How to reach us

5 minutes from Whitechapel, Aldgate (East) and Shadwell Underground stations.

By Underground: Whitechapel (District, Hammersmith and City, East London lines)
Aldgate (Metropolitan, Circle lines)
Shadwell (East London and Docklands railway)

By bus: 15, 100, 115, D3, X1, X11 and 339
(Aldgate) 40, 42, 67, 78, 253
(Whitechapel) 25, 106, 205

By railway: Liverpool Street

We have good transport connections as shown in the map above. To find out more about public transport in London visit the London Transport Website. For a map of the London Underground click here.

The East London School of English is situated in Whitechapel, 10 minutes walk from the River Thames and the Tower of London. It is also 10 minutes from the City of London (the financial centre of the city)

Sights

Whitechapel is an area full of history. Some places of interest are described below:

Spitalfields market (http://www.spitalfields.org.uk)
The name 'Spitalfields' was named after a Hospital and Priory known as St. Mary's Spital, founded in 1197. Most building in the area took place in the mid-17th century after the Great Fire of London. Spitalfields market was established in the 1680s. Spitalfelds became a parish in its own right in 1729 when Hawkesmoor's Christ Church was consecrated.

Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood (www.museumofchildhood.org.uk)
The National Museum of Childhood contains one of the largest and oldest collections of toys and childhood artefacts in the world - over 6,000 items on display dating from the sixteenth century.

The Geffrye Museum (www.geffrye-museum.org.uk)
Presents the changing style of English urban middle-class interiors through a series of period rooms from 1600 to the present day. It is set in elegant 18th century almshouses with attractive gardens.

Whitechapel Art Gallery (www.whitechapel.org)
Exhibitions of contemporary and modern art behind a magnificent Art Nouveau facade

Dennis Severs House
Visitors are invited to wander around the House, in silence, to take in an atmosphere. An atmosphere left behind by an 18th century family. You can never see them, but you'll hear them in the background. Their beds are slept in and still unmade, and you can smell the aroma of food that they were about to eat. The visitor is asked to use his/her senses and open up.

Dickens Inn
A converted 18th century spice warehouse set in St Katherine's Dock with 2 restaurants, a traditional English tavern and a snack bar. Beer garden and restaurant balconies open throughout the summer.

Tower of London
Begun by William The Conqueror in 1078, The Tower of London has served as a royal residence, fortress, mint, and more infamously as a place of execution. Home to the Crown Jewels, The Yeoman Warders 'Beefeeaters' and over 900 years of royal history

Brick Lane market and restaurants
Part of the fun is following the side streets to see where they lead and picking the jewels out from the junk. You'll find things to wear and eat as well as lots of items that might "come in handy one day". It's easy to get side-tracked by the many stalls and boxes of collectables. If the aroma from the begel bakeries doesn't tempt you, the Bangladeshi restaurants probably will. Expect to find anything from furniture to fruits, kitchenware to kitsch. Open from early morning until about 14.00 (Sundays only)