Love Locks of East London

thousands of padlocked promises

A railing in Shoreditch thick with padlocks left by couples, east London's homegrown answer to the love-lock bridges of Paris.

Free to visit · Shoreditch · Shoreditch High Street · E1 6JE

Opening: Viewable any time

Following a tradition that swept cities from Paris to Rome, couples in east London began clipping engraved padlocks onto a railing and throwing away the key, a small symbol of a love meant to last. Over the years the locks have multiplied into a dense, colourful tangle of names, dates and messages.

Less famous than its continental cousins, which is part of its charm, it is free to see and a quietly romantic stop among the street art and markets of Shoreditch. A homemade, ever-growing monument to thousands of London love stories, hiding on an ordinary fence.

Getting there: On a railing in Shoreditch near the Brick Lane area, by Shoreditch High Street station.

Best time to go: Daytime, on a Shoreditch street-art and market wander.

Insider tip: Read the engraved messages and dates on the locks, a snapshot of countless couples over the years. It sits among Shoreditch's street art and markets, so fold it into a wider free east London wander.

Free things to do in London · London Free Guide