London East End Historical Walking Tour

Transport yourself back in time to the East End of years gone by with this comprehensive walking tour given by real, born-and-bred East Enders and local teachers/historians. From the mediæval foundations of this area slumped on the edge of the City of London, to the desperate slums of the Victorian era. From the fearsome terror wreaked over the people by Jack the Ripper, the Blitz and then the Kray twins, to the migrations of numerous communities over time. This tour gives you a snapshot of life in this area throughout history - but most importantly it does it through local stories, given by local people. Not only will you see the streets and their historic remnants, you will also hear about just what life was like for those living, well trying to survive, in them.

Meeting Point

Salmon & Ball

502 Bethnal Grn Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 0EA, UK

Pub immediately outside Bethnal Green Underground Station (Central Line) by the Bethnal Green Road exit.

Not included:

• Food and Drink

What to expect:

Duration: between 2 hours and 3 hours

The Blind Beggar Public House Whitechapel

337 Whitechapel Road, , London, E1 1BU

A historic pub named after the legendary tale of the Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green and site of the infamous murder of George Cornell by the Kray Twins

5 minutes

Royal London Hospital Museum

Newark Street, , London, E1 2AA

The famous Royal London Hospital, centre of the Jack the Ripper murders and home for many years to Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man

Pass by without stopping

The Ten Bells

84 Commercial St, London E1 6QQ, UK

Stop off at the pub where Jack the Ripper’s victims are known to have drank and frolicked. Next door is the historic Christ Church, Spitalfields, location of much Georgian and Victorian poverty

7 minutes

Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery

159 Brick Ln, London E1 6SB, UK

Stop off at the famous Jewish beigel shops of Brick Lane and indulge in stories about their history and that of the people who frequented them.

Pass by without stopping

Repton Boxing Club

116 Cheshire St, Bethnal Green, London E2 6EG, UK

Poke your head into the world famous Repton Boxing Club in Bethnal Green, home to boxers including the Kray Twins, Ray Winstone and Audley Harrison. Get your gloves on for some very old school coaching and stories that will make your hairs stand on end

10 minutes

St Matthew's Bethnal Green

St. Matthew's Row, London, E2 6DT

Stop off at the mother church of Bethnal Green and the site of the funerals of all three Kray brothers. What is more, take a look at the Watch House overlooking the churchyard and former burial ground, erected to prevent people robbing graves and body snatching, back when this was a favourite local pastime.

10 minutes

E Pellicci

332 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 0AG, UK

A very famous old east end greasy spoon still owned by the same Italian family as it was a hundred years ago. See and smell the place east enders have been lunching at for generations and, since this is the end of our tour, why not pop in for a bite to eat yourself?

10 minutes