There are several potential explanations for the decline of Limehouse Chinatown from the 1930s. With the decline in shipping overseas there was not as much seafaring work available, and as a result of this, the 'Chinatown' that had come to provide ancillary services for these passing sailors began to suffer.



In addition to this, slum clearance schemes in the local area, impacted the settlement of the Anglo-Chinese community. The Second War War and the Blitz exacerbated this, and led to the movement of the community into other parts of London, moat notably into West London.