Brick Lane
Brick Lane is one of the most fascinating streets in London — a living testament to the immigration that has shaped London. The street was successively home to Huguenots (17th century), Jews from Eastern Europe (19th/20th century), and the Bengali community (from the 1970s). Today: Banglatown — the largest Bangladeshi community in Europe, with dozens of curry houses, but also vintage shops, galleries, and street food.
Highlights
- Curry Mile: Over 50 curry restaurants in one kilometer. The quality varies — the best ones are not those with the most aggressive promoters at the door. Recommendation: Aladin (132 Brick Lane, authentic Bengali, BYOB — Bring Your Own Bottle!) and Tayyabs (near Whitechapel, Pakistani, legendary good, often a queue).
- Vintage Shopping: Brick Lane and the side streets (Cheshire Street, Sclater Street) are London's vintage paradise: Beyond Retro, Rokit, Blitz, and dozens of independent stores with second-hand fashion from all decades.
- Beigel Bake: The most famous bakery in London — open 24 hours, since 1974. The Salt Beef Bagels (from £4.50) are legendary: oven-warm bagels with thick, tender corned beef and mustard. Always a queue, always fast, always good.
- Old Truman Brewery: The former brewery is now a huge complex of markets, galleries, pop-ups, and event spaces. On Sunday: the Backyard Market (vintage, crafts), the Up Market (street food from around the world), and the Sunday Market in the halls.
