What's it like to live in Tower Hamlets?

25 May 2017
Published in London
Views 14436

Fancy a move to London but not sure where to live? Read our handy guides for everything you need to know.

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets is one of the 33 boroughs that make up London, one of the biggest and thriving cities in the world. It is an inner city borough located in the heart of east London just north of the river Thames. It is a small borough but has a population of 270,000 and includes the iconic areas of Brick Lane, Canary Wharf, Spitalfields and West India Docks. Although it is one of London's most deprived boroughs it is undergoing a regeneration project. It also has a very young population of which a third is aged between 20-34.

The different districts of Tower Hamlets are:

  • Bethnal Green - Due to its transport links this is quickly becoming a really desirable and trendy place to live. It is mostly a residential area though nightlife life in the form of bars and restaurants are quickly pooping up.
  • Blackwall - Situated near Blackwall tunnel is mostly a residential area with good transport links. Not the most exciting place to live but does have good schools and transport.
  • Bow - Is quickly becoming a great place for young people to live with its good offering of local restaurants and bars. It is also in close proximity to the City and has great transport links.
  • Bow Common - Is quickly becoming a great place for young people to live with its good offering of local restaurants and bars. It is also in close proximity to the City and has great transport links.
  • Bromley-by-Bow- A very affordable area in the heart of the East End, it is mainly a residential area with a few pubs and shops.
  • Canary Wharf - This is one of London's most important commercial centres. There are some residential properties in Canary Wharf but these are mostly luxury accommodation.
  • Coldharbour - Situated in close proximity to Canary Wharf by the river Thames on the Isle of Dogs,this is a very affluent area with a rich history. It was once biggest shipping port in the world dating back to the 1600's.
  • Cubitt Town -  Located close to Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs it is largely a residential area which is a mix of private and social housing. It is mostly comprised of flats rather than homes and is largely populated by young single people.
  • Docklands - Just like Cubitt Town, Docklands is on the Isle of Dogs it is largely a residential area which is a mix of private and social housing. It is mostly comprised of flats rather than homes and is largely populated by young single people.
  • East Smithfield - An area made infamous due to the discovery of a large plague pit from 1665 it is mostly a commercial area.
  • Fish Island- Hailed as the new Shoreditch, it is a tiny area of just 50 acres of land comprising of industrial buildings and trendy housing surrounded by canals. Once a haven for artists it is now quickly becoming a very affluent and sought after neighbourhood.
  • Globe Town- Situated near Mile End and Stepney it is home to Victoria Park. It has good transport links and is considered an up and coming area.
  • Hackney Wick- Located next to Hackney Marsh it is in close proximity to the River Lea giving it a beautiful riverfront feel. Also nearby is Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Westfield shopping centre. It is an area that is quickly garnering a trendy vibe and is a haven for artists. Popping up are some really cool riverside cafe and bars so watch this space.
  • Isle of Dogs - An area made famous for being home to Canary Wharf, the financial powerhouse of London. The Isle of Dogs, as the name suggests is located along the River Thames and boasts of many cafes and restaurants. It is home to Mudchute Farm, one of Europe's largest inner city farms. But be warned this is a very affluent area many properties found in this area are described as luxury.
  • Leamouth - This area comprises of two peninsulas of land located by the mouth of the River Lea. Once considered a deprived area in the earlier part of the 20th century it is an area currently undergoing huge redevelopment. Currently underway is the London City Island project a residential scheme that began in 2014. The area also boasts the Bow Creek ecology park. Currently more residential properties schemes are coming to the area and is considering a rapidly up and coming area.
  • Limehouse - Named after some local lime kilms the area was once a major port in medieval times and once home to many infamous opium dens. It boasts some very upmarket pubs and restaurants. Most of the residential property in the area are considered luxury riverside apartments.
  • Mile End - Not considered to be an affluent area it is still a popular area with students from Queen Mary University and young professional people looking to get on the property ladder. Due to its popularity with young people there's a good selection of nightlife and restaurants and it is has good transport links into Central London.
  • Millwall - Located in the south west area of the Isle of Dogs Millwall was once considered a predominantly working class area however the area has been going under huge development of converting any unused land into highly sought after upmarket apartments.
  • Old Ford - Located along the River Lea in north Bow this in an area still mostly comprised of council housing, however this may be an area that is set to become big like it's neighbours if the area is to undergo radical development like a lot of other East End areas nearby.
  • Poplar - An area once dominated with council housing it's an area that is slowly improving and still very much affordable. Located near Canary Wharf is has good transport links into central London
  • Ratcliff - Located near Limehouse and Shadwell, Ratcliff sits alongside the River Thames. Once is was It is now mostly an industrial area with a few residential properties
  • St George in the East - This area is now more commonly known as North Wapping and is famous for its church- St George in the East. It is mostly a residential area dominated by high rise flats.
  • Shadwell -  Once a former slum this are has been gentrified into a rather trendy and affluent neighbourhood
  • Spitalfields - This is a really lively and popular area of Tower Hamlets. Home to the amazing Brick Lane which is one of the curry capitals of the world. There's some great markets, shops and restaurants. Once considered one of London's worst slums it is now a very upmarket area.
  • Stepney - Located next to Whitechapel and Limehouse this area has great transport links and is in close proximity to central London. It has long been seen as a typical working class neighbourhood, maybe a little rough around the edges but it is increasingly popular with young professionals due to its affordability.
  • Wapping - Once an Anglo-Saxon settlement Wapping is located alongside the River Thames. It was once an area notorious for pirate executions and has a long maritime history. These days Wapping is an upmarket residential area. 
  • Whitechapel - An area made infamous by Jack the Ripper. Once a poverty stricken area it is now an up and coming area which is close to central London and has great transport links.

Quirky Facts about Tower Hamlets

  • Tower Hamlets was once home to London's worst slums
  • Tower Hamlets takes its name from The Tower of London which is nearby
  • Was once a Roman settlement
  • Ian McKellan lives there!

Transport in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets has great transport links and is serviced by not one, not two, but three underground lines - District and Hammersmith, Central Line and Jubilee line

Railway Stations in Tower Hamlets

  • Aldgate East
  • All Saints DLR station
  • Bethnal Green railway station
  • Blackwall DLR Station
  • Bow Church Station
  • Bow Road Station
  • Bromley-by-Bow Station
  • Canary Wharf railway station
  • Crossharbour DLR
  • Devon's Road DLR
  • East India DLR
  • Heron Quays DLR
  • Island Gardens DLR
  • Langdon Park
  • Limehouse Station
  • Mile End
  • Mudchute DLR
  • Poplar DLR
  • Shadwell 
  • Shoreditch High Street
  • South Quay DLR
  • Stepney Green
  • Tower Hill
  • Wapping
  • West India Quay DLR
  • Westferry DLR
  • Whitechapel

Here's the statistical bit

The good news is that property prices are much lower than the London average but it's still pricey. A detached house can cost as much  as £880k which although a lot of money is considerably lowers than the average price of a London detached home at £1.1m. A semi detached property can go for £816k, £861k for a terraced property and a flat can go for as much as £460k.

 

Properties for rent in Tower Hamlets

If you would like to search for properties to rent in Tower Hamlets you can use our free and easy to use search engine, simply enter a postcode or type in an area. If you're still not sure of where to live you can fill out our free questionnaire which will do the searching for you.

Properties for sale in Tower Hamlets

 

If you would like to search for properties for sale in Tower Hamlets you can use our free and easy to use search engine, simply enter a postcode or type in an area. If you're still not sure of where to live you can fill out our free questionnaire which will do the searching for you.

 

 

 

 

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