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East Central London Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History

    The East End of London was often associated with poverty and overcrowding, and in the 19th century, the area of St Giles, south of King’s Cross, was one of London’s poorest districts. Fleet Street, in the eastern area of central London, is well known for being the home of the British Press until the 1980s. There are many buildings of historical importance in this region ...Read moreof the capital, including The Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. Read less

  • 2. Now

    The districts that lie within central London’s East End include Moorgate, Aldgate, Tower Hill, Monument, Highbury, Finsbury, King’s Cross, Bethnal Green, Mile End, Stepney, Whitechapel, Dalston, Hackney, Isle of Dogs, Milwall, Clapton, Islington, Fleet Street, Clerkenwell and Barbican. This area of the capital is now full of trendy bars and restaurants and many parts are c...Read moreonsidered a desirable place to live. Read less

  • 3. Events

    The Lovebox is a weekend music festival that takes place in Victoria Park in June and features big names from the music scene. The performances take place on 12 stages and the event also includes stalls, giant art installations and more. The London Feis is a two-day music festival in Finsbury Park in June. This event is a celebration of Irish and international music and big na...Read moremes to have appeared in the past include Bob Dylan, The Waterboys and Van Morrison. The Field Day Festival is a one-day music event that takes place in Victoria Park in June. Top indie acts play at the festival, which also includes plenty of village fair style entertainment and activities. The London Marathon, which takes place in April, passes through parts of East Central London. Hundreds of people line the streets to watch the runners. Read less

  • 4. Attractions

    St Paul’s Cathedral attracts sightseers and pilgrims from all over the world. The cathedral was the setting for the wedding of HRH the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Visitors can climb the dome to the Whispering Gallery, take part in a multimedia tour, explore the crypt and more. The Tower of London, at Tower Hill, attracts visitors from around the world. Its...Read more highlights include the Crown Jewels, the Yeomen, the prisoners’ exhibition and the White Tower. The Museum of Childhood, in Cambridge Heath Road, attracts over 400,000 visitors a year. The museum contains the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection of childhood-related objects and artefacts, from the 1600s to the present day. The Museum of London Docklands, at Canary Wharf, includes 11 permanent galleries telling the history of this section of the capital. The museum building itself is a listed early-19th-century sugar warehouse. Tower Bridge has exhibitions, high-level walkways, the Victorian Engine Rooms and more. Read less

  • 5. Things To Do

    This area of London has a surprising large number of green open spaces for visitors to enjoy, including Cambridge Heath, Victoria Park, Well Street Common, Hackney Downs, Hackney Marsh and Finsbury Park. Other places to visit in the region include the Charles Dickens Museum, near Russell Square; the Museum of the Order of St John, in Clerkenwell; and HMS Belfast, which is moor...Read moreed near Tower Hill. Read less

  • 6. Business

    Spitalfields Market is world famous and is no longer just a market. There are shops, restaurants, cafes and more at this site. Other major shopping centres in the area include The Brunswick, in Bloomsbury; and the London Fashion Centre, in Finsbury. There are many places to eat and drink, and styles range from traditional London pub food and ‘greasy’ cafes to upmarket Mic...Read morehelin-starred restaurants. Read less

  • 7. Transport

    The main underground stations include King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, St Paul’s, Tower Hill, Angel, Barbican, Aldgate and Highbury and Islington. Overground rail stations in the region include King’s Cross St Pancreas, Highbury and Islington, London Liverpool Street and Bethnal Green, giving good connections to the rest of the capital and the UK. The main roads through ...Read morethe region are the A10, A11 and the A13. Read less

  • 8. Entertainment

    The Barbican is a major entertainment venue and arts space. This complex offers film, theatre, dance, live music, an art gallery, workshops and more. Other theatres in the region include Her Majesty’s Theatre, in Haymarket; Saddler’s Wells, in Islington; the Old Red Lion Theatre, in St John Street; and The Shaw Theatre, in Euston Road. The open space at Spitalfields Mark...Read moreet is used for regular free events, including lunchtime concerts, festivals, tango classes, fashion shows and more. Read less

  • 9. Famous Landmarks

    St Paul’s Cathedral is the most well-known landmark in this area of the capital, with its world famous dome. The building was built between 1675 and 1710 and is the fifth cathedral to stand on the site. The previous cathedral was burnt down in the Great Fire of London. Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are icons of this section of London.

  • 10. Interesting Fact

    Charles Dickens based his novel Oliver Twist on this eastern area of the capital and its slums of the time.

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