If you are planning on heading to London this year, be sure not to limit yourself to visiting attractions in the centre of the city.
England’s sprawling capital has a plethora of other areas worth checking out, including East London. Easily accessible on public transport, the eastern part of the city houses some fabulous places that will leave you why you have never been before.
With that in mind, read on as we look at some of the best things to do in East London.
Aspers Casino
While London boasts several high-class casinos, the pick of the bunch is undoubtedly the stunning Aspers Casino in Stratford. The venue is suitable for players of all abilities, but it has the added bonus of being able to attract high stakes players as well.
Not all online casinos are equipped to offer high stakes gambling, and the same is true for land-based casinos. However, Aspers casino in Stratford has over 150 table games and machines on offer. These include high stakes games like poker and roulette as well high stakes slot machines. With a smart casual dress code that has some restrictions, the atmosphere remains relaxed while keeping up a high stakes casino vibe.
Add to this the premium Tanzibar bar and restaurant, and you can experience a high-end casino right in the heart of East London.
Brick Lane
If you are planning on visiting east London, you would be well advised to set aside a full day as there are a huge amount of things to check out in Brick Lane.
Winding its way between Whitechapel and Shoreditch, it is full of buzzing markets, ultra-cool shops, bars, eateries and world-class curry houses. The area was famously linked with the Jack the Ripper murders, but is now a vibrant hub for art and culture that other areas in London struggle to match.
If street art floats your boat, book a guided tour of the various pieces of graffiti created by some of the biggest contributors to the underground practice.
Museum of London Docklands
Discover the history of the river Thames and the people who settled in the area at the immersive Museum of London Docklands.
Located in a 200-year-old warehouse, the museum charts the history of the area from Roman times through to the building of Canary Wharf. The venue has tons of material and historic photographs gathered from several trusted sources including the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and the Port of London Authority Archive.
There is also extensive World War II footage which chronicles how London sought to fend off the Nazis in series of top-secret wartime missions.
The Castle Cinema
The Castle Electric Theatre first opened in September 1913 as an independent single-screen cinema and was subsequently used for various other ventures. The venue eventually fell on hard times, before a local group recognised its potential in 2016 and used a Kickstarter campaign to breath new life into it.
They retained its original features that included an eye-catching curved ceiling covered in ornate gold plasterwork. The Castle Cinema now offers one of the best movie-watching experiences in London – if you are a film fan, this is the place for you.
Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History is a museum and bar in Hackney that will appeal to anyone who loves weird and wonderful things.
The museum’s collection spans several centuries including the largest collection of work by Austin Osman Spare on public display. There are also dodo bones, the skeleton of a giant ant-eater, tribal skulls, dead babies in bottles, parts of pickled prostitutes and more.
With over 50,000 oddities, there is sure to be something in the museum that will turn your stomach. Despite this, it’s well worth a visit.
Whitechapel Gallery
Whitechapel Gallery opened its doors in 1901 and has since become one of the best places in London to view contemporary art.
The gallery has been responsible for drawing attention to artists aiming to climb the ranks including Jackson Pollock, David Hockney and Frida Kahlo. The historic building that houses the gallery takes visitors on an adventure-laden trip through top-class art produced locally and further afield.
With film screenings, public debates, a world-class bookshop and restaurant, the Whitechapel Gallery is perfect for culture vultures of all ages.
Backyard Comedy Club
The centre of London has numerous comedy venues, but none have the ‘outsider’ feel generated by the Backyard Comedy Club.
While the likes of the Comedy Store hog the populist vote in London, the Backyard Comedy Club is where you will find more edgy comedy. That point has been highlighted on more than one occasion by the venue hosting controversial American comedian Dave Chappelle.
The comedy legend has used the venue to test out new material, before rolling it out in shows that have been aired on Netflix.
