A guide to living in Borough of Tower Hamlets

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Balfron Tower is in a very convenient location with a good range of local shops, supermarkets, cafés, restaurants and takeaways within walking distance, particularly around Chrisp Street Market and Canary Wharf. There are several parks and open spaces nearby, including Bartlett Park and the River Lea. Transport links are excellent, with All Saints DLR, Langdon Park DLR and Canary Wharf all easily accessible, providing quick connections across London. Bus services are frequent, although roads can be busy during peak hours. Parking is limited and often requires a permit, but bin collections are generally reliable. Like many busy urban areas, there can occasionally be traffic noise and some anti-social behaviour, but overall the area is well connected, practical and convenient for everyday living.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Whenever I have raised an issue, the building management has been professional, approachable and responsive. They acknowledge concerns promptly and keep residents informed about any maintenance or repairs. The concierge team, especially Lia, is always friendly and helpful, making it easy to report issues and ensuring they are followed up efficiently. Overall, I have been pleased with the level of service and communication provided.

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

I wish I had known how convenient the location really is. Everything from supermarkets and cafés to public transport is within easy reach, and Canary Wharf is only a short walk away. I also didn’t realise how much natural light the large windows provide or how impressive the views are from the upper floors. One practical tip for new neighbours is that parking is limited, so it’s worth checking permit options in advance if you own a car. Overall, the building has a strong sense of community, and the concierge team is very helpful, making settling in much easier.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Overall, I have found the New Festival Quarter to be a convenient and generally pleasant place to live. One of its greatest advantages is its location. There is a useful selection of local shops within easy walking distance, making day-to-day life straightforward, and the development benefits from excellent access to the nearby park. Having such a large green space on the doorstep is a real positive, providing opportunities for walking, exercising and spending time outdoors. The development itself is relatively quiet for most of the time and I have generally felt safe living here. While, like any urban area, there are occasional issues, they have not significantly affected my day-to-day life within the development. That said, there are aspects of the surrounding area that could be improved. Cleanliness is one of the main concerns, as there is often litter and the streets can appear untidy. In addition, the area behind the development, where much of the neighbouring council housing is situated, can sometimes be noisy and there are occasional incidents of antisocial behaviour. Although this can detract from the overall impression of the neighbourhood, these issues tend to be localised and are not representative of the development itself. In summary, I believe the New Festival Quarter offers a good balance of convenience, accessibility and green space. While the surrounding area would benefit from improvements to cleanliness and a reduction in noise and antisocial behaviour, I have generally found it to be a safe and comfortable place to live, with the positives outweighing the negatives.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

In the past it has been poor. Today Mark was excellent so thank you

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

I was I had known I was opposite the refuse room. I wish I had realised 1/2 the estate is council

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

My second review here: NOTHING HAS CHANGED! All lifts are out of order so far at 2am in the morning 5 August 2026

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

Yes, watch out you might not be able to get home considering the amount of times the lifts are inoperative.

What is the best feature of your home:

My apartment. The lifts and the lobby are the worst.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living in this area has been a really positive experience. There are plenty of useful amenities nearby, including supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, and shops, making everyday life very convenient. The transport connections are also a big advantage, with easy access to buses and stations that make getting around London simple. The street itself feels calm and safe, with regular bin collections and no major issues with noise or traffic.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management team has been very helpful and responsive whenever we have raised any questions or concerns. They communicate clearly and work quickly to find solutions, which has made the experience much easier.

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

One thing I wish I had known before moving in is how convenient the location would be. The transport links, nearby shops, and overall atmosphere of the area make daily life very easy. I would also recommend new neighbours getting familiar with the building facilities and management team, as they are very supportive.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The location itself is convenient, with good transport connections and easy access to central London. However, the area can feel very busy and noisy, and the overall experience depends heavily on the quality of the accommodation itself.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The reception staff have always been polite, friendly, and professional. However, the response to serious room-related issues and requests for flexibility has been disappointing. Several problems were reported, but some were not properly resolved. For example, issues such as noise from the fuse box, mattress quality, and room differences were dismissed as being standard, despite later moving to another room where these problems did not exist. When we raised concerns about the temperature making the room extremely difficult to live in, we requested a reasonable solution, such as changing to a shorter membership period or finding a replacement tenant. Unfortunately, no flexible solution was offered.

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

I wish I had known that this was a membership agreement rather than a standard tenancy agreement, and that there would be very limited flexibility once signed. I would also have wanted to know more about room conditions, especially temperature control during hot weather. The room became extremely hot at night, making it impossible to sleep comfortably for months. I would strongly recommend future residents carefully check the contract terms, understand the exit conditions, and view the exact room before committing.