The Engine Rooms Rehearsal Studios

Head down Eleanor Street in Bow and you'll find yourself in the kind of industrial corner that makes East London tick — all exposed brick and working studios. The Engine Rooms is a functioning rehearsal space that doubles as a live music venue, which means you're catching bands in an actual working environment, not some sterile box. The vibe's stripped-back: you're standing in a room where the Velvet Underground could've rehearsed, watching upcoming acts who've spent the afternoon fine-tuning their set in the same space. It's grassroots without feeling precious about it.