Silk weavers, markets and a great church
In the late seventeenth century, Huguenot refugees from France settled in Spitalfields and made it a centre of silk weaving. Their tall Georgian houses, with large attic windows for light, still line Fournier Street and Princelet Street. Later waves of migration brought Irish, Jewish and Bangladeshi communities. The building on the corner of Brick Lane and Fournier Street has been a Protestant chapel, a synagogue and is now a mosque.
Christ Church Spitalfields, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor and completed in the 1720s, dominates the area. Old Spitalfields Market, housed in a Victorian building, has traded under a royal charter since the seventeenth century, and Dennis Severs' House on Folgate Street recreates the life of a family of silk weavers.
What to see
- Christ Church Spitalfields – Hawksmoor's restored baroque church.
- Old Spitalfields Market – stalls, food and independent shops.
- Dennis Severs' House – an immersive historic house experience.
- Fournier Street – some of London's finest Georgian houses.
Eating and atmosphere
The market has many food stalls, and Brick Lane is close by for bagels and curry. The area is busy at weekends, with Sunday markets around Brick Lane and the old Truman Brewery.
A suggested half day
Start at Christ Church, walk along Fournier Street, then visit Dennis Severs' House. Have lunch in the market, and explore Brick Lane and Columbia Road on a Sunday.
Getting there
Liverpool Street, with the Elizabeth line, the Stansted Express and Underground lines, is a short walk away. Shoreditch High Street and Aldgate East are also close.
Getting there with Mason & Green
Stansted is usually convenient via the A12 and M11, and London City is close. Streets around the market are narrow and busy, especially on weekends, so we agree a pickup point in advance.
See our Stansted Airport transfers page.
Frequently asked questions
When is Old Spitalfields Market open?
The market trades most days, with different stalls on different days. Check the market's website before visiting.
Can you visit Dennis Severs' House?
Yes, at set times and often by advance booking. Check before you go.
How far is Spitalfields from Liverpool Street?
It is a short walk.