Historical version 5 of Locale East End (view current version)
The East End is a region of inner East London, bounded by the City at the west, the River Thames at the south, the River Lea at the east and Grand Union Canal (the Hertford Union Canal and Regent's Canal stretches) at the north. It thus comprises Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, [Stepney]?, Mile End, Wapping, Shadwell, Limehouse, the Isle of Dogs, Poplar and Bow; it includes the Docklands geographically, if not spiritually. It does not include Hackney.
The East End is famed for its markets, which arose here due to its proximity to the Thames and the City. Indeed, one could argue that the City is really spiritually part of the East End - the City's traders may deal in part-ownership of companies, imaginary piles of zinc, and incomprehensible derivatives instead of meat and vegetables, but they're still a bunch of chancers.
The East End is the natural home of the Cockney.