Goodbye Yellow Brick Road...

Hello Brick Lane!

An insight into London's fascinating East.

If there's one street that should draw your attention in the East End of London, then surely it would be Brick Lane. Located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, it runs quite a length from Bethnal Green's Swanfield Street, right the way through until Whitechapel High Street, thanks to a short link provided by Osborn Street. Brick Lane passes through Spitalfields, where historically master craftsman refugees, in particular those who excelled in weaving, have been based since the arrival of Huguenots. The area derives its name, however, from the 15th century trade of brick and tile manufacture that flourished due to the abundance of local brick earth deposits.

Successive waves of immigration have largely defined this area, and as the time passed, it has been inhabited by Irish, Ashkenazi Jews, and more recently, Bangladeshi. It is this latter group that has defined the contemporary face of the Brick Lane, as today the locale is considered to be the heart of London's Bangladeshi-Sylheti community. The area is recognised as having been pivotal in the second wave of the development of Anglo-Indian cuisine, but the chance to sample numerous delicacies isn't the only reason to check out Brick Lane.

Continuing in the tradition of weaving and tailoring, London's cutting edge clothing scene is never far from the pavements of Brick Lane. Not only are the latest fashions modelled on the cool young things and art students haunting the happening bars, clubs and cafes that have sprouted up like organically-grown though exotically-strained mushrooms, but this is the city's prime exhibition space for fine art and fashion courses. It's a truly international area, and you could be scratching your head at times, wondering if you've ended up at Tokyo galleries, Edinburgh breweries, or San Francisco hotels. Brick Lane is also regarded highly around the world for its graffiti; and with pieces by street artists such as Banksy, D*Face and Ben Eine, it's become something of a veritable outdoor museum.

Hot hint: For tasty bagels around-the-clock, be sure to stop in at the popular beigel store at 159 Brick Lane, near the Bethnal Green Road intersection. Just follow your nose - and the keen crowds!

It's easy to access Brick Lane from Aldgate East tube station or Liverpool Street Station, although Bethnal Green is also a possibility. Shoreditch High Street Station is anticipated to open soon as a London Overground addition to the area. It's possible to stay in a range of London hotels close to the Brick Lane environs, but this choice depends primarily on where you prefer to spend the bulk of your time in London.