Whats Whitechapel like in London?

Question

I shall be there briefly in a few weeks. I hear its not terribly touristy. Any decent restaurants or pubs around there? Or should I head more central for something decent to eat?

Answer 1

It's a relatively poor, multi-ethnic region, being encroached upon by City types from the west. Fabulous for food from the Indian subcontinent - especially the world-famous Brick Lane - but not many swanky restaurants in my day, a decade ago. They may have followed the gentrification a bit by now, I suppose.

You can always sample the local East End history afterwards by drinking in the Blind Beggar, the pub in which the Ronnie Kray shot George Cornell for calling him a "fat poof".

Ah, those were the days.

Answer 2

It's always struck me as a very squalid, run-down sort of area with a huge immigrant population (mainly Asian nowadays), many Asian wholesale outlets, a renouned bell foundry and a famous hospital. Its most famous pub is The Blind Beggar, where the notorious Kray brothers used to hang out. However, things are looking up. Since at least the 1970s, Whitechapel and other nearby parts of East London have figured prominently in London's art scene. Probably the area's most prominent art venue is the Whitechapel Art Gallery, founded in 1901 and long an outpost of high culture in a poor neighbourhood. As the neighbourhood has gentrified, it has gained citywide, and even international, visibility and support. As of 2005, the gallery is undergoing a major expansion, with the support of £3.26 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The expanded facility is due to open in 2007/8.

Whitechapel in the early 21st century has figured prominently in London's punk rock/skuzz rock scene, with the main focal point for this scene being The Rhythm Factory bar/restaurant/nightclub. This scene includes the likes of The Libertines, The Others, Razorlight and even The Rakes, all of whom have had some commercial success in the music charts.

When visiting a friend there, I've been able to enjoy pleasant strolls along the canal which leads past Queen Mary College all the way to North London. http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:rNAXfQoC4UMJ:www.qmul.ac.uk/qmliving/london/+whitechapel+canal&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5

You might like to look up this link, in order to get a feel for the history of the area. http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:yFYtUvUptkwJ:www.ibiblio.org/yiddish/Places/London/london.htm+the+three+beggars+whitechapel&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1

Answer 3

http://www.mybow.co.uk/towerhamlets/bars&music-barlist.htm

http://www.ukvillages.co.uk/ukvillages.nsf/villages/Whitechapel-Greater+London?open&logid=

Whitechapel is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, England. It is a built-up inner city district located 3.4 miles (5.5 km) east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Hanbury Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and Commercial Road on the south.
Whitechapel's heart is Whitechapel Road itself, named for a small chapel of ease dedicated to St. Mary: its earliest known rector was Hugh de Fulbourne in 1329.

By the late 16th century Whitechapel and the surrounding area had started becoming 'the other half' of London. Located downwind of the genteel sections of west London which were to see the expansion of Westminster Abbey and construction of Buckingham Palace, it naturally attracted the more fragrant activities of the city, particularly tanneries, breweries, foundries (including the Whitechapel Bell Foundry which later cast Philadelphia's Liberty Bell and London's Big Ben), slaughterhouses and, close by to the south, the gigantic Billingsgate fish market, famous in its day for the ornately foul language of the extremely Cockney fishwomen who worked there.

In 1680 the Rector of Whitechapel, the Rev. Ralph Davenant, of the parish of St. Mary Matfellon bequeathed a legacy for the education of forty boys and thirty girls of the parish - the Davenant Centre is still in existence although the Davenant Foundation School moved from Whitechapel to Loughton in 1966.
The "Elephant Man", Joseph Carey Merrick (1862-1890) became well-known in Whitechapel - he was exhibited in a shop on the Whitechapel Road before being helped by Dr Frederick Treves (1853-1923) at the Royal London Hospital, opposite the actual shop. There is a museum in the hospital about his life.

Whitechapel remained poor (and colourful) through the first half of the 20th century, though somewhat less desperately so. It suffered great damage in the V2 German rocket attacks and the Blitz of World War II. Since then, Whitechapel has lost most of its notoriety, though it is still thoroughly working class. The Bangladeshis are the most visible migrant group there today and it is home to many aspiring artists and shoestring entrepreneurs.

Since at least the 1970s, Whitechapel and other nearby parts of East London have figured prominently in London's art scene. Probably the area's most prominent art venue is the Whitechapel Art Gallery, founded in 1901 and long an outpost of high culture in a poor neighbourhood. As the neighbourhood has gentrified, it has gained citywide, and even international, visibility and support. As of 2005, the gallery is undergoing a major expansion, with the support of £3.26 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The expanded facility is due to open in 2007/8.

Whitechapel in the early 21st century has figured prominently in London's punk rock/skuzz rock scene, with the main focal point for this scene being The Rhythm Factory bar/restaurant/nightclub. This scene includes the likes of The Libertines, The Others, Razorlight and even The Rakes, all of whom have had some commercial success in the music charts.

Answer 4

For drinking, try the Grave Maurice {ex home of the Kray twins} next to Whitechapel tube. Eating out is dodgy. The Indian under the bridge on whitechapel rd in Mile end is very good!

Answer 5

It's not touristy but it's quite an up-and-coming area. There are plenty of bars and restaurants.

Answer 6

If blooms the jewish restaurant is still there try it otherwise it's chocablock with curry houses It's not called bangla town for nothing!

Answer 7

Watch out for shady characters in a cloak and top hat carrying a bag!

Answer 8

There is nothing interesting in whitechapel its full of people

Answer 9

I hear the rent isnt very expensive and buying hotels is a BARGAIN!

Answer 10

t's one of the cheapest places on a monopoly board!!