East London in a Day: Brick Lane, Old Spitalfields Market & the New SXSW London

East London never sits still. One minute you’re queuing for a salt-beef bagel at 3 am, the next you’re taste-testing Taiwanese pancakes under a Victorian-glass roof, and Austin’s cult festival SXSW is suddenly running pop-ups around Shoreditch.

Bishopsgate Plaza pocket park – Locals lounging on benches and cyclists passing in green public square near Spitalfields, East London

Brick Lane: Bagels, Rough Trade East & Street-Art

Nearest Tube: Aldgate East / Shoreditch High St Overground

Beigel Bake (the white storefront at No. 159) still hand-rolls salt-beef & cream cheese bagels 24/7

Beigel Bake storefront – Brick Lane – 24‑hour Beigel Bake bakery frontage with customers and graffiti‑covered walls.

Street-art tip: Wander the alley opposite Beigel Bake (Hanbury St) for fresh murals, look out for the Banksy rat with a paintbrush (often half covered by new tags).

Brick Lane streetscape & City skyline – Classic Brick Lane shopfronts leading toward modern City skyscrapers on sunny afternoon.

Rough Trade East

I always pop by whenever I’m on Brick Lane, such good vinyl collections!! Sometimes they even have surprising gigs from bands and artists.

Old Spitalfields Market: 350 Years & Counting

4-min stroll from Brick Lane

Founded in 1638, rebuilt in Victorian iron and glass, and now home to 50+ independent traders.

Old Spitalfields Market exterior – Red‑brick Victorian façade of Old Spitalfields Market under summer sky.

Communal dining tables – Spitalfields food court – Diverse diners eating street‑food lunches at long wooden tables beneath iron‑and‑glass roof.

Family picnic benches with dogs – Spitalfields – Families and golden retrievers relaxing at outdoor benches in Old Spitalfields Market courtyard.

Three food stalls I like

Wheelcake Island – Fluffy Taiwanese wheel-pancakes filled with matcha custard or adzuki bean.
Bonus: they’re £3, so grab two. Old Spitalfields Market

Wheelisland Cake from Old Spitalfields market

Pho Street Eats – Family recipes turned quick-lunch heroes: tofu bánh mì or a mini pho that steams up your glasses. (Vegan-friendly)

Pho Street Eats from Old Spitalfields market

Dumpling Shack – Shanghainese shengjian bao that squeak with soup on first bite (bring tissues) and scallion pancake is a must!

Dumpling Shack from Old Spitalfields market

Bonus – SXSW London: Austin’s Icon Lands in Shoreditch

From 2–8 June 2025, SXSW plants its first European edition across 28 Shoreditch venues, including 93 Feet East and Village Underground. Expect panels on AI creativity, late-night sets from next-gen acts, and film screenings tucked inside Old Spitalfields’ mezzanine