East End London: History, Food & Things to Do
The former working dockland district of the East End is one of London’s most historic communities. It used to be a large working-class district where many residents worked in the docks, factories, and warehouses around this part of the city. Waves of immigration over the centuries also transformed it into one of London’s most multicultural communities.
East Enders have long been known for their resilience and strong sense of community. Part of this is because of the difficult conditions the area has faced over the years.
The East End was once one of London’s more impoverished places, but it has since undergone significant regeneration, with modern developments and new businesses opening all across the neighborhood. Despite this transformation, strong efforts have been made to preserve its history and unique character.
We’ve always had a soft spot for the East End, so much so that it has its own tour: our London East End Food Tour takes guests through the neighborhood to try some of our favorite traditional foods in London.
Have plans to visit the East End, London, soon? Use this guide to find your way around the district and see what it has to offer.
Markets and Independent Shopping
The East End has a long-standing reputation for its markets. This includes Old Spitalfields Market, where independent retailers and artisan food vendors trade daily, and Sunday Columbia Road Flower Market, a go-to spot for buying plants for decades.
Besides these East London markets, a slew of vintage shops like Hey Cowboy! and independent boutiques such as Dress can be found on Cheshire Street. Less than a five-minute walk away is the Truman Brewery, with lots of food stalls, workshops, and plenty of bars that open until late.
Food and Culinary Heritage
Photo credit: Rinkoff Bakery
The East End is incredibly diverse in terms of food. Take London’s Brick Lane, for instance. The entire area is packed with Bangladeshi eateries serving divine South Asian specials like fish curries. Graam Bangla is among the best around.
Up the street, Beigel Bake gets lots of attention for its salt beef bagels, reflecting the district’s deep Jewish culinary heritage. Go further into the East End, and you’ll find even more great international street food locations like 2017 Authentic Lebanese Street Food and their mouthwatering falafel wraps.
If you need a morning pick-me-up, the East End has no shortage of independent coffee roasters. Gram’n Degrees does smooth flat whites like nowhere else. For some baked goods to go with your morning brew, Rinkoff’s Bakery’s scrumptious cakes are hard to resist.
Street Art and Creative Culture
Photo credit: Espacio Gallery
The East End is where people go when they want to experience real street art. In Shoreditch, you won’t have to look long before you see massive murals created by international artists. Walk down 3 King John Court, and you’ll encounter some spectacular creative work, with many more displays scattered around pockets of Shoreditch and beyond.
In different parts of the East End, contemporary galleries such as Espacio Gallery give artists a chance to showcase their work through unique exhibitions. Projects like the Trampery are also doing some interesting things in the area, working with the local authorities to transform old spaces into co-working units and give them a new lease of life.
Parks and Outdoor Spaces
Get outside and head to London’s Victoria Park. It’s filled with lush gardens, lakes that you can row on, and a few spots to grab a coffee, like the Hub Cafe. If you’d rather go for a long walk, Regent’s Canal is a lovely little waterway with nice paths and cycling routes.
Mile End Park can serve as a convenient base for visiting some of the East End’s main locations. This public park is linked with multiple places, like Bethnal Green, Bow, and Globe Town, giving you a handy way to squeeze them all into your plans.
Sometimes parks in the East End also host festivals and gatherings. For instance, Victoria Park has held some iconic events over the years, including the Rock Against Racism concert in 1978, which was a big spectacle.
Experiencing East End London Like a Local
Some tourists come to London in search of Big Ben and are happy with that. Others want to do things the local way, and the East End is the perfect place for it. Here’s how to explore this part of the city like a true Londoner.
- Don’t spend all your time in Shoreditch; one of the best things to do in the East End, London, is to get lost in more residential areas like Bethnal Green and pop into cozy boozers like the Florist Arms.
- Weekends in the East End can be busy with international tourists and Londoners. Come on weekday mornings when the atmosphere is much more chill.
- Wander through the side streets to discover Shoreditch’s hidden murals like the Banksy on Rivington Street.
- Mix up your itinerary by starting your morning at the Old Spitalfields Market, then head to Allen Gardens to relax.
Getting There and Around
The main Tube stations in and around the East End are Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, and Bethnal Green, all offering handy access. If you want to take the bus, route 8 drops you off in Shoreditch, and you can always use East End buses to move between neighborhoods.
We recommend walking when in the East End as it’s a great way to get a taste of each neighborhood. You can also use cycling routes that link the main district in the East End by hiring a bike through the Santander Cycles scheme.
Sources:
Eating Europe. (n.d.). London. https://www.eatingeurope.com/london/
Eating Europe. (n.d.). A culinary guide to traditional food in London. https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/london-foods-traditional/
Eating Europe. (n.d.). East End food tour. https://www.eatingeurope.com/london/east-end-food-tour/
The Truman Brewery. (n.d.). The Truman Brewery. https://www.trumanbrewery.com/web/home.pl
Graam Bangla. (n.d.). Graam Bangla. https://graambangla.co.uk/
Beigel Bake. (n.d.). Beigel Bake. https://www.beigelbake.co.uk/
2017 Lebanese. (n.d.). 2017 Lebanese (Instagram profile). Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/2017.lebanese/
Gramndegrees. (n.d.). Gramndegrees. https://gramndegrees.co.uk/
Rinkoff’s. (n.d.). Rinkoff’s Bakery. https://www.rinkoffs.co.uk/
Espacio Gallery. (n.d.). Espacio Gallery. https://www.espaciogallery.com/
The Trampery. (n.d.). The Trampery. https://thetrampery.com/
The Hub Victoria Park. (n.d.). The Hub Victoria Park. https://thehubvictoriapark.net/
The Florist Arms. (n.d.). Menu. https://www.floristarms.co.uk/menu
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