Borough of Hackney

Once upon a time, Hackney was topping lists of Britain’s worst places to live. But the borough has had a colossal transformation in recent years. and now, E8 is one of the capital’s most fashionable postcodes. Read on to discover developments that are the best places to live in Hackney. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Hackney.

4.52
Average Location Score

Excellent

59%

Very Good

33%

Average

8%

Disappointing

0%

Very Poor

0%

Best places to live in Borough of Hackney

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

Canal in Hackney

Creative melting pot

A paradise for creative types, Hackney’s reputation for nurturing talent and innovation has drawn those at the forefront of fashion, music and the arts. Venues like the Hackney Empire, the Arcola and the Hackney Picturehouse provide a stage for up-and-coming comedy acts, experimental theatre and also cutting-edge cinema. London College of Fashion is in trendy Shoreditch, which straddles the Hackney and Tower Hamlets boroughs. And some of the best contemporary galleries in the capital are here, showcasing eclectic, out-of-this-world pieces.

Hackney’s street scenes

Hackney’s high streets are something of an attack on the senses, thanks to the colourful graffiti art, crooning buskers and street food aromas. And you can eat your way around the world in its restaurants. Cosy British pubs for Sunday roast with all the trimmings? Tick. Pocket-sized Italian pizzerias? Check. Lemongrass-scented Pan-Asian eateries? You betcha. And brunch is something of a religion in these parts, with countless cafés specialising in sourdough and avo and organic juices.

Hackney cafés and bars

There’s a real café culture to be embraced here, with quality coffee shops often doubling up as vegan food markets, bicycle repair workshops and record stores. Lots open late-night, too, for poetry readings, board games and band jam sessions. Speaking of after-dark escapades, the bars in Hackney vary, with watering holes spanning faded boozers, drag clubs, and DJ-ed underground dens.

Building with art work painted on

Retail therapy

Then there’s the hypnotic markets, which bring all walks of life together. Hackney Flea Market, Broadway Market and Ridley Road are three of the best, packed to the brim with stalls selling fruit and veg, handmade jewellery and retro prints. In fact, we can’t mention Hackney without paying homage to its vintage wares. The best dedicated stores can be found in Dalston, with visitors spending hours trawling the treasures in Oxfam on Kingsland Road.

A slower pace

With all that, it’s easy to think of Hackney as an urban metropolis, but that wouldn’t be doing it justice. Lots of its candy-coloured neighbourhoods have a distinct village feel; such as those near London Fields, Chatsworth Road and Hackney Wick. In these areas you’ll find independent stores, canal-side walks and leisurely park picnics (the borough brags 800-plus acres of green). It could be easy to forget you’re in London; but residents benefit from brilliant train and tube connections to the likes of Canary Wharf, Oxford Street and Liverpool Street.

Residential developments in Hackney

When it comes to choosing where to live, young professionals especially can take their pick from smart new-build properties. For those who like to be in the thick of it, Dalston Curve is a great option. This 106-strong apartment collection can be found on Dalston’s Kingsland High Street. Fringed by vintage shops, Vietnamese restaurants and also, reliable transport links.

The location is great in between Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction stations. Dalston is a really fun place to live with amazing restaurants, bars, cafes etc. When you just want a quiet evening, the sound insulation keeps out the buzz so the building quality is good. The same goes for heat insulation – it’s toasty in the winter! There’s a lovely roof garden round the back and residents are very friendly.” – Anonymous, verified resident at Dalston Curve

On the same road as Dalston Curve there’s FiftySevenEast, a Taylor Wimpey property managed by Cushman & Wakefield. This stylish tower is next to Dalston Kingsland station. With design-led apartments and also, a front lobby inspired by Hackney’s street art. A great place to rent in Hackney.

Well built. Good design. I was looking for an apartment that is close to the city but still provides a good balance of life in east London. The development provides excellent quality living. Management have been quick to deal with any snags or issues.” – Anonymous, verified resident at FiftySevenEast

New flats in Hackney

And lastly…

Aitch Group’s Bagel Factory is another development to consider renting in Hackney – this one’s right next door to Hackney Wick station, and the area’s waterfront pubs and bars.

Rumour has it, commuters were often treated to the smell of freshly baked dough as they passed through Hackney Wick Station; courtesy of the Mr Bagels factory just across the road. Today, the assembly lines are long gone and, in their place, there’s an all-new Bagel Factory – a collection of luxury modern apartments from heavyweight London-based developer, Aitch Group. The place oozes industrial cool, from its contemporary lighting to its oversized steel windows, not to mention the clever use of brickwork inside and out (each apartment has its own living room feature wall). The end result? A stylish nod to the warehouse-like architecture synonymous with the Hackney borough.” – HomeViews Property Pro on Bagel Factory

You can find out more about living in the Hackney by reading reviews from residents. Click on the developments below to find out more about residents’ experiences and also, to discover the best places to live and rent in Hackney. Moreover, If there’s a Hackney property that you can’t see on HomeViews,  you can add a new listing and leave your review here

Reviews in Borough of Hackney

Write a Review

Good development but lots of areas to improve

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

Good aspects:
Good transport links; nearby green space; wide range of shops and restaurants; wide range of fitness and health services (gyms, swimming, climbing)
Bad aspects:
Loud traffic noise (cars and motorbikes) at all hours, undeveloped derelict property neighbouring my development, loud buses on street next to development.

Please review your development:

Good aspects:
Kitchen and bathrooms are well designed and well fitted; great views from the development over the park with large windows, which give plenty of natural light; large balcony; well maintained communal areas; well decorated communal area and lobby; good amount of bike parking; noise doesn’t travel through walls from neighbours on side and above and below; flat keeps warm in winter.

Bad aspects:
The property gets VERY hot in summer – almost insufferable at night without air conditioning and the rooms get very airless; the extractor fan installed in the flat is TERRIBLE – it makes so much noise and is not effective at getting moisture out; the balcony doors were badly design and are not strong enough to withstand the wind when opened – mine have broken and were not well repaired; the lifts keep breaking every summer – that’s unacceptable in a development that is only a few years old!; I had cosmetic defects from when I bought the flat that took YEARS to repair – really bad property management; the service charge amount keeps creeping up year on year – it’s becoming very expensive. I would think twice about buying a new build again

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

To understand temperature of new builds in summer and whether air conditioning can easily be installed.

What is the best feature of your home:

The location and the views over the part next door.

3
Facilities
3
Design
5
Location
4
Value
2
Management
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Manager Response

We want to express our gratitude for the feedback you recently provided. Your insights are valued, and we will look into the concerns you’ve raised.

Great place to live

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

The area is great, near to lots of shops and good transport. We are at the back of the property by the courtyard and it’s fairly quiet. Can slightly hear the road

Please review your development:

The design overall is really well done and the courtyard is beautiful. The flat has large windows which let a lot of light in and the fact that it’s open plans means you can adapt the Livin space to suit your personal needs. The flat has a dishwasher and the kitchen facilities are really well done too.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The fact that the flats at the back are quite than those facing the road

What is the best feature of your home:

The big windows let in a lot of light and balcony also makes it feel like there is more space.

4
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We are thrilled to hear about positive experience with Higgins Homes. Your kind words are truly appreciated, and they motivate us to continue delivering the best for our purchasers.

Good, could be great

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

Clissold Park is one of the best in london and the surrounding shops, restaurants, bars are great too

Please review your development:

Apartments are very big and bright and well furnished and decorated. But aspects of facilities design and build are poor: lifts always break, air distribution system was installed wrong, central heating unit breaks a lot. Management is a complete joke, I will never go anywhere managed by hackney council ever again.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The terrible management by hackney council. The service fees are inexcusable

What is the best feature of your home:

Big windows so loads of natural light and ability to open fully is great

3
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
4
Value
1
Management
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Manager Response

We greatly appreciate your recent review! If you have any concerns regarding development management, we kindly urge you to reach out to your residents’ management company. In the event you believe they may not be meeting your expectations, we encourage you to consider becoming part of the RMC directors and participate in the voting process to potentially select a new company, as this decision rests firmly within the hands of our valued residents. Your input is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction.

Mixed thoughts

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

The location is great in that it’s right next to a lovely park and close to Finsbury Park for transport etc. Lovely shops & restaurants all around but there’s a fair amount of antisocial behaviour unfortunately.

Please review your development:

The design is pretty good and the quality of the building/flat itself is great although some of the fit-out seems rushed – ie poor quality paintwork etc. The property/facilities management is frankly awful though – they’re expensive, unresponsive & only ever do a shoddy job of fixing things temporarily.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Property/facilities management will always be a challenge – they have no real incentive to do a good job (& no consequences for doing a shoddy one).

What is the best feature of your home:

The quality of the actual building & fixtures is very good. Plenty of light, soundproofing v good etc.

2
Facilities
3
Design
4
Location
3
Value
1
Management
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Was this review helpful?

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Manager Response

We greatly appreciate your recent review! If you have any concerns regarding development management, we kindly urge you to reach out to your residents’ management company. In the event you believe they may not be meeting your expectations, we encourage you to consider becoming part of the RMC directors and participate in the voting process to potentially select a new company, as this decision rests firmly within the hands of our valued residents. Your input is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction.