Spitalfields

Spitalfields is within the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the historic East End of London. Home to many markets, the most oldest and most well known being the Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century. Other markets include the Sunday UpMarket and the Brick Lane Markets that are spread out over Brick Lane and Cheshire Street. Once the location of one of Roman London's largest cemeteries the site became the focus of a major archaeological excavation in the 1990s, following the redevelopment of Spitalfields Market.

Although part of the UK’s largest city, Spitalfields has the feel of a village and is well known for its thriving arts community. Various artists have come to live here, including Tracey Emin and Stuart Brisley. The Whitechapel Art Gallery at the bottom of Brick Lane is where the arts community finds its home here. Another notable resident is the writer Jeanette Winterson who has turned a derelict Georgian house into an organic food shop, Verde's, as part of the Slow Food movement.