Brick Lane, East London: A Vibrant and Historic Neighbourhood

London’s Brick Lane has a fascinating history and is one of the most popular places to visit in the East End today, especially on a Sunday when the street gets buzzing.

The East End’s Brick Lane

Sitting in the heart of the East End, Brick Lane was a poor slum area in the past; it was in the very heart of Jack the Ripper territory. Today, following some regeneration, it offers exciting alternative shopping opportunities, various markets and some of the best curries in the capital!

The history of Brick Lane

Brick Lane Market London
Brick Lane Market London

Brick Lane runs from Bethnal Green and through Spitalfields down towards Whitechapel. The street was initially called Whitechapel Lane; it is thought that it was renamed because local earth was used by brick and tile manufacturers who set up shop in the street in the 15th century.

By the 17th century, the street had also become a popular brewery location. The famous brewing family, the Trumans, started their business here, and you can still see their Black Eagle Brewery on the street. This century also saw the start of its market.

Its proximity to Spitalfields saw an influx of French Huguenots when they were driven out of France in the 17th century. The street and the surrounding area became well known for its weaving and tailoring.

Like much of the East End, this area was a haven for immigrants moving into London to escape persecution abroad or seek a better life. During the 19th and 20th centuries, it was best known for its Irish and Jewish population.

The community living in and around Brick Lane today is predominantly Bangladeshi. This gave the area a new nickname and a new cuisine!

Brick Lane becomes Banglatown

Brick Lane Market East End of London

Brick Lane is often fondly called Banglatown by Londoners. Since the late 20th century, this has been one of the most popular places for immigrants from Bangladesh, particularly Bengalis from the Sylheti region. The street is THE place to go for a curry in London, especially if you want to try traditional and authentic cooking rather than run-of-the-mill high street curries.

The many different cafes and restaurants in the area initially started to service the local population or those passing through London via its docks; it is now the capital’s most concentrated area of curry houses. Some are pretty upmarket; others are quite basic.

You have to avoid mainstream restaurants that have started in the area to tap into its popularity, but there are still plenty of gems around. Remember that you may not be able to drink in some Brick Lane curry houses if Muslims run them; in others, you may have to bring your own bottle if you want to drink alcohol.

Brick Lane is quite a trendy area at the moment, and you do have other options for food if you don’t fancy a curry. There are still traditional Jewish bagel shops and various cafes and stalls selling anything from a traditional full English breakfast to exotic Japanese takeaways.

Brick Lane Market

Brick Lane has a trendy and eclectic Sunday market with locals, Londoners from other areas and visitors to the capital. The market was initially licensed to run on Sundays in the 1800s – this was unusual as markets were not supposed to open on the Sabbath.

Brick Lane Urban Street Art
Brick Lane Urban Street Art

At that point in Brick Lane’s history, the local population was predominantly Jewish, so a special dispensation was given for Sunday opening, as the Jewish Sabbath falls on a Saturday.

A Sunday trip to Brick Lane market is generally a lot of fun. You may find some regular stalls there, selling the kind of stuff you’d expect in a market, but the authentic charm here is the second-hand stalls.

People sell all kinds of stuff at Brick Lane – you can pick up collectables, CDs/DVDs, vintage clothes, retro accessories and even large pieces of furniture – and it is still possible to hunt out a real bargain or buy something a little bit unusual.

There is also usually some street entertainment going on throughout the market site. You can also pop into various indoor markets, such as Upmarket and Backyard, which operate inside the old Truman Brewery building. This complex also contains galleries, exhibition spaces, shops, bars, restaurants and cafes.

Art in Brick Lane

Brick Lane is also home to a thriving artistic community. Its graffiti is worth looking out for – street art is celebrated here rather than immediately cleaned off! Lucky locals in the past have seen work spring up on their walls from C215, Stik and ROA. There are also plenty of small galleries dotted around Brick Lane and its surrounding streets that are well worth a visit.

Street Art in Brick Lane

Brick Lane is also home to several street art murals. A variety of artists, both local and international, create the murals. The murals are constantly changing, so there is always something new to see.

Attractions in Brick Lane

Brick Lane is home to a number of attractions, including:

  • The Old Truman Brewery: The Old Truman Brewery is a former brewery converted into a complex of shops, restaurants, and offices.
  • The Brick Lane Mosque: The Brick Lane Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in London. It was built in the 18th century.
  • The Sunday UpMarket: The Sunday UpMarket is a weekly market on Brick Lane. It sells various goods, including food, clothing, and antiques.
  • The Truman’s Social Club: The Truman’s Social Club is a bar and restaurant in the Old Truman Brewery.
  • The Brick Lane Gallery: The Brick Lane Gallery is an art gallery in Brick Lane. It exhibits a variety of contemporary art.

Restaurants in Brick Lane

Brick Lane is home to a number of restaurants, including:

  • Dishoom: Dishoom is an Indian restaurant based on Bombay’s Irani cafes.
  • Brick Lane Curry House: Brick Lane Curry House is a Bangladeshi restaurant, one of the oldest in Brick Lane.
  • Tayyabs: Tayyabs is a Pakistani restaurant that is known for its kebabs.
  • Gunpowder: Gunpowder is a restaurant that serves Indian street food.
  • Hoppers: Hoppers is a restaurant that serves Sri Lankan food.

Conclusion

Brick Lane is a vibrant and historic neighbourhood in East London, home to diverse people and businesses. Brick Lane is also a popular tourist destination, and Brick Lane is the place for you if you want to experience the best of East London.

Brick Lane Shoreditch Location


View Larger Map

29 thoughts on “Brick Lane, East London: A Vibrant and Historic Neighbourhood”

  1. It’s great to read about everyone’s experiences and knowledge going back about Brick Lane, it sounds fascinating.
    I’ve been helping my son do some research since he’s not had much luck finding definitive facts about Brick Lane’s Artwork.
    From what I read from various sources and a general sense of how Brick Lane has developed is this. That artwork probably started appearing some time in the period after the WWII though is just thought, since I can’t find any record showing artwork existing before then. In addition the genre if would could say is that it is more modern.
    Would anyone know of or be able to point us to reliable sources documenting when the artwork started appearing?
    I, we would be most grateful for any insights.
    Thanks in advance for any help and tips.
    Kind regards
    David.

    Reply
  2. In 1963 I was a 17 year old apprentice engineer in Henage St, off Brick Lane. To supplement my low wage I worked in a record shop every Sunday morning in Brick Lane Market. It was called Sales in Sounds at number 131. I stayed there for 4 years. The shop was opened and worked by a Jewish family,Mr&Mrs Rubens. They like a second family to me. Happy Days.

    Reply
  3. I am researching The Two Brewers pub at the corner of Brick Lane and Buxton Street. I had ancestors running it between 1805 and 1840s. If anyone has any stories of drinking there it would be good to hear. It is now a clothes shop called ‘Religion’.

    Reply
    • My godparents Harry and Betty Defty ran the the Two Brewers in the 1950-70’s they went back home to Whitley Bay when there was a murder next door which was covered by the News of the World. My mum and dad used to help out behind the bar at Christmas and my sister and I remember feeding the Truman Brewery horses with carrots.

  4. Just seen these posts and brings back memories. My parents ran the Crown and Shuttle, in Shoreditch High Street, in the early 1960’s. Remember Brick Lane very well. Used to go to the Trumans Brewery with Dad, pub was a Trumans House. Also remember going to Kelly’s Pie and Mash in Bethnal Green Road, to pick up a bowl of Jellied Eels for the pub. My brother and I used to walk over to Club Row market on a Sunday morning to look at the animals for sale. Haven’t been back for a while, but will do when I get more time.

    Reply
  5. hello! my great grandad owned a chocolate store called Friedman’s on Brick Lane in London. does anyone know anything? photos? anything at all would be so helpful. thank you so much!

    Reply
    • no I dont saw the chocolate store on the brick lane sorry but I want to try something can you sent me a box of chocolate so i can try some thanks a lot byeeeee

  6. Trying to find out some information about a fishmongers on 8-10 Brick Lane in the 1880’s owned by a Jewish man named George Rush.

    Reply
  7. Literally anywhere else in the country will do a better curry than most places on Brick Lane, though I don’t doubt somewhere amongst the dozens of curry restaurants there will be one hidden that actually does good quality food.
    That said these days Brick Lane is good for vegan restaurants that actually do nice food.

    Reply
  8. I grew up in Flower & Dean street off of Brick Lane 1559 – 1970. I lived in a late Victorian tenement block called Ruth house (Demolished) I remember Brick Lane when most of the shops were Jewish and what is now a mosque was a synagogue. I remember going to see Mary Poppins in the Brick lane cinema (gone) I can still smell the roasted malt from Trumans brewery which one could smell a mile away. It was a tough east End Ghetto but community was thriving and there was strong neighborly bonds. For a child growing up there, every day was a new adventure. We had no computer games, no mobiles (No one had a house telephone) and very little TV; but we were never bored. I have so many memories etched on to the canvas of my mind. I don’t want to bore you dear reader so I will stop here with the hope that will inspire some to a sense of local history, your’s and mine.
    God Bless

    John

    Reply
    • Hello John, please feel free to share your stories. Many of us here really enjoy reading about life in the East End.

      I was born in 1971 so for me the East End was in transition. Still plenty of bomb sites and dereliction in the docks bit also the plans were afoot for new roads etc.

    • Hello Malcom.

      Happy New Year. I had moved to Bow by 1971. Lefevre walk was brand new then. I remember fighting with my brother when we first moved there, for who would have the first bath, as we never had a bathroom in Flower and Dean street, only a tin bath, so most of the time we would go to the local swimming pool, at least twice a week- In 1968/9 it cost sixpence in old money which is 2.5 New Pence. Lefevre walk was demolished about 30 years later,it was a disaster in social housing design.

    • Hello John
      I’m so pleased to see you mentioned Lefevre walk. So many of us have gone now! I was a 1970’s kid but my Grandparents lived in one of the garden flats tucked right behind the fire tower. I used to love watching them practice the fire drills. My Grandparents were Albert and Sally and their tiny garden looked like something from the Chelsea flower show, it was amazing.I was looked after them every Saturday while my parents worked down the Roman. My relatives were publicans and market traders so our paths probably crossed over at some point. I really miss Percey Ingles bakers and Sava’s fish n chips. I have just been checking out my family history and shocked to see our family go back right until the year 1713 all around Stepney, Brick Lane and Mile End. I wish I had a time machine to go back to tell everyone not to move. Us people had a warmth and cracking sense of humour that just can’t be found anywhere else!
      I really hope life is keeping you and your loved ones safe and well.
      Be lucky!
      Jay

    • John, your’s are the sort of comments I enjoy reading – time past and what life was like in specific areas of London “back then” and not only London, but all of England. I have absolutely no interest in modern life anywhere, specifically London, also New York City, where I live. My interests lie in the lives lived in the past. I hope to read more of your reminiscences! Thank you!

      Barbara

    • Hi Barbara,

      Thanks for you nice reply. Happy New year. Growing up in East London for me was a very positive experience. Dare I say character building. I knew all the local vagrants by name and they knew mine although mum would scold me for talking to them.
      I remember my friends and I would often visit Blooms, a then Famous Kosher restaurant, well, the rear kitchens; the chef would give us a large tray of Latkes and chips just to get rid of us, ( I can still taste those delicious Latkes}. kids today have relationships with their Smart-phones,TV and computer we built relationships with each other, the local shopkeepers, the local bobby(who walked amongst our community), the local vagrants, the Local parish priest, the park keepers and the market workers. We learnt to communicate face to face with all sorts of people. I will stop there for now Barbara.

      My best wishes

      John

    • HiJohn I just wondered if you know of a Pawn Shop in Brick lane it would have been about 1930s/1940s, My stepfather Thomas lived there I believe with my Mother

      Regards Christine lawrence

    • Hello John, my Grandparents lived in Bacon Street with my Uncle and Aunt. Would you know anything about the fire in their Tenement which killed my Grandfather and Uncle. This was about February 1945. They survived all the bombing and then this happened. I still remember Brick Lane and its brewery smells as it was then.

    • Hey John , hope you’re well. I’m a student currently studying at London Met university in Aldgate East. Our current project is to work on an area of interest within the Borough and Brick Lane is the area which I have decided to focus on. We were also told that we could focus on a specific person or buildings history and as someone who grew up in the area I would love to hear firsthand some account of what it was like in that generation. If there are any historic buildings , famous figures , artists that you are aware of or just to get further insight on your memories of the experience you had growing up as a child in the vibrant Brick Lane! If you’d be willing to speak further via email that would be amazing.

      Kind Regards,

      Milan

    • Dear John,

      My name is Ingrid, I’m a student and currently doing my Masters. im currently working on a project based on brick lane and the effect of gentrification. physical environment and culture.and how much of the history of the location has been retained.
      Would be great to hear from you.

      Thank you
      Ingrid Smith

  9. This article is so off base. I’ve lived around brick lane for years and never heard anyone call it Banglatown. And the curry restaurants are appalling. They rip you off. They ran on a few years of reputation but started scamming on quality or watering down wine thinking people wouldn’t care. Now they are thankfully shutting down and better more diverse stuff is moving in.

    Reply
    • Hi Lola.
      Maybe you move in different circles but I can assure you many people now know Brick Lane as Bangla Town. I have lived in the East End all my life (60 years) I still refer to it as Brick Lane or Osborn Street, depending on which part I am talking about. Mind you, it is a recent usage maybe 20 years or there abouts

      kind regards

      John

  10. Brick lane is loosing its reputation as a curry capital. few reasons behind it. poor hygiene, low quality food , adding service service which is not mention at the menu. get aggressive with customer and sometime physically attacks.
    mostly people who stand outside the reasturent for bringing the customer in by offering false offers.
    there were few good place to eat but not any more. they had to shut down for sales drop and high rent in this area.

    Reply
  11. Looking for a bit of help here…..my father is shown on his marriage certificate as living at 19 Brick Lane just before the ceremony. On the Electoral Register for 1930 he is listed as one of 147 (!) men living at that address.Any idea what sort of institution was at that address?

    Reply
    • Hi Everyone- I’m desperately seeking information on a family member that lived in brick Lane around 1965. He is said to have worked in a furniture shop on brick Lane and his name is Peter Freeman. If anybody remembers him or the shop could you please let me know! Thank you so much x

  12. “Brick Lane is often fondly called Banglatown by Londoners.”
    No it’s not. Banglatown was a ridiculous title dreamed up by the council and shunned by everyone else.

    “The street is THE place to go for a curry in London.” No one in their right minds would go for a curry on Brick Lane. The food is despicable and aimed at drunk city workers and tourists. curry fans go to Tayaab’s on Fieldgate Street and similar.

    Reply
    • I couldn’t agree with you more. I was sent home from Chissenhale school because I refused to call Brick Lane Bangla town! My Grandparents were so proud of me they bought me a cake. I’m in my 40’s now and I’ve just found out I have family connections dating back to year 1713. We were all born around there and now I don’t know a single soul living there. Very sad.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.