Spitalfields Cultural Walks: The Bengali Story

Tower Hamlets has a long tradition of welcoming immigrant populations from all over the world including Huguenots in the 18th century and Jews in the 19th century. Now one third of the population in Tower Hamlets is Bengali, the largest Bengali community in the UK. However many people are often not aware that Bengali people have lived in London for nearly 400 years. Early Bengali residents left few signs or buildings to mark their presence but some clues still remain.

This guided walk will take to the thriving streets of the modern East End of London and offer a fascinating insight into the British Bengali community’s significant contribution to contemporary UK culture, from music and food, to politics and architecture.