Brick Lane

What to expect

Brick Lane is named after the brick and tile makers who worked here from the 15th century. Each wave of newcomers left its mark: Huguenot weavers in the 17th century, Irish and Jewish immigrants in the 19th, and later Bengali families, especially from Sylhet, who gave the area its nickname of Banglatown. The Brick Lane Mosque began as a Huguenot chapel in 1742 and has also been a Methodist chapel and a synagogue before becoming a mosque in 1976.

Today the street is a mix of curry houses, vintage shops, street art and the Old Truman Brewery complex, a former brewery that now holds offices and entertainment spaces. Murals and graffiti by well-known street artists change on the walls of the side streets, so a wander is half the point. A market at Cheshire Street and Sclater Street is at its busiest on Sundays. Allow an hour or two with a meal.

Don't miss

• Street art on the side streets
• Brick Lane Mosque, once a Huguenot chapel
• Curry houses along the lane
• Old Truman Brewery buildings
• Sunday market around Cheshire Street

Tips for your visit

• Go on a Sunday morning if you want the market, or on a weekday for a quieter walk and the shops.
• Aldgate East and Liverpool Street are the nearest Tube stations.
• Look into the smaller side streets for the best street art, then end with a curry on the lane.