Brick Lane & beyond
Curry houses, bagels at 2am, and the street art that followed. Walked and written by the editor. https://walkwalk.org/london/walks/brick-lane-and-beyond

1. Old Truman Brewery
A former brewery, now a low-key warren of studios, record shops, and one very good vintage market on weekends. You could spend an hour here and only see a third of it.

2. Beigel Bake
Open 24 hours since 1974. Salt beef with mustard, hot and fast, £6 or so. The queue moves quickly and the shop hasn't changed, which in this part of London is an achievement.

3. Brick Lane street art
Keep your eyes up. The alleyways around Grimsby Street and Fashion Street turn over new murals every few weeks; the Stik figures on Princelet Street have lasted for over a decade.

4. Spitalfields Market
The covered Victorian market is now part shopping centre, part food hall — skip the chain units and head straight for the independent record stalls and the Sri Lankan curry counter that runs weekends only.

5. Whitechapel Gallery
The quiet coda to a loud walk. Entry is free, the shows are usually excellent, and the bookshop is small but pointed. The cafe does a decent flat white if you've somehow made it this far without one.

Brick Lane & beyond