Spare Time

All Hallows by the Tower stained glass

The new East London Heritage Trails booklet helps walkers discover the borough and find out more about the area's past.

Produced by the Heritage of London Trust, in partnership with Tower Hamlets Council, this is the first time that such an extensive selection of self-guided historical walks have been made available in a booklet in the East End.

Tower Hamlets Council's Heritage Champion, Councillor Denise Jones said: “The East London Heritage Trails give people the chance to delve into the East End’s past.

"From the historic Royal Palace the Tower of London, from which the borough derives its name, to churches designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor and industrial innovations of the past, the walks explore generations of East End life. With the help of the booklet people can choose between 13 history trails and discover the borough for themselves.”

The East London Heritage Trails have been designed to raise awareness of the heritage of Tower Hamlets and the East End. Many of the buildings, monuments and statues that are highlighted on the walks have received funding from the Heritage of London Trust to help restore and maintain them.

Nuevo Sephardic Cemetary, Mile End Rd

The Trust is the only building preservation charity that covers the whole of London. Its aim is to preserve the best of the past.

Diana Beattie, the Trusts’ director said: “From a historical perspective, Tower Hamlets is the most uniquely interesting and under-appreciated borough in the country.

"Fabulous trade from the East India Company and the rest of the World passed through the London docks bringing wealth, commodities and ideas which transformed the whole country.”

Copies of the booklets are available from Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Idea stores and libraries.

Alternatively for a free copy of the booklet send of a DL stamped self addressed envelope to: The Heritage of London Trust, 38 Ebury Street, London, SW1W OLU

The booklet outlines walks around the following areas:

• Tower Hill and the Eastern City Fringe
• Wapping (including the Wapping Hydraulic Power Station)
• Shadwell and St George's (including Wilton's Music Hall and Nelson St Synagogue)
• Ratcliffe and Limehouse
• Stepney Green
• Mile End (including the Velho and Nuevo Sephardic Cemeteries)
• Bethnal Green
• Bromley and Poplar
• Isle of Dogs