About
The building began life as an electricity generating station in 1896, and retains the features and character of an imposing industrial space. Now operating as a state of the art facility, we can host a wide range of events and functions.
Shoreditch Electric is home to the National Centre for Circus Arts, a charity and leading provider of circus arts education. All revenue from our commercial venue hire goes straight back into the running of the Centre.
Located 4 minutes from Old Street underground station and 15 minutes from Shoreditch High Street overground (with numerous bus routes close by) Shoreditch Electric is easily accessible from all areas of London.
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Want to use our spaces? Contact our Hires team to find out more about hiring Shoreditch Electric.
Enquire nowHistory of the building
Shoreditch Electricity Generating Station and Refuse Destructor was inaugurated on 28 June 1897 by the Shoreditch Vestry. An early purpose-built undertaking to generate electricity from steam created by burning rubbish, the building was opened by the renowned Belfast born mathematical physicist and pioneer of electrical engineering Lord Kelvin.
By the 1980s Hoxton Square and the immediate area around the Light Station had become run down with many derelict buildings. A group of circus artists who had established a training space in North Road, Islington (now the Pleasance Theatre) needed a new space and began applying for funding to begin restoring what would become a new home for circus in Hoxton.
