London area of Spitalfields guide

What to do and where to stay in London's Spitalfields neighbourhood

No area showcases London's vibrant diversity and combination of the ancient and the modern as much as Spitalfields. To the east, the huge influx of Bangladeshi immigrants has made Brick Lane the curry capital of the world, while to the west, the urban regeneration of the Bishopsgate area has seen towering office blocks rise and the City grow at a staggering pace. Then in the centre of all this you have the regenerated Old Spitalfields Market, surrounded by cobbled streets with boutiques, cafes, pubs and other spin-off markets. Still standing is the Nicholas Hawksmoor-designed Christ Church, Spitalfields, a beacon in what was once one of London's worst criminal slums. This was the playground of serial killer Jack the Ripper who slayed a number of local prostitutes, culminating in 1888 with the brutal killing and mutilation of a young woman named Mary Kelly, his fifth and final victim. Nowadays a host of artists live in the area, such as Gilbert and George, Tracey Emin and Stuart Brisley.

See our recommended nearby Spitalfields Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.