London Whitechapel And The East End

Brick Lane boasts a number of delicious ethnic eateries, and East London’s bars and clubs constitute one of the best evening scenes in the city. A winding mass of curry houses, a few remaining Jewish bakeries, independent clothing boutiques, and popular nightlife destinations give Brick Lane a unique atmosphere. The blending of cultures has not always gone smoothly, however: the East End was long the center of London’s gang activity, and the Aldgate Tube station was one of the three targeted by suicide bombers in July 2005. (Aldgate, Aldgate East, Liverpool St. or Shoreditch, open only at rush hour. )

While remnants of an industrial past remain, Hoxton and Shoreditch have recently become some of London’s trendiest neighborhoods. In the 1990s, struggling artists, including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, saw potential in the neighborhood’s cheap property and vacant warehouses, and Hoxton became the focus of an underground art scene. Eventually, word about the neighborhood spread, bringing an influx of artists from all over the world, followed by graphic and web designers. Hoxton Square, the compact center of the restaurant, gallery, and nightlife scene, emerged as the place to be. Many artists have since fled to cheaper living, taking some of the edge with them, but the area still maintains a hip, independent vibe. (Old St. The center of the Hoxton and Shoreditch scene spreads out on either side of Old St. between the junction with Great Eastern St. and Kingsland Rd./Shoreditch High St.)

CHRIST CHURCH SPITALFIELDS. Christ Church, the largest design by Christopher Wren’s student Nicholas Hawksmoor, stands proudly above its East End surroundings. A recently completed £7 million renovation has returned the church’s stone facade to its former glory, and the inside is nicely outfitted with white crown moldings and marble pillars. (Commercial St., opposite Spitalfields Market. Liverpool St. ☎020 7247 7202. Services held Su 10:30am; Communion the 1st and 3rd Su of each month at 8:30am. Open Tu 11am-4pm and Su 1-4pm; M, W, Th-F 11am-4pm when not in use for church functions.)