Are Bethnal Green, Mile End and Hackney good areas for a first move?

[MyFluentCat]

Hello all!

My DD (23) will be moving away from home (Belfast) for the first time in June to start her first job in London. She's looked around and thinks that East London offers the best balance of commuting time to cost of living for her situation. She has mentioned Bethnal Green, Mile End, and Hackney. Apparently others from the office are living near those areas.

From a cursory look on street view, they don't look awfully inspiring. I know that side of the city was damaged in the war, so I wasn't expecting the architecture would be as nice as other parts, but they just seem a little run down. We live in a fairly mixed area of Belfast, and she's very streetwise, but she will be an ocean away.

She has asked around on some groups for young women that rent in London on Facebook, and has got very differing opinions. Some saying they've lived there for years and that those areas are perfect for her needs (good running trails/green space, hippy brunch restaurants, etc), and others saying they would run a mile from any of those parts of the city.

I was just wondering if anyone had experience one way or the other!

It’s fine. I imagine very student-y due to the proximity to the university.

Depends where she’s working in east London but the overground goes direct from Clapham junction out east - Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Dalston etc.

Of the three, Mile End had the best transport links (3 lines).

Would she consider Stratford? The area around the shopping centre has loads of modern apartments although wouldn’t have the edgy vibe she’s seeking.

Where is her job? This could help narrow areas to ensure a quick commute. Hackey has an overground, but no tube, so depending where she is going, it could add alot of time to her commute- even if as the crow flies it looks close. Also if she'd need to walk/get a bus to get to an actual overground or tube.

20yrs ago, then entire area was considered dodgy/edgy. A lot has changed and many areas are now trendy/hipster and whatever the new work for 'cool' is.

I’m from Hackney which (as I’m sure you know) is a Borough whereas Bethnal Green and Mile End are areas of Tower Hamlets so worth looking at specific parts of Hackney as the areas all have different characteristics. There are nice bits and some parts that are less so. It’s a real mix: multi-million pound houses that are adjacent to social housing (which I think is one of the area’s great strengths) Crime is an issue but that’s true for all of London. Some of the popular areas in Hackney that have good overground transport links have already been mentioned: Hackney Wick, Shoreditch/Hoxton, Dalston. Clapton is a good shout if budget conscious as it’s a little bit cheaper than the other areas. I have to say I find Hackney Wick a bit isolated but that’s because I remember when it really was a desolate place in the middle of nowhere and I know it’s changed enormously now with lots of bars, cool venues etc. Stoke Newington has a nice family friendly vibe but again really expensive.

Bethnal Green is fab but very expensive. Mile End is fine although maybe less of a buzz. Both on the Central Line so very easy to get around.

Tbh I think she’ll have a fantastic time wherever she lands. East London is a fabulous place for a young person. I’ve moved out as I’m too old and have kids so we needed to move somewhere cheaper!

Hackney is wonderful. The days of it being considered edgy are long gone . You are more likely to pay 10 quid for a coffee and be surrounded by finance bros. Lots of young people in Hackney Wick, bars, pop up stuff, general revelry. Proximity to Stratford which has everything including a station which will take you everywhere. Except Europe. The Stratford International station is, sadly, un-international.

We were round the corner from Tredegar Square, and I have a friend who still lives just off Coborn Road. It’s very family friendly, with some cracking pubs as well.

I think a big thing to remember about East (and to an extent anywhere in London) is to be able to afford a decent place, you might have a 10-15 minute walk to the station. It’s normal. Bus routes in East are also plentiful and regular, as are Ubers (if budget allows ofc)

I think those are great areas to live in. Especially for a young person. I know Mile End less but Bethnal Green is great. Hackney is a big borough and very varied but loads of lovely areas. Really desirable.

Her job is in Stratford! The newer apartments seem very expensive, but the gyms etc in the buildings seem to be worth it. She isn't the edgiest of people and not very arty etc, but she doesn't want to be too far from work...

Bethnal Green is fabulous. Vibrant comedy scene, lots of artisan and cool spots,
art galleries, Buddhist centre but not nearly as crazy expensive as West London. The edge it has over Hackney (having lived in Dalston too) is the tube - Bethnal Green is so well positioned for the Central Line and walkable to Liverpool Street. You can be back home from the theatre in 20 minutes.

Would recommend looking a step or two away from the high street - towards Globe Town is ideal, especially the North side of Roman Road (towards the park).

She will be based in Stratford, but has some days where she needs to be in central London (Holborn area). Hackney seems fine for Stratford but just that bit further for central London.

That is very good to know! My understanding of the area is definitely just the Kray twins, so I've held back on commenting on her choices until I have more information.

That makes total sense. She was mainly showing me places closer to the station in Hackney Central (or Homerton). I will tell her to have a look at Hackney Wick. She will be working long hours and isn't very interested in a longer commute on top of that.

Love the idea of a mixed area, we live in the same sort of area in Belfast and I couldn't be without it. So important to be mixing with all types of people!

The buzz isn't the main attraction, it's more the commute time. Work is in Stratford so easy enough to get to, even on the overground.

Brilliant! She is a really foodie and coffee lover and there seems to be plenty of both around there.

Is the area nearer the station ok? Roman road seems great but neither of us are big fans of needing to walk awfully far to the tube, both for getting home after nights out and because her work will be fairly long hours.

My first flat was in Tredegar Road, 10 mins walk from the tube. Loved being in Mile End for it's transport links, just so easy to get home at night and I was happy walking home at all hours by myself.

We then moved to near Victoria Park, fab place but no tubes only buses. It meant getting home was trickier and friends less familiar with the buses were less likely to visit. Mile End felt safer than Victoria Park to me.

Very good to know. Victoria park looks gorgeous but she can always head over on the weekends. My niece said DD should target her search around anywhere with a Gail's, but transport links to Victoria Park village definitely didn't seem great.

If she’s also working in Holborn then it would make sense to aim for somewhere on the Central line, so Stratford, Mile End or Bethnal Green.

Another thing that’s just occurred to me is whether she’d be interested in a “co-living” space rather than a traditional houseshare. This might be a good transition point.

My DS lives two roads away from the Bethnal Green tube station, that area is lovely.

he’s taken me to his favourite coffee place which does coffee from specific plantations and has three different ways of making it. Apparently it makes a difference.
(shrug).

the little park on the junction is nice to sit in and lots of people have coffee/picnics there.

the Buddhist centre on Roman Road have a vegan cafe/bar which does great food - one of my son’s friends manages it. They also do t’ai chi classes and regular meditation sessions.

he’s Also in a running group that runs in Victoria Park and they’re going to do a picnic underneath the cherry blossom this weekend.

Roman Road has some really good restaurants as well, and a late night dessert place.

Gail’s is too corporate for the east London vibe.

they’re more about hipster independent coffee joints that source their coffee from one specific plantation at the back of beyond and turn it is transported out by yak before being hand processed by indigenous people in a co-operative.

oh, and they charge a LOT more than a Gail’s

OP, I know the areas surrounding Stratford very well, and eg I know Roman Road and surrounding very very well. If your daughter sets her heart on a flat in one of these areas feel free to DM me with questions.

One area I forgot to mention is London Fields which is not too far from Hackney Central. It is a bit crowded on the weekends, especially when the weather’s nice, as there is a big park and very popular Saturday market (Broadway Market) but a really nice corner of Hackney.

I’d actually love to visit Belfast and hoping to take DC there later this year!

Yes - near the tube is fine. Roman Road is miles long (goes well into Bow) so would recommend the end nearer the tube. Brierly Gardens / Digby Road / Sugarloaf Walk / Bonner Street/ Cypress Street (variety of budgets there) are all perfect.

Tredegar square is lovely ! I think close to the tube stations is sensible. There's always a member of staff around to speak to and generally there's people going in and out so it feels all a lot safer when there's other folks around.

yep, perfectly normal areas for a young professional to live

Its a safe area, but has its pockets of not really nice parts - like everywhere in London - which should be avoided at night, mainly near large estates.

Its much better part of London that West, better mix of people (mainly creative types from everywhere plus ordinary Londoners and people from immigrant communities) and more people in general. Great mix of cultures, huge amount of cool shops, food, art, social, sports. Lovely parks.

Mile End is not the nicest bit. Around Bethnal Green - also sort of OK but I would say look for something around London Fields and Victoria park, or near Broadway Market. Hackney Wick has lovely places to live and go out and is generally nice. Best thing to do would be to go to the area at weekend and have a walk round.

Broadway market (London Fields, Haggerston) would be amazing as a London base for a young person. But it's expensive.

If these areas don't work out, OP, she could consider Walthamstow? It looks further out on the map, but the Victoria line gets you into town quickly (it's the fastest one). And the cycle ride to Stratford would be a doddle.