Poplar's community newspaper

Poplar LDN is a news and culture magazine for the Poplar, East London. Discover the best-kept secrets about your neighbourhood including what’s on, places to visit, new shops, best restaurants, bars and coffee places, and the top attractions in Poplar, Limehouse and surrounding areas. Poplar's Chrisp Street Market operates Monday to Saturday until 5 pm.

Local democracy

Kate Smith-Coules smiles at the camera in front of a canal, wearing her Team GB kit and holding a dragon boating paddle.
EnvironmentLocalNews

Bromley-by-Bow grandmother and breast cancer survivor heading to World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Team GB

Sophie Howarth

Fifty-eight-year-old grandmother and breast cancer survivor from Bromley-by-Bow, Kate Smith-Coules, is paddling for gold with Team GB at the World

The teviot estate in Poplar.
LocalLocal democracyNews

Plans to demolish Teviot Estate approved by Tower Hamlets Council

Nick Clark, BBC Local Democracy Report
View of residential towers on the east side of the Isle of Dogs from Mudchute DLR station.
LocalNewsSocial care

A boom in data centres on the Isle of Dogs might stall social housing for a decade

Agatha Scaggiante
Anna Fiorentini on stage with her students.
LocalNewsSocial care

East End drama school founder Anna Fiorentini wins British Empire Medal for empowering young people

Agatha Scaggiante
An image of the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability building from its entrance. The building is black, and above the doors it has a black sign with a white gear, and writing that says 'Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability'.
EnvironmentLocalNews

Big investment, early days: A year on, Royal Docks Sustainability Centre is still finding its feet

Sophie Howarth
A boat sails along the Thames past the City of London. It has the words 'Uber Boat' on the side.
EnvironmentLocalNews

Uber Boats by Thames Clippers receives £59m for further expansion

Sophie Howarth

Local culture

Sangeeta Pillai smiles at the camera while holding fabrics at Chrisp Street Market while surrounded by clothes racks.
CultureLife & livingLocal

From Mumbai slum to podcast star: Sangeeta Pillai’s story of resistance and persistence

Valerio Esposito

Poplar activist Sangeeta Pillai is on a mission to break taboos for South Asian women using a microphone as her

Documentary filmmaker Muhsin Mahmud out and about in Limehouse, with a red brick background.
CultureLife & livingLocal

From Limehouse to Los Angeles: Muhsin Mahmud just walked the Emmy red carpet at the 44th College Television Academy Awards

Eleanor Thomson
Members of ReGen Sound on stage during a performance. They're all holding musical instruments, and the words 'Poplar Union' are behind them on the wall.
Arts & artistsCultureLocal

A symphony without borders: ReGen Sound carries on Grand Union’s musical mosaic

Sophie Howarth
South entrance to Blackwall Tunnel, with tram and horse and carage shown at the entrance. There is the trees lining the pavement.
CultureHistory & nostalgiaLocal

The Blackwall Tunnel’s Royal Opening in 1897 had a few cracks in the tiles to start

Eleanor Thomson
Financial advisor Emmanuel Asuquo sitting in a kitchen.
CultureLife & livingLocal

The Eman Effect: How Limehouse’s Emmanuel Asuquo became the people’s financial advisor

Agatha Scaggiante
An illlustration of the front sign of the fish market with canary wharf in the background
CultureLife & livingLocal

From scallops to skyscrapers: what does the closure of Billingsgate Fish Market mean for Tower Hamlets?

Lily Wakeley

Out & About

Entrance to a Chinese Gourmet restaurant with a yellow and brown sign above a wooden door, next to brick buildings with red window frames.
Eating & drinkingLocalOut & About

A hidden gem for Xi’an noodles: Chinese Gourmet serves big flavours at small prices

Eleanor Thomson

Tucked away behind South Quay is Chinese Gourmet, a no-frills local spot with bold flavour and fresh hand-pulled noodles at

Royal China restaurant Canary Wharf
Eating & drinkingLocalOut & About

The best Chinese restaurants around Poplar

Ray Bonsall
People stand outside Sustainable Makers
LocalOut & AboutPlaces to visit

Sustainable Makers Studio: From salad farming to east London’s clay revolution 

Evie Breese
Singer Greentea Peng singing into a micrphone.
LocalOut & AboutPlaces to visit

Neo-soul sensation Greentea Peng curates this year’s Black Legacy Xchange Bazaar at Poplar Union 

Agatha Scaggiante
Padium padel court behind glass walls in Canary Wharf, East London.
Out & AboutSports & Activities

Inside Padel, the game rising to the top of Poplar’s sports scene

Holly Munks
Patch of grass with flowers in Poplar Recreation Ground in East London.
LocalOut & AboutPlaces to visit

Urban oasis: let Poplar surprise you with its best green spaces

Holly Munks