Before the road, there was Hackney Wick

Not just a dot on the map, this is home. Before the road trips, before the travel blog, before the crates of dog food packed into the car boot… there was Hackney Wick. A mishmash of graffiti walls, canal-side fun, food markets, and wildflower gardens where artists and dogs alike wander freely. This is where Roly and I built our everyday rhythm and the place that continues to anchor us no matter where we roam.

Life in Hackney Wick with Roly

We didn’t choose Hackney Wick because it was trending, we chose it because it felt right. It’s one of the few places in London where you can be walking past a wild rave one minute and sipping chai latte by a canal the next.

And Roly? He fits in perfectly.

Whether he’s hopping into our favourite dog-friendly spots or becoming an unofficial mascot of the Saturday market, he’s as much a part of this place as I am.

Our weekly rituals:

What Makes Hackney Wick Home

It’s the kind of place that gives you exactly what you need. There’s art around every corner. Music floating out of open studio doors. A community that makes space for creators, wanderers, and people walking their dogs.

Dog-Friendly Hackney Wick: Where Roly Runs the Show

Roly has opinions. And Hackney Wick gets 10/10 paw points.

Whether it’s riverbanks for sniffing, pubs that serve pup treats, or parks big enough to zoom in, this part of East London is one of the most dog-friendly neighbourhoods in the city.

Some of Roly’s local favourites:

Building a Creative Life from Home

When you freelance and work remotely, your environment becomes your co-worker.

Hackney Wick gave me the space to dream bigger, work better, and build what became The Next Route.

It’s where I:

  • Launched my freelance e-commerce business
  • Built my blog between client meetings
  • Designed the entire European travel plan from my living room
  • And realised that “home” doesn’t have to mean staying still

The Next Route Isn’t Just a Travel Blog. It’s a Love Letter to Home Too

You’ll see us travelling around the UK and Europe, but you’ll also see us coming back because The Next Route isn’t about escaping, it’s about choosing, again and again, the paths that feel like you. And for us, Hackney Wick will always be part of that.

From Here to Everywhere

Hackney Wick isn’t just where we lived. It’s where we began to imagine a different kind of life, one with more time, more space, more belly rubs and trail walks.

It’s our home base, our safe place, our why.

And while The Next Route might take us far and wide, it’s this postcode with its quirks, colours and canals that’ll always be the first pin on the map.

Catch you sometime at the Wick