At the end of November, HUGE Gallery brings a selection of artists from around the world to The Factory on Shacklewell Lane in Dalston for a three-day exhibition, from 27 to 29 November 2026. If you are coming to see the show, or to exhibit in it, set aside a few extra hours for the streets around it. Hackney, Dalston and the wider E8 postcode are home to a long tradition of community art, independent cinema and working studios, and much of it sits within walking distance of the venue.
This guide is a starting point for an art-lover's weekend in the area. Opening times change, especially in winter, so check each place's own website before you set off.
Start at The Factory, Shacklewell Lane
The Factory, at 21–31 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2DA, calls itself the "Home of Creative Hackney". It is a converted industrial building with high ceilings, stone floors and plywood walls, and it houses around twenty small "pods" run by independent brands and creative studios, alongside a resident French café. It makes a relaxed base: arrive early for a coffee, then head out into Dalston on foot.
Dalston: murals, gardens and a historic cinema
The Hackney Peace Carnival Mural
Head south to Dalston Lane for and one of east London's best-loved pieces of public art. Opposite Dalston Junction station, the Hackney Peace Carnival Mural depicts the procession of the 1983 Hackney Peace Carnival. It was designed by the artist Ray Walker for the Greater London Council's Peace Year. Walker died in 1984, and the mural was completed by Anna Walker and the muralist Mick Jones, then unveiled in 1985. Restored in 2014, it can be seen from the street at any time and still rewards a slow look: hundreds of figures, banners and instruments fill the wall.
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
The entrance to the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden is right beside the mural. Created in 2010 on a disused railway line, it is a free, not-for-profit community garden with a café. It is a good place to pause between galleries. Winter hours vary, so check the garden's website or Instagram before you go, and note that it does not take reservations.
Gillett Square
A short walk north, off Kingsland High Street, Gillett Square is a free, community-led public space with a lively cultural programme. It is home to Dalston Culture House and the Vortex Jazz Club, which makes it a natural stop if your visit runs into the evening.
Rio Cinema
Back on Kingsland High Street, the Rio Cinema at number 107 is one of the most remarkable buildings in Dalston. A cinema has stood on the site since 1909. The current Art Deco frontage dates from a 1937 remodelling, and the building is Grade II listed. Run as a community cinema since 1976, the Rio has a proud history with artists' film: the Black Audio Film Collective, including John Akomfrah, was based here in the early 1980s. It marks its 50th year as the Rio in 2026, so it is a fitting place to end a day of looking.
Down Kingsland Road
Museum of the Home
Follow Kingsland Road south towards Hoxton for the Museum of the Home at 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA. Set in Grade I listed almshouses built in 1714, with gardens, it explores how people have lived at home over the past 400 years, and its period rooms are a treat for anyone interested in interiors, objects and everyday design. Entry is free. The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and is closed on Mondays.
Flowers Gallery
Further along, Flowers Gallery has a space at 82 Kingsland Road. This location currently offers private viewings by appointment, so contact the gallery in advance rather than dropping by.
Studios and artist communities
SPACE, Mare Street
Hackney's reputation as a home for artists rests on its studios as much as its galleries. SPACE, one of London's best-known studio providers, has its head office at The Triangle, 129–131 Mare Street, beside London Fields, where around 60 artists work. The building is a working studio rather than a gallery, but SPACE holds open studios and talks there through the year. Check its What's On page to see whether anything coincides with your visit.
Hackney Wick
For a sense of scale, take the Overground from Dalston Kingsland to Hackney Wick on the Mildmay line. The area has been a Creative Enterprise Zone since 2018, now renewed to 2028, and is home to almost 500 creative businesses, from studios and workshops to makers and production spaces. One Hackney councillor has called it "the premier location in London for creative and cultural industries". Walk the canal and the streets around the station and you will see why.
Markets for the exhibition weekend
The exhibition weekend falls on a Saturday and Sunday, which suits two of the area's best markets.
Ridley Road Market
Ridley Road, opposite Dalston Kingsland station, has been trading since the late 1880s and has more than 100 stalls. It runs Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm, with food, fabrics and household goods from around the world. On Sundays, from 10am to 4pm, the Ridley Road Sunday Collective brings makers, ceramics, books, textiles and street food, so it's ideal for picking up something handmade on 29 November.
Broadway Market
On Saturday, head to Broadway Market, at the southern edge of London Fields, open from 9am to 5pm every week of the year. It combines food stalls with independent shops, and it pairs neatly with a walk past SPACE on Mare Street.
Practical tips for visiting
Getting there: Dalston Kingsland (Mildmay line) and Dalston Junction (Windrush line) are the main Overground stations for the area, and Rectory Road (Weaver line) is another option. The Factory is a short walk from Dalston Kingsland.
Plan around daylight: late November days are short, and markets wind down by mid-afternoon. See markets and gardens in the morning, and save cinemas, jazz and the exhibition for later.
Check before you travel: opening hours change through the season. Hackney Museum is closed for refurbishment and is due to reopen in early 2027.
Be a considerate visitor: ask before photographing stallholders or artists in their studios, and follow each venue's rules on photography. The Museum of the Home, for example, does not allow flash or tripods.
Wear good shoes: the best way to explore E8 is on foot, and many of the places in this guide are within half an hour's walk of each other.
See HUGE Gallery in Dalston
HUGE Gallery's London exhibition opens at The Factory on Friday 27 November 2026, with an evening event from 7.30pm to 10pm, and continues over the weekend until 29 November. Expect a wide range of contemporary work from artists around the world, and the chance to meet many of them in person.
Visit HUGE Gallery's upcoming exhibition in London.
If you are an artist thinking about showing in London, our first art exhibition checklist covers what to prepare, and our guide on how to choose the right artwork for an open call will help you put your strongest work forward. For a taste of the people who exhibit with us, read our HUGE community spotlight, or browse past HUGE shows. Applications for the November exhibition close on 16 November 2026.
Interested in exhibiting your work? Explore the current HUGE Gallery open call.