Living in Bethnal Green

Area Guides Jan 13, 2020

Just east of Shoreditch High Street, in the borough of Tower Hamlets, Bethnal Green is a lively residential area of east London. With its multiple cafes, pubs and galleries, it's more than a match for its neighbour Shoreditch, but with the added benefit of far less crowding and tourists. Heavily bombed in the Second World War, the area has seen a lot of redevelopment, however, there remains a few sites of architectural importance making it a visually diverse neighbourhood.

Once home to notorious east London gangsters, the Kray twins, Bethnal Green now mainly attracts professionals, especially those working in the nearby tech and financial hubs around Liverpool street and Shoreditch. There are two main train stations – one underground on the central line and one Overground – which provide the area with excellent access to central and east London.

Transport

Tube

Bethnal Green to Liverpool Street: 5 minutes, Central line.

Bethnal Green to Kings Cross: 17 minutes, Central and Circle, Hammersmith and City, or Metropolitan lines

Bethnal Green to Victoria: 19 minutes, Central and Victoria lines.

Bethnal Green to Westminster: 20 minutes, Central and Circle or District lines.

Bethnal Green to Cannon Street: 10 minutes, Central line.

Bus

Bethnal Green to Shoreditch: 12 minutes, route 8

Bethnal Green to Dalston: 25 minutes, route 236

Train

Bethnal Green station offers Overground services into the city to Liverpool Street, and north to Cheshunt via Seven Sisters.

Schools:

There are a number of options for state funded primary and secondary schools in the area, including Swanlea School, a secondary school with an ‘Outstanding’ in its most recent Ofsted report. Mowlen Primary school is the top choice for primary education, with an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted report and excellent SEND provisions. An option for private primary education in Bethnal Green is Gatehouse School, which has excellent sports facilities as well as a focus on performing arts.

Average Rental Price:

One bed: £1,968 pcm

Two bed: £2,476 pcm

Three bed: £3,247 pcm

Four bed: £3,012 pcm

Home.co.uk as of 21/11/2019

Council Tax:

To be paid to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets County Council, for more information see here.

Life in Bethnal Green

The multitude of trees and green spaces make the area an attractive place to live, and locals aren’t stuck for choice regarding leisure activities. With York hall leisure centre and Victoria park nearby, fun and fitness are both accessible and convenient. There is a great selection of bars in the area that do not attract too many large crowds of partiers.

Culture and Leisure

Victoria Park

The oldest public park in London and one of the best. In the colder seasons Victoria Park is a pretty place for a stroll or quiet coffee in one of its many cafes to choose from. In the summer months the park is used for a variety of music festivals showcasing world famous acts, and is usually packed with locals drinking up the good weather. Facilities also include a lake with rentable row boats, sports pitches, and play areas.

Victoria Park panoramic

Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood

This is the biggest museum dedicated to childhood in the world. The collection within tells the story of children from the 17th century through to the present day, via its vast collection of some 26,000 objects. The collection is made up of extraordinary and everyday artefacts, unique to their place in time. This includes toys, clothing, games, and nursery equipment. It’s a hugely important archive for the UK, and indeed the world, and it's worth multiple trips whether you live there, or are just visiting.

York Hall Leisure Centre

Run by Better, this affordable leisure centre is a huge asset for the community. Facilities include a gym, pool, and spa fit with aroma steam rooms, Turkish Baths, and a sauna. There are also multiple classes held there, and it’s housed within an iconic former boxing gym from the 1920s.

Food and Drink

The Camel

This classic pub serves locally famous pies at affordable prices. The atmosphere is always great, helped along by the love and attention that the owners give to the place and its customers. Serving a selection of beers, including guest ales, and a menu of British pub classics, it ticks off all the ‘must haves’ for pub lovers, no wonder it has such a loyal customer base.

The Common

Originally an architectural studio, it has since opened its doors to the public as a café/creative workspace. Well equipped with plugs, desks, and great coffee, it has everything you need to reach that deadline, in a modern, ‘industrial chic’ environment. The menu includes city café classics such as avocado on sourdough toast, as well as all day breakfast items.

Arepa and Co

A bit of Venezuela in Bethnal Green, Arepa and Co is a lively, social eating experience offering small plates ideal for sharing. Great for outdoor eating in the summer sun, and for eating in with its classy, metropolitan décor of exposed brick and subway tiles. A must visit, whether it’s for a quick bite at brunch, or a celebration with loved ones.

Arepas

Is Bethnal Green for you?

Bethnal Green has a lot going for it, especially for social types, with social spots really coming alive in the summer. The area has gained a lot of popularity with young professionals in recent years, owing in part to the popularity of Shoreditch just down the road, but Bethnal Green offers a lifestyle much more suited to living than its neighbour.

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