The East End: Spitalfields and Brick Lane

The hectic heart of trendy East London

Noteworthy for: This is the stomping ground for arty students and vintage-clad fashionistas who come for the incredible markets and cheap eateries, or just to soak up the streetlife.
Word to the wise: Redchurch Street is one of the most up-and-coming streets in London lined with interesting shops, bars and galleries.

While once it evoked slums, workshops and criminals from Jack the Ripper to the Kray twins, these days the East End is the domain of the young and trendy, or those who like to think they are.
Originally, Brick Lane attracted visitors to its neon-lit Curry Mile established by the immigrant community here. But as students and artists arrived, lured by cheap rents, the red brick factories and warehouses began transforming into gallery spaces, concept stores and urban fashion shops. The walls were graffitied - look out for infamous Banksys - the bars gritty and the people interesting, but soon the masses arrived as did the gentrification.

Now Old Spitalfields is lined with independent boutiques and ritzy restaurants, and at the weekends the area goes into frenetic fifth gear for the incredible markets by day and bar scene by night. The style hunters after a vintage bargain become the serious drinkers clogging the streets, and Brick Lane heaves with Saturday-night hedonism.