) towards Victoria Park - on the north side of the park you'll stumble on Victoria Park Village, where there's two or three good pubs, some nice cafes and a few small independent stores which are all awfully nice - it's a little bit yummy mummy-ish but it's nice for a crumb of breakfast on a weekend or a few quiet pints. The park itself is also well worth checking out, very beautiful.

Globe Road is more Bethnal Green really, which I would say is a good thing.

Bethnal Green has grand transport links, with 24 hour buses in all directions, one stop on the tube to Liverpool Street or couple of stops to Westfield Stratford, as well as being close to Shoreditch/Old Street.

Don't take this the wrong way, but Shoreditch isn't near as cool as it one time was, but this is all for the better. have mostly moved on, and you will undoubtedly find less of them in Shoreditch as they drift further up to Dalston, Hackney Wick or to places South of the River, largely driven away by increased rent in the area they after made so cool.

Shoreditch, specially Kingsland Road, has a number of bars that cater to all and any tastes, as well as a number of venues playing live music. My own favourite is the Old Blue Last (Great Eastern Street). Dismissed by many as a hangout it is in fact one of the few venues in London where Bands seemingly WANT to play there, and the free gigs really have half decent music. There's a few other places, but that's my favourite.

I chose it over say, Camden, as I feel Camden is a bit stale - I can't recall the last time I've enjoyed a good night there.

TL;DR: Where you're moving is perfect. not anything to do with the fact that I'm there.