In the 19th century, East London, once a bucolic retreat from the City, became, with its deep docks, a hub of Empire, dominated by trade and industry. The East End was a centre of trade in exotic animals and birds, and, of course, all specialist food stuffs including Arabica coffee. Replete with railways, canals, factories and all forms of manufacture, from the exotic to the mundane, the area was a magnet for people fleeing both rural poverty in Britain or political and religious oppression abroad; long hours of labour and low wages fuelled the Empire's propperity. In the early 20th century, East Enders, famously, provided a bulwark against the British fascist movement led by Oswald Mosley. World War II brought devastation from bombing to the industry, dockyards and housing stock, necessitating a temporary and then permanent flight to Essex, north Kent or New Towns. The City found a new home in the abandoned 'Docklands'. Over the last 30 years, the Spitalfields Trust focused on saving the mostly derelict 17th century houses of Huguenot immigrants. These are now largely restored and regenerated through the enterprise of residents, forming an elegant ribbon, alluring to visitor and Londoner alike and of which the English Restaurant at 52 Bushfield Street is a prime example. The 2012 Olympic Games provided new infrastructure and vitality to this historic part of England. This book provides, in a clear alphabetic format, a witty and reliable social history with many illustrations. It is an essential guide for the visitor and resident.