Though it’s a stone’s throw from Brick Lane and peak hipsterdom, Whitechapel Market hasn’t been grabbed by the tentacles of gentrification yet. It’s a place where you’ll hunt for bargains under striped awnings and pick up cheap ingredients for curries and stews from traders serving the large local British Bangladeshi community. Jewellery, general knick-knacks and electrical goods are also on offer. If you’re feeling charming, you might like to try some light haggling.
This patch of Whitechapel is vibrant and culturally diverse, and still a little shabby, but this could change when Crossrail arrives in 2019. For now, soak up the sights and sounds of an authentic daily London market. Nick Levine
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