Brick Lane

So infamous is the East London Street of Brick Lane that there was even an award winning novel and movie penned with the same name. The street, running from Bethnal Green to Whitechapel via the equally famous Spitalfields, has a rich multicultural history, first as home to a sizable Jewish population and more recently, as a settlement for many of London’s Bangladeshi immigrants. These days, Brick Lane and its surroundings are renowned for showcasing the eclectic and retro arts and fashions of the East End, as well as the being the destination of choice for curry lovers.

Brick Lane has earned itself a reputation as the go-to destination for sourcing vintage threads, with its annual Alternative Fashion Week cementing its status as an innovative and fashion-forward region of up and coming designers. Vintage stores and retro boutiques are dotted along the street, alongside a growing population of young, local designers, but the real draw cards are the weekly markets. Spitalfields Market is doubtless the most popular, known for its contemporary and vintage clothing, accessories and home wares. Nearby Columbia Road flower market and Petticoat Lane Market are local outlets worth a visit.

Best known for the avant-garde, Brick Lane has a thriving art scene known for nurturing unique and emerging talents, especially that of contemporary graffiti artists – Banksy, D*Face and Ben Eine all made a name for themselves in these parts. The Whitechapel art gallery located at the bottom of Brick Lane and The Brick Lane Gallery are two of the better-known establishments but there’s a heap of small, independent galleries showcasing a range of vibrant and diverse artworks.

Thanks to the Bangladeshi majority, Brick Lane has become a hotspot for curry lovers and come the twilight hours the street comes alive with spirited curry house proprietors shouting out their best deals in the hope of enticing passerbys into their restaurant. Those whisked into one of the dimly lit curry houses are unlikely to be disappointed as the area is renowned for having some of the most delicious (and cheapest) curries in the capital..

Thanks to its young, hip crowd, Brick Lane has become a lively place to spend an evening, with numerous bars and venues featuring local bands and DJs, and a mixed, multicultural crowd.