Accommodation in East London

[Aug1]

We're trying to find cheap (ha!) and central accommodation in London for a few nights. We're visiting from Australia and are showing our two girls (9 and 11) the sights. We've found a flat on airbnb in Bethnal Green. What do people think about the safety around there? We live in the inner city in Melbourne so we're used to things being a little rough around the edges but I always feel pretty safe. Thanks in advance for your input.

Bethnal Green is not particularly the most desirable location. It's a very deprived area though close to more hipster areas like Shoreditch. I wouldn't want to stay there and I was born in Whitechapel so am quite used to that part of London.

I suppose it really depends on where the accommodation is. It would be quite safe during the day but I would be wary walking around at night tbh if you don't know the area.

I would probably look at Stratford if you’re wanting cheap and East London. We stayed at Moxy Stratford last year, think it was about £80/night and right by the tube.

I think bethnal Green is fine, but could be little scary depending on what you're used to. There are some big blocks of flats, with stairs that smell of wee. I'd never feel unsafe but it's not the lap of luxury and cohosh feel daunting if you're not used to a very multicultural, slightly poor area.

It’s mostly fine but the situation re housing is very different in the UK. They have mixed social housing even in really expensive areas with a particular concentration in Bethnal Green so you get the kind of thing here all over the place that you normally only see in outer suburbs in Australian cities. It’s not necessarily unsafe but more deprived. I would strongly recommend getting an Airbnb on brick lane. It’s still very cheap but a bit more socially cleansed and had better options for going out and transport than Bethnal Green.

There are areas a bit further out on the central line eg. Leytonstone, Wanstead. Woodford which are nice and a quickish commute in.