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Whitechapel is the historic gateway to the East End, a densely layered district where centuries of immigration, industry and infamy meet. Home to a leading art gallery, a great curry-house tradition and the shadow of the Jack the Ripper story, it is one of London’s most characterful and authentic quarters.
Where is Whitechapel and how to get there
Whitechapel lies immediately east of the City of London. Its station serves the District, Hammersmith & City and Elizabeth lines, as well as the Overground, making it very well connected.
Galleries, history and the market
The Whitechapel Gallery has championed modern and contemporary art for over a century in its handsome building on the high street. The bustling Whitechapel Market reflects the area’s largely Bangladeshi community, and the surrounding streets are the setting for the notorious 1888 Whitechapel murders, retraced on evening Jack the Ripper walks. Historic sites include the Royal London Hospital and Altab Ali Park.
Eating and drinking
Whitechapel is famous for its halal grills and curry houses, including the legendary Tayyabs and Lahore Kebab House nearby, some of the best-value eating in the city. Our guides to the best halal restaurants and best Indian restaurants in London feature the area.
Good to know
Is Whitechapel where Jack the Ripper operated?
Yes. The streets of Whitechapel and neighbouring Spitalfields were the setting for the unsolved 1888 murders attributed to Jack the Ripper, and the case is retold on popular evening walking tours that set off nearby. The district today is a lively, multicultural part of the East End.
Where to go next
Continue to Brick Lane, Spitalfields or Aldgate, or browse all our London neighbourhood guides.
