Last week we were lucky enough to snag an invite to the latest Ace Hotel Shoreditch collaboration; this time with cult bike brand, and East London based, tokyobike.
We’ve lived in London for over 15 years, and some of those in the East end, but we had no idea of the scenes behind the scene. A great deal of hidden depth is to be found in East London and Ace feel strongly that “there’s no better vantage (of Shoreditch) than from the back of a sleek, lightweight bicycle.” Not a statement we might have readily agreed with waking up that Friday morning. But by 10am we were seeing things differently, very differently.
After a latte at Bulldog Edition café we jumped on our effortlessly slick bikes and whizzed through Shoreditch, Victoria Park and Bethnal Green for a guided tour courtesy of Duncan Riches. Zipping through Regents canal was a particular scare, but we managed it. East London is stunning, so much architecture and history; you’ll feel like you’re in mid-conversation with Lewis Cubitt or even Le Corbusier himself. Cycling between the streets, canals, parks and hidden gems, its tough to not have a newfound sense of freedom, we know how that sounds, but take our word for it.
The partnership with tokyobike is yet another creative collaboration from Ace Hotels. But what makes this one so much fun is that it’s set against the landscape of the pioneering and forward-thinking East side of London. These tours are free and monthly. Ours featured two real treasures, a tour of Donna Wilson’s Studio and a visit to SCP furniture designers. Both will have your mind racing and craving only more East end culture.
There’s a bed and bike package too, running from April 19- June 30. Pairing deluxe rooms with a tokyobike for each day of your stay, plus a £20 per person credit to spend at the Tatler Restaurant Award winning Hoi Polloi. All you need to do is use the code BEDANDBIKE when booking your room at Ace Hotel Shoreditch.
There’s much to see in the East end, so it seems only fitting that it’s the soulful and collaborative pairing of Ace Hotel and tokyobike that reveals such hidden depth.
Image courtesy of Yu Fujiwara
