Probably the most iconic of all the East End venues, read our Bethnal Green area guide to learn about this historic gem.
We had the pleasure of spending two whole days in Bethnal Green, exploring and enjoying it’s unique charm.
About Bethnal Green
Ah, Bethnal Green, the heart of London’s East End, where history and modernity blend together like a perfect mixture.
Picture this: colourful markets, vibrant street art, and a sense of community that’ll warm your cockles.
But wait, there’s more!
Bethnal Green’s rich history is peppered with tales of resilience and character.
The iconic Bethnal Green Tube Station, with its Art Deco charm, carries the weight of wartime memories while standing tall as a symbol of strength.
And let’s not forget the street art that adorns the neighborhood’s walls. Every corner is a canvas, telling stories through vibrant colours and imaginative designs.
You can practically feel the creativity in the air.
Bethnal Green Area Guide – Transport Links
Bethnal Green’s transport links are a gateway to the bustling heart of London.
This makes it a conveniently connected hub for both residents and visitors.
Here’s a rundown of the various transportation options you’ll find in this vibrant East End neighborhood:
Bethnal Green Tube Station
At the heart of it all, you’ll discover Bethnal Green Underground Station. This station, served by the Central Line, provides easy access to Central London in a matter of minutes.
Whether you’re heading to the West End for a show or shopping in Oxford Street, this is your go-to connection.
The station forms part of London Underground’s Zone 2 and can get you to Liverpool Street in a couple of minutes.
Bethnal Green Overground
Situated on the London Overground line, Bethnal Green Overground Station is another key transportation hub.
It connects you to destinations such as Stratford, Highbury & Islington, and beyond. It’s perfect for exploring different parts of the city.
Of note is the fact that Cambridge Heath is another overground station which would technically be considered Bethnal Green also.
Busses
Bethnal Green is well-served by a multitude of bus routes, offering excellent connectivity to various parts of London.
Whether you’re traveling north, south, east, or west, you can count on the extensive bus network to get you there.
Cycling
For the environmentally conscious or fitness enthusiasts, Bethnal Green boasts several cycling lanes and bike-sharing schemes.
You can easily pedal your way through the neighborhood and beyond while enjoying the fresh East End air.
Road
It has to be said that despite the London Mayor’s efforts, congestion is still a factor on the roads.
Junctions and intersections can become overloaded with traffic in this East End metropolis.
That is not to say that driving isn’t an option but be alive to the fact it can be a stressful endeavour.
Bethnal Green Area Guide – Crime
Bethnal Green is in the heart of the classic East End of London.
Whilst this brings with it character and charm, crime is something also worth considering.
The area falls within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which sits at around 10th in terms of crime per 1,000 across London averaging a round 100.
Breaking that down to specifically wards in Bethnal Green and the average crimes per 1,000 is 130.
There is no way of sugar coating it, that is high. For context the London average is 95.
So Tower Hamlets is high in general and Bethnal Green is high for Tower Hamlets.
All that said after spending time in the area we never felt unsafe. It is busy and hectic at times but we weren’t looking over our shoulders.
In fact the locals seemed friendly and welcoming.
Bethnal Green Area Guide – Demographics
Like many areas in East London, Bethnal Green is a hub of diversity.
There are communities and groups from all around the world, all choosing to call Bethnal Green home.
According to census data, 53% of residents are from black or minority ethnic backgrounds.
Of those ethnic backgrounds the most common is Bengali which accounts for 32% of the residents.
Only 7% of the residents in the area identified as black. This is less than neighbouring Stoke Newington and Forest Gate.
The proportion of residents who identified themselves as either Christian (25.8 per cent) or Muslim (34 per cent) represented the biggest chunks of society.
Walking around you feel the presence of a strong Bengali culture as a dominant feature of the area.
Interestingly from the census data Bethnal Green has a very high proportion of students.
In fact their representation is 2.5 times the national average.
Bethnal Green Area Guide – House Prices
When considering house prices in Bethnal Green it is always important to consider the location.
Bethnal Green is one stop on the central line short of Liverpool Street where residential properties start in the millions.
So with an average price of almost exactly £600,000, the jury is out in terms of if that is a bargain or expensive!
Naturally it’s considerably higher than somewhere like Stratford or Plaistow but it’s 5 minutes from the square mile.
The majority of sales in Bethnal Green during the last year were unsurprisingly flats, selling for an average price of £526,587.
When it comes to houses, terraced properties sold for an average of £991,943.
Strap in because semi-detached properties fetching £1,885,000.
In terms of trends, prices in Bethnal Green over the last year were similar to the previous year and 1% down on the 2020 peak of £608,509.
Verdict – Is Bethnal Green A Nice Place To Live?
As ever this is a very subjective question. To some they would balk at the level of crime when compared to the property prices.
They would argue (well) that for an extra couple of stops on the central line you could be in a safer area, for less money.
But then you would miss out on the character of an area steeped in history and intrigue.
Walking around there is an unmistakable charm to Bethnal Green, from the market stalls to the East End pubs with their stories to tell.
There are more green spaces than you would assume for such a central location and there is a cuisine for every pallet.
For residents perhaps it is this charm which draws them and keeps them the area.
Plus being able to get anywhere on the Central helps too.
So in summary for the right person Bethnal Green is a compelling proposition, but it is fair to say it’s not for everyone.
