Narrow Street: An Old London Gem Amidst Skyscrapers in East London

London has historical hidden gems. Narrow Street in Limehouse is one, offering a pretty walk next to the river with great skyline sights. The street is quite old, featuring Georgian houses from the 1700s.

The Grapes is a nice pub along the way, owned by Sir Ian McKellen, so maybe you’ll see Gandalf! Built in 1720, The Grapes survived the Blitz during the war, and Charles Dickens liked the pub also.

Limehouse started in 1356 and was once called Les Lymhostes, a name from lime kilns for local pottery. The street was a busy trading spot on the River Thames, and Sir Francis Drake sailed from here too.

Narrow Street gives you an “old London” feel. Many know Chinatown in Westminster, but Limehouse was London’s first Chinese area. Chinese sailors came to Narrow Lane in the late 1800s, selling tea and opium there. Sherlock Holmes visited for opium, but the community moved after the Blitz.

The area has changed a lot since 1990, with property prices going up and good restaurants opening nearby. One is Gordon Ramsay’s gastropub, The Narrow, making a walk there a good London activity.