Named for the brick kilns brought by the Flemish in the 1500s, Brick Lane has a wealth of history brought by the many Russian, French, Muslim, Jewish and Bengali immigrants throughout the years.
Maps of 20 historic sites are provided on Brick Lane and online for you to plan your time. With only two hours to spend I concentrated on the street art and whatever popped up along the way.
Graffiti
There are many street art tours available but setting out on your own and discovering the art on and off Brick Lane is also fun. Artwork is painted over or taken down constantly so what is there today may not be tomorrow. But there is a stable of art from famous artists like Banksy, Stik, Roa, and David Walker. Here are some of my favorites:
Dark Sugars Chocolates
With two shops on Brick Lane, Dark Sugars Chocolates is one of the coolest chocolate shops around – beautifully displayed truffles with flavors like Flambeéd Cognac, ginger & honey and gin & lime, tons of samples and great West African music. I’d be getting Valentine’s chocolate here if I lived in London!
Black Eagle Brewery – Old Truman Brewery
Joseph Truman purchased the Black Eagle Brewery in 1679, later known as Truman, Hanbury, Buxton & Co., becoming the largest brewery in the world in 1853. However, the brewery closed in 1989 but the abandoned ten acres of lots and space of the Old Truman Brewery has been converted into an event space along with shops, galleries, restaurants and offices.
Old Spitalfields Market
Off Brick Lane on Commercial Street is a spot where a market has been continually in service since 1638. The building where the Old Spitalfields Market is located was built in 1887 and filled with restaurants, food trucks, shops, market days Thurs-Sun and a themed shopping market every Saturday.
Cereal Killer Cafe
I read an article about a “hipster” cafe styled with 80s/90s memorabilia specializing in serving (only) cereal from around the world and couldn’t quite believe it existed but lo and behold it’s on Brick Lane. Cereal Killer Cafe was plenty crowded with a mix of tourists and locals. I will be interested in seeing if people will be willing to pay £3 – £4.4 for a bowl of cereal (comes with cereal and choice of milk, toppings are extra) in the long-term. I believe they’ve been open over a year so maybe so.
Alicia Tastes Life 
Great photos and commentary–interesting and a treat!
Thanks, Randy!
Some great photos and ideas here! Am heading to London for just a few days in April and hope to check out the old East end time permitting!
Thanks! I am so glad this helped you, hope you do get some time in the East End. Have fun!
Thanks Alicia yes am hoping so too – we’re visiting our daughter who lives in the north west of London but I know she loves the East End so hoping we can go there on the weekend! Would love to explore the little shops and markets and get a sense of the history there. When I lived in London over 20 years ago it wasn’t a part that you’d go to but it’s been done up now!
This was my first time in London but from what I had read it did seem like the East End has changed in the last decade. If/when I go back I may hit you up for some north west side of London ideas. Have fun!
Yes definitely Alicia – know London well but it’s amazing how there are some parts I never went to even though I lived there for 9 years!! Now my daughter is discovering new places – did a few posts on the north/ west side of London last year under “UK Travels”. Alas the Wildflower Cafe, which we loved has closed down but hopefully moving to a new location at some point!
Awesome pics of the street art. And the Cereal Killer Cafe seems cool.
Good job.
Keep it up.
God bless.