Living in Hackney

Would you let your daughter/girl-friend/sister live in Hackney ?? Which would be the best areas in the Borough ? any special pros and cons ?

Thanks !

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Hi,

I don't know a great deal about Hackney but I think a few people who've posted on this forum live in the east end, hopefully they can offer some help.

Some other sites you might want to have a look at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Hackney


http://www.hackney.gov.uk/


Cheers,
Mogwai

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Thanks Mogwai !!

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I've been living in London for six years, the last four in Hackney and I think it's a great place to live. It's (relatively) cheap, has a good location (especially if you work in the City - less than 10 mins to Liverpool Street from Hackney Downs or London Fields), is well connected despite not being on the Tube and contrary to the oft quoted stereotypes is perfectly safe. Of course that might depend on exactly where you are as, like most of London, some parts are worse than others. Things have definitely improved since I've been here though and are continuing to do so - they'll get even better once the tube finally arrives, although that won't be for a few more years.

I'd recommend the areas between Kingsland Road and Mare Street, particularly the areas round London Fields and Broadway Market. There are some good pubs here (Pub in the Park in London Fields, Spurstowe on Wilton Way, Cat and Mutton and The Dove on Broadway Market, Prince George on Parkholme Road), Broadway Market has some good restaurants (Armadillo, Little Georgia, Santa Maria del Buen Ayre) as well as a great farmers' market on Saturday mornings. You're also near Columbia Road flower market for those Sunday morning strolls. There's loads of Turksh restaurants on Kingsland Road north of Dalston and there's a big Vietnamese population with some great cheap restaurants on Mare Street and at the bottom of Kingsland Road near Hoxton. Of course, the clubs and bars of Hoxton and Shoreditch are near here so it's easy to get the night bus home or a taxi isn't too expensive from here.

The area around Dalston itself is pretty lively and a bit crazy but it's always so busy at all times of day and night that it actually feels quite safe, despite the eccentric characters that can be found round here!

It's also quite easy to get to Islington for the shopping and plentiful bars and restaurants. The tube stations at Angel and Highbury and Islington make it easy to get around.

As for letting the ladies in your life live here, I don't think you've got too much cause for concern. We've experienced way less crime and unsavoury incidents then in Camden, where we used to live. My girlfriend has had her bag snatched once but frankly that could happen anywhere and I don't call one incident in four years that bad! The police dealt with it really well too, which was quite reassuring.

The one biggest drawback of living in Hackney is that friends from other areas of London assume two things;
1 - that you are living in danger of your life as your street is populated by gun toting gangs of drug dealers (which is utter rubbsih!)
2 - that it is impossible to get to your house as you are not on the Tube (despite the fact that with the number of buses and trains, you're probably better connected than most people).
Consequently, your mates will never visit you. All this despite that fact that you'll get loads more house/flat for your money in Hackney!

But if you can live with that, Hackney's a great place to be - otherwise, stick to Clapham!

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Hi Dave,
WOW - Fantastic response.
Thanks for all the detail, it's really useful.

Fancy writing our City Guides?!

All the best,

AIL Staff

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Assuming Hro is still listening - I can only agree with Dave (and with AIL staff ).

Leaving aside the matter of how you would "let" your female relation live in Hackney - it's one of the coolest places to live in London.

As such, it carries with it the potential benefits of meeting lots of gifted/creative/dynamic people - movers & shakers - and, so, of interesting social opportunities and future professional connections.

Equally, it's what property writers like to call a "gritty" area. That means it still harbours a realistic sample of London's entire population.

When I first moved to London, I bought a place in Clapham. Back then it was "gritty". I made a mint on the flat, but actually I still prefer gritty! (In spite of the occasional handbag battle.)

If you're thinking of "letting" this female buy a place in Hackney - man, you could hardly do better! The investment is sounder than sterling, and you can barely fail to profit on it.

What Dave said about friends visiting is true, mind (the same thing happened in Clapham's early days). Unlike Clapham, however, Hackney is actually very close to town. So perhaps you could give her a taxi allowance, that she can use to ferry her friends to & from her new, up-and-coming home?

Cheers Cx

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I knew there were some Eastenders lurking around here somewhere

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Apparently Albert Square was based on Fassett Square in Hackney. Although I learnt that from a taxi driver so take it with a pinch of salt!

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Great replies ! Thanks !

( and OK....OK...substitute encourage for let...)

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Seems like the cabbie was right, useful bit of pub quiz trivia there.

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Hi I've lived in Hackney my whole life, and recently moved away, so I judge myself to be an authority on this topic. Hackney is like a tale of two cities (or borough’s if you like), during the day places as mentioned above such as London Fields (where I lived) and Broadway Market are lively places, with interesting people to met and little coffee shops where the attitude is relaxed and comfortable, but by night the area can seem to take on a whole different persona. Lets not beat around the bush, it is a violent place. As a London field is a nice place to visit during the day try walking through the London field’s estate at night, (something tells me that those who have been there will know what I’m talking about).


i will cont my report on hackney soon

stay tuned

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