[1] Turn left out of Zenith House and cross Old Street at the traffic lights.  Turn right, then almost immediately left into a road called Hoxton Square.  Shortly, Hoxton Square itself comes into view.

(A) Hoxton Square is thought to be one of the oldest squares in London. The area is now the heart of East London’s arts and media world.

[2] Cross Rufus Street to walk past the White Cube gallery, on the left.  The gallery, pictured below, represents artists such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

[3] Turn right to walk along the long side of the square towards the church.  To exit the square, turn left at the end of the square into a pedestrian passage and then continue down Bowling Green Walk ahead, passing the Energy Centre on the left.  Turn left at Pitfield Street passing the Passmore Edwards library, founded by a Victorian philanthropist of that name, then crossing the road to turn right into Chart Street.

[4] Follow Chart Street as it bends to the right then turns left.

(B) Note the Marie Lloyd pub on the left, named after an English music hall singer.  Her real name was Matilda Alice Victoria Wood and her songs had a reputation for being racy and filled with double meanings!

When you reach East Road, head right to cross at the controlled crossing.  After crossing head left, towards Dial-a-Cab house and turn right into cobbled Silbury Street. Descend a small flight of steps, taking care to hold the hand rail, to reach the other branch of East Road. Cross carefully then head right and almost immediately left into Ebenezer Street.

[5] At the end of Ebenezer Street turn right into Britannia Walk. If you look towards the left you can see Moorfields Eye Hospital located at City Road. At the T-junction, cross Nile Street and head right. Almost immediately turn left into Jasper Walk, a pedestrian passage running alongside housing with wooden and bright blue cladding. Follow the end of the school railings as they turn left, pass through some cycle barriers and then turn right.

[6] When you reach the end of Britannia Walk, turn left along Murray Grove. The church spire to the right is Hoxton Holy Trinity. At the end of Murray Grove, cross Shepherdess Walk (pictured right).

[7] Go slightly to the left to head into Micawber Street. Turn right at the end of Micawber Street into Wharf Road.

(C) There is a sign for the Parasol Unit, which is the foundation for contemporary art. Next door is theVictoria Miro gallery housed in a former furniture factory. The gallery has exhibition space on two floors and a landscaped garden overlooking Regent’s Canal.

[8] After Wharf Road crosses Regent’s Canal on the right is The Narrow Boat pub which has tables on balconies overlooking the canal and a downstairs restaurant giving direct access to the canal. From Wharf Road, go down the steep flight of steps opposite the pub and then turn left along the towpath back under Wharf Road.

[9] Continue beside the Regent’s Canal. Caution: there is no barrier separating the canal from the towpath which is very narrow in places. Be aware of other path users especially cyclists and joggers. Note the many colourful houseboats lining the canal. Pass under a pair of footbridges. Shortly after the footbridges you will come to Sturt’s Lock (pictured above), one of the few locks on the Regent’s Canal.  Beyond the lock, pass under a road bridge to ascend the flight of steps behind a brick wall on the left up to the road.  After the Co-operative supermarket, turn left along Poole Street and almost immediately take the first turning on the left to go round the back of the Co-op into the Gainsborough Studio’s courtyard behind to see the giant Hitchcock sculpture.

(D) The giant Hitchcock head at Gainsborough Studios marks the place where Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980), one of the UK’s most celebrated directors, began his film career.  During his time at the Gainsborough Studios, Hitchcock made films such as Rope, The Lady Vanishes, The 39 Steps and The Lodger.  As he became more famous, he moved to Hollywood in 1939 to make movies such as Psycho, Vertigo, The Birds and Dial M for Murder.  The sculpture was created Anthony Donaldson and  faces Hollywood.  The original Gainsborough red brick building has been maintained and revived as a modern film studio.

Return to Poole Street and cross the road to enter Shoreditch Park.

[10] In the park, walk straight ahead through the trees, towards the tarmac path and the line of benches.  Walk over the tarmac section, and keep going ahead across the grass between two slight humps. You will have the football pitches on your left and the mountain bike track on your right.  At the edge of the football pitches, turn left and walk along with a children’s area on the right.

[11] Straight ahead is an information board for Shoreditch Park.  Go straight past it taking the tarmac path with coloured brick edging.  Follow the path as it heads left around the mound to the park exit. Cross Mintern Street and then turn left to cross Pitfield Street using the pedestrian crossing.  Turn right along Pitfield Street, heading towards the ‘Gherkin’ skyscraper, until you reach St John the Baptist church on the right.  At the roundabout, cross Fanshaw Street to continue along Pitfield Street.

(E) At the end of Pitfield Street on the right is the Book Art Bookshop which features some of Britain’s best-known artist presses and publishers of artists’ books, as well as books from abroad.

[12] At the traffic lights, cross Old Street and turn left to cross Charlotte Road finally reaching Curtain Road and Zenith House on the right.