Most of this postcode corresponds to Bethnal Green, with the southern border ending just before Whitechapel Road. The northern boundary is defined by the TfL and Greater Anglia railway line from Liverpool Street to Stratford, which has recently been co-opted by the Elizabeth line, although the nearest stop opened at whitechapel on an seperate section of track. The eastern boundary is Cambridge Heath Road, while the western boundary covers the eastern side of Brick Lane. Vallance Road cuts through the centre of the neighbourhood, which is largely-residential but does have a few convenience stores, particularly near the Asda petrol station. The East End is typically a mix of old Victorian terraces and newer council housing, although in this area there is also a curious and perhaps unusual mix of the two – with Victorian philanthropists building tenements for the poor since the mid-to-late-1800s at least. As such the area is dominated by council housing of different types, each with their own era’s influences and ideologies. Of course, Victorian terraces have also survived until today. The area is predominantly residential with the notable exception of the western area near Brick Lane, with its bustling market and eateries, vintage markets and an assortment of other stores.

The Bethnal Green area started out as Blithehale in the 1200s, and later evolved to Bednall Green – however until the 1500s it was still considered outside London and a country retreat for nobles and merchants. However at the dawn of the industrial revolution in the 1700s Georgian houses began to crop up around today’s Cambridge Heath Road, to the east of the area, and soon the neighbourhood developed into one of the first manufacturing areas of east London.

During the Victorian era the area would degenerate into the slums of Dickensian London, until the early 1900s, when there was a concentrated effort to eradicate the slums by the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green. The effort would be accelerated after the Second World War, as the area was heavily bombed during the Blitz, and rehousing was of a top priority.

Alfie Bass, born Abraham Basalinsky, was born in Bethnal Green in 1916. His parents had fled to London due to persecution in their native Russia. Bass would start his acting early, in wartime British documentaries, before moving on to other productions such as those by the BBC Radio. His classic appearances were playing Cockney working class roles.

There is a sundial located in Vallance Gardens, marking the spot where William Booth began preaching outdoors, on his path to founding the Salvation Army. At another green space, near Allen Gardens, lies Spitalfields City Farm. The farm was started by squatters as a collection of allotments, of which sheep and ducks were later added. Today there are 70 animals in the farm (thousands if you include the bees), as well as an Oxford and Cambridge Goat Race. Work has recently been completed on a mixed use development between Vallance Road and Hemming Street which will contain 144 new homes.