It is easy to guess that the most recent migration wave is the Bengali. In the middle of the 20th Century, the street started to be named Banglatown. Nowadays, their influence is still the main character of the area, offering hundreds of restaurants specialised in its food. Sweets, meat and rice are the stars of the meal menus which you can get for 10 pounds if you know the main rule: bargaining.

However, Brick Lane is more than Banglatown. The market is the best-known attraction for visitors. But it is not only made up of the street stands on the road going from Whitechapel High Street (Aldgate East Station) to Bethnal Green.

Sunday Up Market and Spitalfields are two indoor places, a great choice to avoid the wet British weather. There you can find vintage clothes and handbags, international meals or even jewels. If you are looking for ´green issues`, the best part is the Flower Market on Columbian Road.

The Old Truman Brewery is also a place where you can find a vintage market. This building represents the importance of the Jewish in the area. The Brewery, referred to by Charles Dickens in David Copperfield, started as a brewery named Black Eagle Brewery by Joseph Truman in 17th Century. That was the moment when the area started to change from unskilled jobs for immigrants such as tailoring to Jewish business like producing beer. Nowadays it is an empty space up to be rented by the different proposals of new business or artists.

The taste of the traditional Jewish culture is still available for the curious who want to try it. The well-known Beigel Bakery, where you can eat cheesecake, salmon or ham bagels 24 hours a day for less than 2 pounds. Another choice is Rinkoff Bakery. Hiden in Vallance Road, it is the last place where you can have a traditional cooked Jewish breakfast.

Curiously, the two main cultures have a common history, woven into the neighborhood streets. The Greater London Mosque is the best evidence of their harmonic coexistence. This religious building has evolved to keep pace with the changing area. From a Jews´ Chapel first, Methodist later on and also Synagogue at the end of 19th Century. In the seventies it became the biggest mosque in the city and the representation of the current importance of Hindu immigration. It has been a long time since the mosque was built and more than five centuries since the street received its actual name. The mixture of identities based on historical roots has become synonymous with trendy, stylish and open-minded.

The art has a important role on this change. Galleries such as Whitechapel Gallery with the ´Where three dreams cross` exhibition or Brick Lane Gallery with `Art in mind´ get across the importance of art and new trends.

Moreover, some places join paintings with coffee. This is the case with 1001 Café. You can not go to Brick Lane and without trying its hamburgers or cappuccinos while you enjoy its cultural activities. The amateur theatre of Up Stage runs every Wednesday for free and also Showcase Gallery offer exhibitions for everybody who wants to go in. Furthermore, this quiet cafe turns off the lights in the evening for becoming one of the most famous pubs on the street.

Vibe night bar is another nice and calm place where to forget the racy speed of the market. Located in the Truman Brewery building, it offers live music in one of its four rooms. You will find more music in 93 Feet East. The pub, divided into a DJ´s area and two more spaces, is one of the most crowded places in East London on a Friday night. Don´t worry if you need fresh air in the middle of the party because here you have an outside courtyard area with seating.

Food, clothes, religion, art and music joined by History. Brick Lane condenses the flavour of five centuries in a hip, open-minded environment which offers the positive side of globalisation.

Photos by Ana Veiga and Zuzanna Chmielewska

Southbank Centre is a host to the popular Cologne Market with 60 beautifully lit wooden huts, full of traditional German-style food, mulled wine, hand-crafted gifts and Christmas decorations.

For those who are more picky and conscious about what and how they eat, there is a Christmas Slow Food market from 19 December. There you can buy carefully selected food, but also learn how to prepare vegetarian Christmas dinner, take part in a butchery workshop or try some tasty mulled wines.

Going along the Thames a little further, there is the Dazzle exhibition at the London National Theatre with contemporary designer jewellery and prints. Whether your favourite material for a necklass is silver, gold, precious stone or even wood or recycled paper anyone can find a special gift for a loved one here.

Not a big fan of following the crowd? Why not to try something local. There is the Hidden Art – Christmas Design Fair at the Old Truman Brewery in East London where you can find unique gifts from a selection of fashion, jewellery, interior products and ceramics.

If shopping for you needs to be a part of Christmas fun, not a purpose in itself then the Portobello Winter Festival is for you. There, you can enjoy food tasting, free gin cocktails, dance workshops, free film screenings and street performers. If you bring a flyover, which you can print out on their website, you will get some special offers from local designer shops and cafes.

Search for more local Christmas Markets at www.viewlondon.co.uk .

Enjoy the festive season!

Photo from Flickr by renaissancechambara's

The season for ice skating has begun. A few days ago Somerset House and Natural History Museum opened its ice rink and others will follow from this weekend and run through ’till January. The prices are reasonable and equipment on site to hire.  With all the colourful lights around, an ice rink looks magical!

If you’re more into snowboarding or skiing you can prepare for the season at the indoor snow slopes in Xscape in Milton Keynes. You can find there fresh snow and minus temperatures so wrap up warmly.

Participating in all sorts of winter sports makes the dark months more bearable. And it’s fun!

Find the nearest ice rink:

www.viewlondon.co.uk

Photo from Flick by iJammin

Southbank Centre is the primary location for the festival, it is running until this Sunday, 22nd November. There are also concerts at the BBC Radio Theatre (Oxford Circus), Cafe Cargo (Old Street), Greenwich West Community, Arts Centre (Greenwich) and 60 small cafes around London.

This annual initiative, supported by institutions such as BBC Radio 3, Mayor of London and Arts Council England, has its roots in the Camden Jazz Week, beginning in 1970. Nowadays the event is one of the main attractions in the city.

Artists such as composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton and pianist Brad Mehldau have performed in previous years. This year, the high standards continue, mixing well-known musicians Brazilian Gilberto Gil with trendsetter Madeleine Peyroux.

Despite it being a British initiative, the international mix of sounds is the key point that adds to the festival a global flavour with bands from Poland, Sweden, America to name a few.

Everyone is invited. So go, listen and relax.

More info:

www.londonjazzfestival.co.uk

Photo from Flickr by view from 5'2''

If you want to volunteer, London offers hundreds of opportunities. You can choose the time and day, you can develop your hobby and do what you really like, you can get highly valued experience and meet amazing people. I’m sure you would feel great knowing that there is someone whose life you changed for better.

If you love photography and want to develop your skills you can take part in an event and take photos for publicity. It’s very flexible, you just need to book yourself at an event that suits you. You can find more details on Virgin Unite website.

If you are interested in personal development there are plenty of opportunities to become a career mentor. You need be able to inspire those struggling with motivation while looking for a job. Support and help with overcoming personal barriers is what unemployed people need most during the hard times.

For those who need to plan ahead, they can join a charity and commit themselves to a whole year’s work, for just a couple of hours a week. Your community may need mentors – people to act as a role model for kids and young people who lack input from adults in their own family. You will get training and support, also you will have a Criminal Records Borough (CRB) check. This is a unique opportunity to impact the life of youngsters in a positive way.

On the other hand, volunteer travel may be the best option for those who can’t stay in one place for too long. You can go to beautiful places such as Costa Rica, Kenya or Honduras and help underprivileged families in the most basic and beneficial way, to build homes. All you need is enthusiasm and a desire to make a difference.

For those who are really lazy, how about raising money to help street children in Brazil while you sleep? Join ABC’s Big City Sleep, and spend a night under the stars at Old Spitalfield Market.

Invest in yourself, get involved and make a difference for others.

More volunteering opportunities:

Do-It – volunteer job search

Kids Company

Volunteering England with young people

Cross-Cultural Solutions

Photo from Flick by Focx