{"id":16818,"date":"2024-06-06T14:31:58","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T14:31:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/chinatown-london\/"},"modified":"2024-06-10T14:30:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T14:30:31","slug":"chinatown-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/chinatown-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinatown, London’s Chinese Quarter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In the heart of Soho, Chinatown, London’s vibrant Asian quarter, invites visitors to an exotic and adventurous stop with the essence of the Far East.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All aboard, sailors: set course to explore this Asian enclave in the middle of the English capital! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong> Today, Chinatown represents a broad Asian community rather than being strictly Chinese.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 The Captain\u2019s Tips<\/strong> \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to know more about the history of London?<\/strong> Captain Ulysses highly recommends this free guided tour of the capital.<\/a><\/mark> The tip you leave is entirely up to you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for a hotel in London?<\/strong> Be sure to check out the Captain’s article: Where to stay in London? Tips & Recommendations.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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London’s Chinatown At A Glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Brief History of Chinatown<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The First Chinatown<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Surprisingly, it wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century that Chinatown settled in its current location<\/strong> in the heart of London. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original “first Chinatown”<\/strong> emerged in the East End of the capital during the 18th century. Located near the headquarters of the British East India Company, which oversaw trade with Asia, early immigrants opened shops catering to Chinese sailors traveling between Europe and the Far East. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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World War II<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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During World War II, the East End of London was heavily bombed<\/strong>, and the first Chinatown was severely affected. Residents and shopkeepers were forced to seek refuge elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1950s to 1970s<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In the 1950s, the first Chinese businesses began to appear in Soho<\/strong>, an area known for its vibrant nightlife and affordable property prices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former British soldiers<\/strong> who had served in Asia flocked to these new restaurants and supermarkets, eager to rediscover the Asian flavors they had encountered during the war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The success of these businesses attracted an increasing number of Asian entrepreneurs. <\/strong> Around the same time, England also saw a wave of immigration from Hong Kong.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1980s<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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By the 1980s, Chinatown had firmly established itself as an Asian enclave in the heart of London. The neighborhood adopted a distinctly Asian appearance<\/strong>, marked by the installation of three monumental gates defining its boundaries. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chinatown Today<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In 2016, a fourth gate was erected on Wardour Street<\/strong> and inaugurated by Prince Andrew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, London’s Chinatown boasts nearly 80 restaurants<\/strong>, along with a variety of supermarkets and diverse businesses including travel agencies, barbershops, and Chinese medicine clinics. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Fun Fact \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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According to legend, the rock band Led Zeppelin<\/strong> was discovered in a pub on Gerrard Street! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Boundaries of Chinatown<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While London’s Chinatown is marked by four monumental gates, its exact boundaries remain somewhat fluid. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The neighborhood is relatively small<\/strong>, with its beating heart found on Gerrard Street<\/strong>. However, it extends beyond this main artery to neighboring streets: Wardour Street, Rupert Street and Rupert Court, Shaftesbury Avenue, Lisle Street, Macclesfield Street, Newport Place, Newport Court, and Little Newport Street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Chinatown, London\u2019s Chinese Quarter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Gates of Chinatown<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the outset, the tone is set! London’s Chinatown is defined by four grand gates<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first three gates, dating back to the 1980s, blend Asian and European influences. The newest gate, located on Wardour Street<\/strong>, was crafted by Chinese artisans in the Qing dynasty style, which ruled China from 1644 to 1812. This gate was inaugurated by Prince Andrew in 2016. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Slice of Asia in the Heart<\/em> of London<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you pass through the gate, don’t forget to look up. The streets are adorned with hundreds of red lanterns<\/strong>. But take a closer look\u2014some of these lanterns are branded with logos of Chinese companies, such as the insurance conglomerate China Taiping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you continue your journey, you’ll encounter two lion statues<\/strong>, gifts from the People’s Republic of China in the 1980s. These statues are not only guardians of Chinatown but also symbols of good fortune. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wandering through the streets of Chinatown, visitors are transported far from the typical English grey. Everything here evokes Asia<\/strong>: street and restaurant names written in Chinese, shop and restaurant facades, and shop employees chatting in their native language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, London’s Chinatown is a true slice of Asia<\/strong> nestled in the heart of the English capital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The “1888 Mural”<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Head to Horse and Dolphin Yard to find the “1888 Mural.”<\/strong> Designed in 2008, this monumental 8-by-5-meter art installation consists of 1,888 photos assembled to form a giant bowl of rice. The number 1888 wasn’t chosen at random\u2014 in Cantonese culture, the number 1 symbolizes everyday life, while the number 8 is considered very lucky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dining in Chinatown <\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

London’s Chinatown is a food lover’s paradise<\/strong>, boasting nearly 80 restaurants <\/strong> offering a wide array of Chinese and other Asian cuisines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the menu?<\/strong> Korean BBQ, dim sum, fresh noodles, Malaysian, Taiwanese, and Thai cuisine. There\u2019s something for every palate, promising a delightful culinary journey to the Orient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some restaurant recommendations: <\/p>\n\n\n\n