Chrisp Street Market facts for kids
The market stalls are located under a canopy
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| Location | Poplar, Tower Hamlets, Greater London |
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| Coordinates | 51°30′45″N 0°00′52″W / 51.5125°N 0.0144°W |
| Address | Chrisp Street |
| Opening date | 1951 (relocated from street) |
| Management | Tower Hamlets London Borough Council |
| Owner | Poplar HARCA |
| Architect | Frederick Gibberd |
| Environment | Covered |
| Goods sold | General goods |
| Days normally open | Monday–Saturday |
| Number of tenants | 80 |
Chrisp Street Market is a busy marketplace in Poplar, part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It was the first shopping area in the United Kingdom built especially for people to walk around. It was created in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain. The market is directly connected to East India Dock Road. It features a famous clock tower, shops, cafes, and about 80 market stalls.
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Discovering Chrisp Street Market's Past
Chrisp Street Market was designed by a famous architect named Frederick Gibberd. It was built in 1951 for the Festival of Britain. This was a big event to celebrate British achievements after World War II. Since 1997, the market area has been a conservation area. This means it is protected because of its special history and design.
In the 1990s, the London Docklands Development Corporation helped improve the market area. They gave £1.3 million for its refurbishment. In the early 2000s, the old Chrisp Street Library closed. It was replaced by a larger 'Idea Store'. This new building was designed by David Adjaye. It offers computers and rooms for community use and lifelong learning.
In 2006, the Tower Hamlets London Borough Council transferred ownership of the market's shopping areas. They were given to Poplar HARCA. This is a local housing association. Poplar HARCA then asked architects to plan for the market's future. As of 2015, a company called Capital Properties (UK) Ltd manages the shops. However, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets still manages the market stalls.
Chrisp Street On Air Project
From November 2013 to April 2014, Chrisp Street Market hosted a special project. It was called 'Chrisp Street On Air'. This project aimed to help make London markets more lively and exciting. The idea came from a design company called The Decorators.
The project started with a radio station set up right inside the market. You could also listen to it online. The radio station invited local people to share stories about the market's history. They also talked about what the market was like and what its future could be. The radio show also led to other events. For example, there was a boxing exhibition with the Lansbury Amateur Boxing Club. The project also added new furniture for eating. There were also special stalls for events. Poplar HARCA used ideas from this project to ask for new funding from the Greater London Authority.
Delicious Food at the Market
Chrisp Street Market offers many tasty food options. You can find traditional East End of London favourites like pie and mash. There are also places to buy Chinese and Indian food. The market also hosts "Bite." This is a monthly street food market. It takes place on the last Friday of every month.
Getting to Chrisp Street Market
It's easy to reach Chrisp Street Market using public transport.
Trains
The market is close to two DLR stations:
Buses
Several London Buses routes serve the market:
- Routes 15, 108, 115, D6, 309, D8
- Night Route N15
