Spotlight on Bow: the untapped potential of East London's rising star

Bow’s cobbled Victorian streets have got a sharp new wardrobe, and this district is looking good. Bow offers a savvy buying and investing opportunities hovering just, just below the radar… but they won’t stay there long.

London’s “gritty East End” is, frankly, a tired trope. In reality, East London is a diverse region brimming with unique destinations. Its best neighbourhoods are powered by creativity and innovation – two live wires setting vibrant communities in motion, and Bow is a shining example of this new and boundless energy.

The Face of Bow

Investing in an area of London that’s on a journey of reinvention isn't just about bulking up your property portfolio. So, let’s take a break from investment clichés and consider Bow, a genuinely cool place to call home.

The best way to uncover an area’s true potential is to look at its ‘quantum factors’, which determine the character, attractiveness and practicality of a London locality. So if you want to see what really makes Bow tick, here are the details:

Regeneration

Look at Bow today, and you’re going to see a change. There’s more to see here than *ahem* gritty smokestacks, worn warehouses and shadowy alleyways. Now you’ll see new ideas amid the Victorian architecture, peaceful pocket parks and independent shops bursting with flair.

Bow has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, and as it’s nestled between three ongoing regenerations – Hackney Wick, Pudding Mill Lane and Stratford – it has excellent potential for further capital growth.

Transport and infrastructure

Bow is in Zone 2, between Stratford, the City and Canary Wharf – which is just 10 minutes by bus. The local station is Mile End, which gets you to:

• Stratford – 3 minutes

• Liverpool Street Station – 5 minutes

• London Bridge – 10 minutes

• Bond Street – 17 minutes

• London City Airport – 20 minutes

• Victoria Station – 25 minutes

Education & Employment

Thanks to the exceptional transport links, Bow is a great area for young professionals, with access to prestigious career opportunities with world-leading businesses and the tech and finance hubs in the City and Canary Wharf.

The same goes for the many, many students from across the globe who come to London to attend top-ranking universities. Besides Bow’s links to the City, Canary Wharf and Stratford, it’s also just across the bridge from Queen Mary University.

Retail & Restaurants

Bow is known for its diversity, with festivals, cuisines and cultural events to explore, and an excellent range of coffee shops, restaurants and bars. Also, Nearby Stratford has the famous MEGA shopping destination – Westfield Shopping Centre, and Canary Wharf offers a huge underground shopping centre along with top restaurants such as Roka, Hawksmoor and Goodman's.

Water and Green open spaces

Bow is surrounded by waterfront views on all sides – Hertford Union Canal in the north, the Limehouse Cut Canal in the south, River Lea in the east and Regent’s Canal in the west.

East London does not get near enough credit for its green spaces. Bow has plenty of chlorophyl to keep nature lovers Victoria Park, one of London's largest and most popular parks, as well as Mile End Park, which follows along Regent’s Canal.

Key players

Some of the big names in property development have their eye on Bow, which is always a good sign. We are working with Berkeley, one of the top guns in London property development, to introduce their upcoming development Bow Green – which is set to be something special. Take a look at Bow Green here.

…Who else is in Bow? We are! Foxtons is proud to introduce our brand new Bow office.

Emma Nettleingham, our Bow Operations Director - Sales, said “We are thrilled to introduce Foxtons to the local high street. Between Hassan Bacchus, Lettings Manager for Foxtons Bow office, and I have both been managing Bow estate agency and living locally for years, and we really understand what sells and lets property here. We lead a team of dedicated property experts, and with the resources of London’s number 1 agency, we’re ready to get it done for Bow residents.”

Achieve your property goals in Bow

If you're buying, buying to let or renting, allow our experts to show you around. Register on My Foxtons, pop by our brand new Foxtons Bow office on Mile End Road, or browse our Bow homes to rent and Bow homes to buy.

If you've got a home to sell or let, book a Foxtons valuation now. There's a strong market in Bow, and we have the expertise to get it done.