East End: London

The area east of the historical walled City of London has become a hot-bed for the arts and burgeoning businesses, known as the 'East End' (hardly a difficult one to decipher!) it was traditionally an area of poverty and overcrowding and the home of Jack the Ripper and Cockney rhyming slang.

Change abounds, especially with the new Olympic 2012 developments, which should lend a new vitality and life to the community. The heavy racial and cultural mix of the east end is attractive to businesses and residents alike and it is a variety that has yet to be mimicked anywhere else in London.

Rich with markets, Columbia Road Flower Market and Spitalfields Market being perhaps the two most famous, it is a haven for bargain hunters. Though, should you wish to drop a few million pounds, then head to Hoxton Square and to the big-name galleries which line its sides. The square's trendy factor has declined in recent years as the galleries have attracted the requisite cafes and luxurious bars to appeal to their rich clients and collectors, but its location guarantees it will remain appealing. © NileGuide