[1] Turn left out of the Ideas Store to go along the left hand side of Whitechapel Road. Continue straight on at the traffic lights. Bear slightly left to pass the shops, with the green (Mile End Waste), on your right. Pass Trinity Green Almshouses, and at Tower Hamlets Mission turn right and cross to the left hand side of the connecting road and then use the pedestrian crossing on the left to cross Mile End Road. On the far side turn left and then almost immediately turn right under an arch to go past the shops in O’Leary Square.
Mile End Waste was once an extensive open space, frequently used for meetings and political debates. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, preached his first open-air sermon on this spot. There are two statues commemorating him and also a bust of King Edward VII, who became king at the age of 60, reigning for just 11 years (1901 – 1911).
(A) Trinity Almshouses (Grade I-listed) were built in 1695 by the Corporation of Trinity House for 28 mariners and their surviving widows, and were modernised after bombing in 1941.
Tower Hamlets Mission works with people suffering from alcohol and/or drug dependency. It was established in 1870 by Frederick Charrington of the brewery family. Frederick as a young man saw the harsh effects of drunkenness and renounced his brewery inheritance.
[2] At end, turn left into Redman's Road. At roundabout, fork left into Cressy Place and, when convenient, cross to right side. At Stepney Green use zebra crossing to cross road and note no. 37 Stepney Green (photo) straight ahead before turning right into Stepney Green Gardens. Continue for some time, heading through various sections of these linear gardens. When you reach the final section (alongside red-bricked flats and just before clocktower (photo below)) you may wish to use road instead of gardens to avoid 3 steps further ahead.
(B) Stepney Green developed as a street of residential housing in the 15th century, and is now a conservation area. Many of the houses are Grade II listed. No 37 is a Grade II* listed Queen Anne house built in 1692.
[3] At end, continue straight on towards zebra crossing, and shortly where path narrows, turn left into footpath, towards former synagogue (closed in the late 1980s & converted to flats in mid 1990s). Follow path under arch and then fork right across road and turn left into square. At green turn right along path in front of houses. Turn right at end and continue straight on along Rectory Square, past back of former synagogue.
[4] At the T-junction turn left, and continue along White Horse Lane. Turn left into Beaumont Square, and once in the square turn right and cross to the centre to enter this pretty park. Here you may wish to relax, play or amble round park before starting the return journey.
(C) Beaumont Square is named after Barber Beaumont (1774-1841) who founded the Provident Life Friendly Society. He founded the New Philosophical Institute in the square.
[5] Leave park by the opposite entrance and turn right to go straight on past the London Independent Hospital. Follow road out of square and then round to right and left, into Beaumont Grove and shortly come out opposite Stepney Green Underground Station. Use pedestrian lights on right to cross busy Mile End Road, and on far side turn right and almost immediately left into Globe Road. Go past zebra crossing, and at far end of Withy House flats turn left into estate road.
[6] Go straight on along path, to come out in Nicholas Road. Continue straight on at crossroads with Cephas Avenue, and follow Nicholas Road round to right. At T-junction (Cephas Street) turn left and shortly left again, into Coopers Close.
[7] Follow Coopers Close to end and continue along path on right (Bell Place) to emerge at Cleveland Way. Shortly before Mile End Road, turn right into service road, in front of shops. Continue straight on, shortly retracing your outward route. Go past Trinity Gardens and fork slightly left to go straight across lights, pass the Blind Beggar Pub and go along the right side of Whitechapel Road. Shortly you will arrive back at the Ideas Store.