The district of Bethnal Green lies to the north-east of The City, in the heart of London’s East End. The name is believed to be derived from Saxon times, a corruption of the Saxon meaning “Blida’s Corner”.

For hundreds of years the area was a predominantly rural area, and was home to the upper classes of London society, for example bishops, mayors and aldermen. But by the 17th century, the expansion of London had spread to Bethnal Green and it soon became a crowed working class residential area.

For the next 200 years, the are was primarily associated with crime and poverty. Indeed in Victorian times Bethnal Green had a higher proportion of families living in poverty than any other district in London.

In the 20th century, however, things have greatly improved with the eradication of the slum areas and conservation work. Nevertheless the area is still relatively poor and typically “East End”. The major tourist attraction of the district is the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood.