Bells ring for East London festival

The East London festival kicked off last night with a peeling of bells across 24 historic churches. This six-day festival will celebrate the vibrancy, diversity and unique spirit of east London.

From St Paul's cathedral to Bow the bells rang out in some of east London's oldest buildings.

East London was described as the city's most exciting and creative district by the latest Lonely Planet guide to the UK capital.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has backed the festival and commented on the launch: "East London, with its rich past and present, has long been a real creative hotbed in London.

"East demonstrates the current vitality and creativity of an area that is transforming itself with the advent of the 2012 games."

This multi-cultural urban celebration will feature performance, art, history, film, food, fashion and shopping.

There will be music to suit all tastes at venues that range from the Barbican Hall to Stratford's Urban Development music centre and the vortex on Gillett Street.

The regular Sunday gig at 93 Feet East on Brick Lane will be a special all-day party, with live guests and DJs, games and a barbecue in the courtyard.

Famous reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson will host a night of music and words at the Barbican Hall on March 9th.

East London is a hotbed of artistic creativity and there will be special exhibitions at the Barbican Centre, around Canary Wharf and at the Hoxton Square and Whitechapel art galleries.

The Museum of London is a major collaborator in the festival and over the weekend will be running a special exhibition on past Eastenders, from the Romans to the Pearly King and Queen.

On Sunday March 9th at 14:00 GMT there will be a free guided walk, discovering some of the east end's colourful characters.

Other museums holding special events examining the history of the city and its people include the Geffrye Museum and the Museum in Docklands.

For some the most exciting experience in east London is gastronomical, with a wealth of ethnic delicacies in the hundreds of cafes and restaurants.

A two-day Taste East food festival will be held on March 7th and 8th in Spitalfields, with over 40 food stalls offering produce, as well as from Wildbeef, delicious cakes from Nutmeg Frog and organic baking from Flour Power City.

East runs from March 6th to 11th 2008. For more information see www.findeast.co.uk.