Bethnal Green: Be a real life Eastender in Bethnal Green

Background

Bethnal Green is situated in the East End of London, which could be the perfect place for soap fans to get one step closer to the surroundings made familiar on the long-running BBC1 serial, while also seeing them living in an area ideally located to explore the rest of the capital.

Located in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, Bethnal Green is bordered by Hackney - placing residents close to Shoreditch, arguably the coolest area of London - and Mile End, while Spitalfields - home of the renowned market - and Whitechapel are also close by.

Until the 16th century, much of the area was marshlands and forests but today it is a bustling urban place to live, packed full or pubs, restaurants and shops to cater to all of its residents and any visitors.

Bethnal Green may also be a familiar location to both sports and poetry fans being both the subject of the poem the Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green - which tells the story of a poor man who bestowed a significant dowry for his daughter's wedding - and a location associated with a number of the country's most renowned boxers.

It is also home to the historic silk weaving trade which originally operated within Globe Town before later moving to Spitalfields, where produce was frequently sold in garden markets.

It could be said that in terms of the history of London, Bethnal Green has plenty to offer.

Property

When compared with the rest of London, house prices in Bethnal Green are lower on average, although in comparison with the rest of the UK they are still typically high, even following the recession.

Figures from the Land Registry reveal that in October the average property price stood at £319,022 - a fall of 7.5 per cent from the previous year's £344,755. Property prices were at a high in the area in 2007 when they stood at £367,343.

This may demonstrate how much the area has evolved and developed, as in 1995 the average property cost £94,053.

Broken down, the figures reveal that the typical cost of a detached property in Bethnal Green stands at £403,914, a semi-detached costs £317,497, a terraced home a typical £340,517 and a flat or maisonette £312,852.

In light of this, property to rent in Bethnal Green may be far more affordable than houses and flats for sale in the same area.

Indeed, a studio apartment in Bethnal Green costs an average of £988 a month to rent, while a one-bedroom property will set tenants back £1,209, a two-bedroom home will cost £1,525 and three-bedrooms cost £1,816 per month.

Transport

Bethnal Green is ideally situated for people who need to commute into the city, whether for work or leisure reasons.

The area has a Tube station situated on the Central Line between Liverpool Street and Mile End and as it is in Travelcard Zone 2, it could see people forking out less in terms of travel if they do not need to commute to Zone 1.

There are also Underground stations at Whitechapel and Stepney Green, while there are also two mainline railway stations - Bethnal Green and Cambridge Heath.

This is all in addition to several bus routes which go through the area, meaning that people may have little trouble when it comes to exploring what else London has to offer.

Amenities

Bethnal Green is full of shops, restaurants and bars, along with plenty more to keep its residents entertained.

Locals may wish to visit the Museum of Childhood, part of the Victoria and Albert Museum, while the London Buddhist Centre and Columbia Road Flower Market could also prove a draw.

There are plenty of places in Bethnal Green where people can taste all sorts of different cuisines, including Italian at La Gondola Di Leonardo, Thai at The Thai Garden, fish at Winkles Seafood and Oyster Bar, Argentinean at Buen Ayre and African at Exceline Exotic Dishes.

Meanwhile, there are also plenty of places to head in the evening, including the Florist Arms, the Misty Moon and the Camel.

Indeed, people may not have to live in their new Bethnal Green home for long before they feel like a true Eastender.

Published 7th December, 2009

© 2009 Estates IT Limited