East London: London

David Beckham remains perhaps one of East London's most famous exports, hailing from the east London suburb of Leytonstone. Hardly considered glamorous and often considered the only remaining geographical area where one can get a taste of "authentic London", East London is a virtual melting pot of cultures and classes. Inexpensive rents and the large swathes of underdeveloped land attracted Olympic 2012 organizers and the area has been redeveloped as a result, with Westfield, a massive American-size shopping mall one of the more Olympic-influenced constructions.

For a dose of culture head to the Whitechapel Art Gallery or Rich Mix, an arts & entertainment centre on Bethnal Green Road, or, if you're feeling adventurous, head even further east to the Wapping Project. Try not to be put off by the jellied eel and pie, mash and liquor (to translate: a non-alcoholic parsley and, what can only be called eel-juice, sauce) shops along the way - the traditional working-class food of east London they still appeal to some.

The stretch of Mile End Road between Whitechapel and Mile End tube stops, home to a bric-a-brac market on the weekends, offers an authentic taste of the East London without having to stray too far off the beaten track: highly recommended, especially if the thought of jellied eels does appeal to you. © NileGuide