It's grown incredibly in popularity over the years, but why? We speak to our Hackney Sales Manager, Edward Taylor, to get the lowdown on why Hackney is such a good place to call home.
What's Hackney all about?
Edward: Hackney includes numerous diverse neighbourhoods across the area, making it a unique and exciting borough with something for everyone. Presenting a good balance between the buzz of the capital and the peace of a suburb, it’s an area that is getting more and more recognised as a desirable place to live in.
Who’s buying in Hackney?
Edward: There has been an increase in families buying in the area due to the improved selection of schools. These include Mossbourne Community Academy that opened a few years ago in Hackney Downs and was rated Outstanding by Ofsted, quickly followed by a second Mossbourne Academy in Victoria Park.
Both Victoria Park and London Fields are fantastic areas for those with children, with London Fields containing its popular open-air swimming pool, which the locals successfully campaigned to reopen after it closed in 1988.
Young professionals are also moving to Hackney, with Dalston in particular growing in popularity. It is often referred to as ‘the new Shoreditch’ with an eclectic mix of independent shops, cheap tasty eats and quirky bars.
Fantastic transport links enable residents to easily travel further into the capital for work, with the Overground running from both Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations, and a walkway connecting the two. Hackney Downs is only 12 minutes from Liverpool Street Station!
Where are the best places to go in Hackney?
Edward: Broadway Market is a great place to visit, with a whole host of independent boutiques, restaurants and cafes, as well as a thriving farmers market every Saturday. It’s based right on the canal, making it the perfect place to pause for lunch.
The Dove Pub is one of my favourite venues, with wooden decorations throughout and tables out front on Broadway Market itself, as well as fantastic veggie options. Alternatively, Victoria Park Village is also a great place to grab a bite to eat, set right by Victoria Park itself. The Empress serves up a tasty brunch and uses seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
Hackney is also quite famous for its range of breweries and microbreweries, most of which offer tours. The Five Points Brewing co is well worth checking out, with tours running on the second Saturday of each month.
What properties are available and what are the prices like?
Edward: The property portfolio in Hackney is diverse, with period conversions, ex-local authority apartment blocks and new builds. There are quite a few Victorian terraced houses that attract interest from families, while converted warehouses and schools are popular with professional buyers as they often come with striking design features.
More aimed towards young professionals and first time buyers, there are quite a few new developments in the area, with Dalston Square, developed by Barratt Homes, alone coming with over 500 flats.
Hackney offers comparative affordability to surrounding areas such as Shoreditch and Islington, while still being located in relative proximity to the centre of London. One bedroom flats sell for £450,000 on average, while two bedroom flats go for closer to £600,000 and family houses average £1.2 million.
How is Hackney changing?
Edward: Hackney has changed significantly in the perception people have of it. The London Olympics in 2012 led to a greater focus on the East of London, with the Olympic Stadium having been built in nearby Stratford which also made buyers look further out towards Hackney.
There has been ongoing regeneration in the area, including the Fashion Hub development on Morning Lane, Hackney Walk, that is currently well underway, with shops already open under the now famous railway arches. The project aims to make the area the new fashion outlet district for London, combining fashion retail, commercial office and studio space for global and UK fashion brands. It also aims to provide jobs and fashion training alongside making the area more appealing to shoppers.
If you’d like to find out more about Hackney, then check out the properties we have for sale or to let, the market trends in the area and the best surrounding amenities as suggested by people who live there!
