Bethnal Green, known among other things for its boxing heritage and of course the Kray brothers. York Hall still stands strong and the Museum of Childhood is a major local attraction. Bethnal Green is extremely well-located for transport into the City and Central London with great bus routes, the Central Line and an overhead train station. It has plenty of picturesque gardens and large open spaces such as Victoria Park (the ’green’ of Bethnal Green) as well as plenty of restaurants, shops, comedy clubs and cafes. The area is generally a busy place to be with a diversity of culture, and of course it’s also local to the ever famous Columbia Road flower market and Brick Lane Market.
  
 

Hackney, once known as Hackney village contains many period properties, with Henry VIII owning a palace here at one stage! Now of course it has a new and modern edge, and is well-located for overland trains and bus routes, not to mention a variety of stores along Mare Street for shoppers. Homerton Park and London Fields are both within the area as well as East London’s largest - Victoria Park and The Regents Canal. It’s a vibrant inner city area with a good selection of eateries, local cafés and bars, not to mention being home to the very well-known Broadway Market, said to be the inspiration for the soap EastEnders.

 

Whitechapel (very handy for the A11 and links out of London!) was once famous for the Elephant Man. Nowadays it’s better known for its huge local market, the London hospital (soon to be the largest in Europe), Whitechapel Art Gallery, the East London Mosque and the landmark Idea store library complex. Local shops and restaurants are also close by and the famous Brick Lane is only a few minutes walk away. Nestled next to Aldgate, it’s perfect for links to the City and Central London with the District line and Hammersmith and City lines accessible from Whitechapel underground station.
 
 

Stepney Green, set of the sitcom ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’, boasts lots of picturesque Victorian mansion blocks and terraced housing which are scattered through the area with a variety of parks. Next to Mile End, Bethnal Green and Whitechapel, it’s well served by District and Hammersmith & City lines, with bus routes offering an easy journey into the City and Central London. Stepney Green is a popular area for students, being home to the Queen Mary and Westfield University and the London Independent Hospital. The area offers a good choice of local shops and bars including the Genesis Cinema, as well as other nice features such as Mile End Park, Stepney Green and Regents Canal.
 
 

Bow (where Amy Winehouse and Girls Aloud began their careers!) is an area with a loads of bars and restaurants and the well-known Roman Road Market. The area itself has Regents Canal running into the Grand Union Canal and offers both period and modern properties with lots of green spaces. Bow is a good location for transport to the City and Central London using the district line service at Bow Road or the DLR at Bow Church. Nearby Mile End station provides the Central, District and Hammersmith & City Line trains and is also located with easy access to the Blackwall Tunnel and the A11 & A12.

 

Mile End was named from a milestone signifying the point exactly one mile East of the City of London. It now boasts the unusual landmark ‘the green bridge’ which contains gardens and water features with shops and restaurants below, and has a truly vast park bordering the canal with lots of rolling landscape and play areas. It’s home to the Queen Mary and Westfield University campus and has many options available for a good night out. Bus routes allow easy access to the City and Central London and Mile End underground is on the Central, District and Hammersmith and City Line services so it’s a fantastic location for travel.
 
 

Warehouse conversions turned this place around from 1980 after they were left empty and run down following World War II. Wapping is situated along the banks of the River Thames and is part of Docklands. It has quick access to the city via ’The Highway’ and bus routes and is within walking distance to Tower Bridge and the lovely St Katharine‘s dock marina complex. It features many historical public houses, fine restaurants, and the first marine police station founded in 1798. It’s a unique area which still contains lots of historical features.
 
 

The Isle of Dogs is the home of Canary Wharf, the globally-famous business and shopping development built on West India Docks (once the busiest docks in the world). It offers a truly massive range of shops, bars, restaurants and clubs set around the Docks. The Jubilee Line runs via Canary Wharf station, along with the DLR offering quick access into the City and Central / South London. Road links are very well-served with access to the A12, A13, Limehouse Link and the Blackwall Tunnel.
The Isle of Dogs itself (named for Edward III’s greyhounds) contains a range of warehouse conversions, period cottages and new high rise developments. The area is much calmer at weekends with more than enough public houses, a local cinema, comedy clubs, restaurants and shops. It’s also great for walking along the riverside or Limehouse Marina, or even popping across to the large open spaces of Greenwich. The Isle of dogs has good bus routes along with access to the DLR and riverboat services.
 
 

Named after an ancient milestone standing at Hollybush Hill, the area was originally built on Roman Grounds, though nowadays the locals are more likely to think of it as place where David Beckham was born. It’s filled with shops, restaurants, bars and clubs and also such local attractions as the Ice centre and park at Lea Valley and the museum, marshes and nature reserve in neighbouring Walthamstow. Transport links are good, with the Central Line and British Rail trains and loads of bus routes. The area itself has many quiet cul-de-sac roads with period properties alongside newly built modern apartments.
 
 

Steadily improving since the refurbishment works by the council began in 1990, it’s been the focus of regeneration for many years. Now expanding even further with the DLR and the soon-to-be-running Channel Tunnel rail links (it already has links to Central and Jubilee lines and National rail trains and bus services straight to Central London) this is a fantastic location for commuters. Soon to have a shopping centre to rival Blue Water and of course not forgetting the 2012 Olympics this area has so much to offer. It’s also home to the University of East London, and offers a good variety of theatres, bars, restaurants, shops and cinemas.
 
 

The Royal Docks area comprise three docks, the first London docks to be designed specifically to accommodate large steam ships. The Royal Docks were closed for shipping in 1981 and have since experienced major redevelopment works and are now used chiefly for water sports and recreation. Award-winning developments are situated all over the area along with warehouse conversions and terraced houses. Access to the Riverboat service is close by and the DLR takes you to the Jubilee Line for the City and Central London. Many restaurants and bars are located close by with the ExCeL Exhibition Centre which is fantastic all year round for shows and exhibitions. The Thames Barrier and park is also close by, not to mention City Airport.

 

Canning Town is situated on the former London docks north of the River Thames neighbouring the Docklands. It’s great for transport, with good road links for the A13, Limehouse Link tunnel and Jubilee Line and DLR services from Canning Town taking you easily into the City and Central London. Close by is the Excel Centre and the Royal Docks which offer a variety of restaurants and bars and King George’s Field and West Ham football stadium are also nearby. Plus it’s next to Stratford where you can find even more places to be entertained.

 

Although Shoreditch is a very historical area, with more than one Hawksmoor Church (even the nursery rhyme, ‘oranges and lemons’ was based on St Leonard’s church in Shoreditch) it’s now a bustling part of East London more famous for music, art and fashion. Closely situated to the ever famous Brick Lane, Old Street and Spitalfields Market which has been running since 1682 and right by the City, this is a truly excellent location. Close to neighbouring Bethnal Green and Whitechapel, it also has Shoreditch Park and is increasingly famous for its great bars, restaurants, art galleries, theatres and clubs. Shoreditch also has lots transport links for the A10, Central, District, Hammersmith and City & Metropolitan Lines and BR overland trains.