Spitalfields Area Guide

Table of contents

• History of Spitalfields
• Getting Around Spitalfields
• Local Life in Spitalfields
• Open Spaces
• Arts and Recreation
• Attractions and Entertainment
• Shopping in Spitalfields
• Eating and Drinking
• Nightlife
• Crime and Safety
• Fun fact about Spitalfields

Spitalfields offers the best of both worlds between the City’s new money and the beauty of the East End. To put it simply, Spitalfields is notable because of its location. Its location is in East London, in the heart of Shoreditch, and as a result, the area is host to amazing street art and an excellent nightlife. You can find a lot of good Indian eateries in Brick Lane, a London street that is well known for them. The Hammersmith, Metropolitan, Circle, Central, and Overground lines of the London Underground, not to mention the National Rail and several linkages to the different London airports, are all easily accessible from Liverpool Street Station. Vendors offer everything from vintage apparel to tourist trinkets at the enormous covered market known as the Old Spitalfields Market, which is located just next to the market. New retailers have started opening in and around the market, including retail clothes shops, restaurants, bars, food stores, and street food vendors.

History of Spitalfields

The East End is noted for its vigour and for being a very tight-knit community. Whereas traditionally it has been a disadvantaged, largely immigrant section of London, Spitalfields has been transformed into a popular and well-to-do neighbourhood. The market has long been one of the most important areas of this city, dating back to the 17th century. Now, Spitalfields is remarkable for being so urban with all the modern glass towers and transportation hubs that surround it, as well as a densely populated area filled with office employees during lunch hours.

Getting Around Spitalfields

The Whitechapel neighbourhood of London is located in East London, in Tower Hamlets, London. The area is lively, and the process of change is constant. To the west is Middlesex Street and Mansell Street; to the north is Style Road and Cambridge Heath Roadway; to the east is The Highway and Sidney Road; and to the south is Cambridge Heath Roadway and Style Road.

One of the best areas of East London is found in the Whitechapel neighbourhood, which has two famous markets, Block Lane, and Old Spitalfields Market. Adjacent to Victoria Park, Columbia Road Market, Shoreditch, and Old Road nightlife is also close by, and you can reach central London through a fast flight.

The major transportation hub in the neighbourhood served by Central, Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City Underground lines is located at Liverpool Street station. In addition, the airport has links to Stansted Airport and northern England. Many bus lines originate and end at Liverpool Street, which is where they connect London with the city’s various areas.

Local Life in Spitalfields

Open Spaces

Spitalfields Farm is a nice change of pace. Since its founding in 1978, the farm presently encompasses land that is used to raise food and also houses animals.

The other side of the Overground track, on the Nomadic Community Garden, is well worth a visit, as the garden has a different style. This is especially intended for adults, but kids will also like it.

At various points, it resembles an art gallery, a farm, a cafe, and a performance venue. To be expected, as all of those things have occurred here.

Christ Church’s famed formal gardens (alias “Itchy Park”) – Itchy Park, commonly known as the church yard, was transformed into a public garden in 1891 and subsequently reduced in size by the removal of most of its monuments and tombstones.

There is a huge strip of public garden on Buxton Street in the Allen Gardens neighbourhood, called Brick Lane Gardens, which was built between 1958 and 1970.

Arts and Recreation

Spitalfields is one of the more dynamic neighbourhoods in east London. Contemporary street art, old treasure markets, and innovative pop-ups exist side by side with historic residences. You don’t have to walk far to witness dynamic street art in Shoreditch, which is only on the other side of the district you’re in. Ranging from internationally-renowned artists such as Banksy to fresh and up-and-coming street painters, you will be hard-pressed to find an artist of higher quality or diversity. Just drive to a different part of the city and peek down side streets and alleys where you are likely to find jewels.

A music charity based in the Bethnal Green neighbourhood of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Spitalfields Music (formerly known as Spitalfields Festival, and legally registered as Spitalfields Festival Ltd) was previously known as Spitalfields Festival and is now just called Spitalfields Festival. Musical activities help build the local community.

Their work is geared toward the production of music festivals that showcase the best new and classic music, as well as a “Learning & Participation” programme, which engages people from across the community with various projects all year long.

A new piece of work is commissioned for the event each year.

Attractions and Entertainment

The location for events such as weddings and parties is the Victorian Bath House. The building’s outside is lovely, and it was built in 1895. It is Grade 2 listed, and the basement is amazing. That’s the kind of place where you can have a great time, such as a get-together, date, catch up with a friend, or just relax.

The markets of old Spitalfields – Currently closed, however there’s a “virtual market” on its website you can enjoy. I like the market’s street food sellers, and its many outside dining areas that are really pleasant to view in the summer months. Of course, there are also a lot of artisan stalls that offer their nicely-displayed goods.

London’s Spitalfields City Farm- For 30 years, this flourishing neighbourhood farm, which was started by volunteers on a plot of waste ground in 1978, has served the families of the community.

There are several green places available on the farm, both for guests and volunteers. Many of the wildflowers found on the farm have established themselves as a home for wildflowers, such as evening primrose, musk mallow, bedstraw, yarrow, vervain, knapweed, and ox-eye daisy, to name only a few. Not only do these plants and flowers attract various insects, butterflies, and bees that pollinate the plants and draw in additional birds and wildlife, they also attract all sorts of other insects, butterflies, and bees who eat nectar and pollen and therefore further aid in plant reproduction. This year’s colourful spring at the butterfly garden, which is situated along the farm’s perimeter, was particularly notable. Three raised flower beds (with a colourful mix of flowers, wildflowers, and vegetables, such as kale and brassicas) are also present on the “grass road” (since 2008).

Brick Lane is noted for street art, quirky businesses, and fashionable bars, in addition to its prevalence of curry establishments.

Concerts and art exhibitions are hosted at the 18th-century Christ Church Spitalfields in the East End of London.

Shopping in Spitalfields

Not only have the nineteenth-century buildings and the market hall and roof been restored, but Spitalfields Market has also become one of London’s important markets. The market square is a popular spot for people interested in fashion, arts, crafts, food, and market shopping, which is available seven days a week, but is particularly busy on weekends.

Regardless of the amount of Spitalfields residents that they attract, Brick Lane Market and Old Spitalfields Market are unquestionably the most popular locations to visit in Spitalfields. Street cuisine, antique records, and shopping for stylish products may all be done in one of these big market venues. In addition, Brick Lane is the Bangladeshi community’s spiritual and culinary centre in East London, where one can find amazing authentic curries. Dennis Severs’ House (a replica of the silk weaver’s residence from 300 years ago) and Nicholas Hawksmoor’s impressive Christ Church are located in Spitalfields.

Due to the towns around them, both the primary markets are often surrounded by spin-off markets such as classic pubs, cafes, and restaurants. Many of these places can be located in winding backstreets and lanes that transport you back in time.

A splendid assortment of fashion boutiques and eateries encircles the market boundary in Old Spitalfields. I enjoy the fact that the outlets are all little boutiques rather than a massive ten thousand square foot building. H&M is a well-known British apparel brand, and Barbour is one of my favourite shops. Their jackets are lovely, and that’s why I love them. Actually, Julie bought me one for my birthday, as it turned out to be my lucky day. To go all British, visit Hackett, where you can get a tweed blazer with elbow patches, which would be suitable for bird hunting.

The major Spitalfield market is called Petticoat Lane Market, and it mostly sells casual clothing.

Many of the streets in the Spitalfields district are winding alleys and tiny roads, where one may get away from the buzz of the market. You can find classic full English breakfasts being sold at cute little stores or in more traditional eateries in the area for folks who work nearby. Artillery Passage is a great place, full with shops and taverns, which adds to the authenticity of the experience. In truth, the buildings in Diagon Alley, located near Gringotts Wizarding Bank, served as the filming location for the Harry Potter films. Once you look down the corridor, you will see why.

Eating and Drinking

Both Brick Lane’s restaurants and London’s many great old-fashioned pubs are frequently visited for curries and bagels, and these areas are linked by several streets with various pubs on them. Even if it is the only Asian restaurant in the area, Brick Lane is home to far more than excellent Asian food, since it is house to several Jewish bagel shops, Indian sari shops, and artists’ studios such as that of Tracey Emin.

Old Spitalfields Market is home to one of the top restaurants in London, the Wright Brothers. Seafood that’s high in quality is hard to find. I like their other Spitalfields locations, but I like their compact Spitalfields store the most. Go all-in on a seafood platter, with a great bottle of white wine, or choose a variety of oysters, crab, and Atlantic prawns, or settle in at the bar with some freshly-shucked oysters, crustaceans, and other shellfish. When all oysters are only £1, visit Wright Brothers during the 3-6pm hour when the most bang-for-your-buck may be found.

There is no question that Taberna do Mercado must be included in the dining options in Spitalfields. This is a relaxed restaurant in Old Spitalfields Market where innovative renditions of classic Portuguese foods are served by chef Nuno Mendes. Outside of London, he is perhaps most known for the hotspot Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, where he not only has a successful restaurant, but furthermore happens to have actresses and models. Tinned fish, which is raw fish marinated and then tinned, is a staple of the Taberna menu. Even with everything under £10, you can dine like a king!

While the famous British cuisine of Fish & Chips, which originated in UK beach areas, is typically found elsewhere, Poppie’s in London serves up a compelling challenger. The best location to stop for lunch as you make your way towards East London is Poppie’s, a nautically-designed 1950s-style restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating.

The fish and chips is only brought to you wrapped in newspaper if you want it: it’s a tradition established by the restaurant’s founder in the 1940s. Furthermore, Poppie’s has a fishmonger on-site, providing fresh fish from London.

Nightlife

While each of these aspects contribute to the unique personality of the city, the community-focused mix of places and activities attracts young Londoners who appreciate the vast array of bars, clubs, fashion outlets, and graduate art shows as well as the year-round events held outdoors in the warmer months.

Spitalfields Market, which has been operating since the mid-19th century, is just a few blocks away from the Pride of Spitalfields bar, in business since that time. This bar has plenty of cask-conditioned beers on tap, only slightly warmer than room temperature, and is covered in carpet, which is somewhat unusual in modern pubs for obvious reasons. The pub also boasts a resident cat, Lenny, who remains serenely apathetic to the activity around him as the drinkers sip true British ale.

his greatest book, the Alchemist. This branch of The Alchemist series of bars is housed within an unassuming office building close to Liverpool Street Station, and offers plentiful room, a funky modern ambiance, and theatrically prepared cocktails that we just enjoyed! Perfectly captured for gin drinkers is my favourite drink, the “Cherry Poppins.”

Crime and Safety

The rate of crime in Spitalfields is higher than usual, and this area is regarded as one of the more dangerous locations in London.

Fun fact about Spitalfields

The neighbourhood draws its name from the hospital and priory that was built in 1197: St. Mary’s Spittel in Spitalfields.