What is living in Clapton / Stoke Newington really like?

[BeSnappyBear]

I'm interested in hearing about people's experiences of living in Clapton, especially lower Clapton, and also, more towards the Stoke Newington area? Have been renting in De Beauvoir and really love the villagey vibe and the leafy streets, nice cafés and walkability. We are looking to buy our first property (ideally 2/3 bed) and Clapton seems more affordable. We like the creative vibe of East London but have heard mixed things about parts of Hackney Downs more generally. As someone pretty sensitive to their environment, we're ideally looking for somewhere quiet and calm to settle down. While Dalston and other parts of Hackney are fun for going out, not sure what some of these areas might be like with young kids? Better access to green spaces is v. important too. We have been spending time in these areas on weekends to try and get a sense of it, but aware you can have a nice road next to a much noisier/sketchier road too (something you'd only know from living there). Any insider tips/knowledge would be much appreciated!

Two wildly different areas. Stoke Newington is lovely, but very family orientated. Clapton is that off London mix of deprivation and a lot of crime, and hipster youngsters. There’s a reason it’s known as murder mile!

I would pick Hackney Downs over Clapton any day but in neither would I walk home late alone if not main roads/far from station.

What’s your budget? The area between stokey and Dalston is more affordable - rectory road way. Or north of stokey towards Stamford Hill. I lived by stokey station for 10years until recently and loved it!

I have never lived there, but I did work at BSix many years ago and loved it there. I enjoyed visiting the park near BSix after work. I used to feel very comfortable in Hackney and Clapton, but I grew up in Wandsworth and Lambeth and the area felt very similar to what I’m used to.

The truth is that all of Hackney is pretty much the same at this point. Clapton used to be worse than the other areas, but since the Olympics, it's picked up and is about the same as the rest.

Stoke Newington has just been a bit of a "naicer" area for a longer time but it has just as much issues with gangs and organised crime as the rest of Hackney. In fact, probably the most organised international crime occurs in that area of Hackney but you get fabulous restaurants out of it so...

In terms of low gang crime issues, you are probably best off exactly where you are in De Beauvoir. That way you're between the more "gangish" areas of Holly Street and Hoxton but not in a place with much of an active local group as such. But I wouldn't see any point in moving because you think it will be better in this respect and the amenities are about the same.

Thanks for this, I grew up in a very quiet part of the countryside and have lived in London on an off for 7 years in many different areas (Brixton/Stockwell, Kentish Town) and am a bit tired of feeling constantly on edge in the hipster areas - hence living in DB. Would you say the Clissold park side of Stoke Newington (as opposed to the Clapton Road side of Hackney Downs) is a bit more family friendly?

Yes definitely, but harder for transport. I wouldn’t say any of SN is hipster as its families on the whole.

Stoke Newington Church Street is the place to go - very expensive though. Full of young people and families

Lots of independent shops, it's mainly closed to traffic apart from residents and buses. Clissold Park is lovely and Woodberry Wetlands

Woodberry Wetlands | London Wildlife Trust

It's pretty much the same. Both areas are a lot nicer than Brixton.

What you might want to think about are schools.