Barely seventeen, the beautiful girl is ripped away from her beloved sister and their rural home in Bangladesh and sent to live with her fat, much older husband in Londons "Brick Lane." Although her new husband Chanu (Satish Kaushik) is not a monster, he lacks any insight into, or interest in, his young wifes feelings.
At the end of Brick Lane, Nazneen makes another turn, ending up in a jungle of skyscrapers and businesspeople rushing to work. She feels invisible among the towering buildings and scowling people, and she likes the feeling. She realizes that the white people in the city can no sooner see her than she can see God.
In Brick Lane, similarly, the “battle of Brick Lane” in 1978 was triggered by the murder of the Bangladeshi textile worker Altab Ali at a time when the National Front regularly targeted the local British-Bangladeshi population.
Brick Lane is in the heart of the East End and is one of London's most iconic streets. Historically it's been home to French Huguenot and Jewish immigrants, and now it's a centre for the Bangladeshi community. Along with its heritage, Brick Lane is known for its food.
Annual total crime rate in your local area is 245 crimes per thousand resident population. This can be rated as 7 out of 10 or high crime level compared to other local areas in England and Wales.
7 REASONS TO LOVE BRICK LANE, LONDON | Markets | Shops | Bars | Restaurants | Cafes | Street Art
Is Brick Lane safe at night for tourists?
Is It Safe? While at one stage it had a reputation for a high amount of crime, this has all been forgotten in more recent years. The people of Brick Lane have turned this area around, making it popular amongst locals and visitors.
The area with the roughest reputation in London is Westminster, recording the highest crime rate of 432 crimes per 1,000 people in the year ending December 2024—though this is likely skewed by massive daytime footfall from tourists, which inflates the crime-per-resident ratio.
As the sun sets over London, Brick Lane transforms completely. During the day, this historic street features renowned curry houses, lively markets, and shops filled with fragrant spices. At night, it bursts into life as a thriving hub of nightlife, culture, and cuisine.
Many Bengali immigrants to Brick Lane were from the north-eastern region of Sylhet, of which became part of Bangladesh. These settlers helped shape Bangladeshi migration to Britain; many families from Beanibazar, Jagannathpur and Bishwanath tend to live in the Brick Lane area though they spread around the London city.
It is famous for its fascinating history, beautiful art and lively markets. As the name suggests, it is known as Brick Lane based on the communities of brick and tile manufacturers who settled there sometime in the 15th century. Today, the place is a celebration of many cultures and art.
For centuries Brick Lane has been an area with an eclectic mix of different immigrant communities; but today Brick Lane is perhaps best known for weaving together some of the most diverse artistic and cultural delights in London, ranging from street art, vintage clothing markets and even some of the best curry houses ...
Brick Lane was in existence by the 1500s as a field path in open countryside outside the City of London, east of the boundary of the medieval Augustinian Priory of St Mary Spital, which gave Spitalfields its name. Originally the street took its name from the brick kilns first brought here by early Flemish settlers.
What was the controversy with the book Brick Lane?
However, the novel provoked controversy within the Bangladeshi community in Britain. Some groups thought Ali had negatively portrayed people from the Sylhet Division, as they constitute the majority of the Bangladeshi immigrants living in the Brick Lane community.
The novel shows Britain's Bangladeshi community through the eyes of 18 year old Nazneen who comes to live in London's East End from Bangladesh, after her marriage to 40 year old Chanu – also a recent immigrant from her country.
What is the main conflict in Monica Ali's Brick Lane?
The theme of desire and independence is central to the novel Brick Lane by Monica Ali, , especially in relation to the main character Nazneen whose internal conflict revolves around passively accepting her fate or going after what she desires.
Crime and Safety in Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlets is among the top 20 safest boroughs in London. The overall crime rate in Tower Hamlets in 2025 was 69 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to London's overall crime rate, coming in 11% lower than the London rate of 78 per 1,000 daytime population.
Nazneen, the heroine of the novel Brick Lane is portrayed as a sensitive girl who was born in a village in Bangladesh. Nazneen is like a mirror, who reflects the society where she was living, for example, when she lived in her native village. She was an obedient girl who followed the words of her mother Rupban.
Since the 20th century, Brick Lane has been a destination for South Asian migration waves. These groups carried with them their culinary secrets, customs, and spices. The street eventually turned into a living repository of Indian and Bengali culture.
The area is famed for its brilliant curry houses and Indian restaurants, such as Aladin Brick Lane, which serves excellent Balti and tandoori dishes. There are also several Jewish bagel shops including the popular Brick Lane Beigel Bake, which is open 24/7.
The best time to visit Brick Lane is definitely on the weekends. That's when the area really comes alive with bustling markets, tasty street food stalls, and often some live music or performances. If you're looking for a more relaxed vibe, weekdays are great too.
Areas in London with higher crime rates typically include parts of Westminster, Camden, Lambeth, and Newham. These boroughs often experience higher levels of reported crime due to their large populations, busy nightlife, and central locations, particularly in tourist-heavy and commercial areas.
The four boroughs with the highest levels of child poverty are all in Inner and East London - Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets and Newham. In these boroughs, more than 40% of children are in poverty.
