The battle of East London vs. West London has been nicknamed ‘the urban Cold War’ of the capital and locals stand fiercely defensive of their neighbourhood.
Whether claiming that West really is the best, with expensive brands and Michelin starred traditional restaurants along the high streets of Kensington; or refusing to relinquish the crown of hip design in the East with eccentric warehouses penned as the next secret cocktail bar, you choose your side. Recent years have seen a rise in popularity of the non-conforming quality of the East as regenerative schemes flooded the area, developing the property desirability and leading to the big question; Is East the new West?
Traditional Choices
When asked, Londoners instinctively associated certain words with each area of the city: generally, the East End is seen as ‘lower-class’, ‘grimy’ and ‘poor’; whilst West London is claimed as ‘high-class’, ‘exclusive’ and ‘quintessentially British’. Historically, these assumptions would have been well-founded as the East End suffered from overpopulation, causing extreme overcrowding and living conditions well below the poverty line. Crime, immorality and violence were rife and by the 19th century, the Docklands had earned itself the name ‘The Abyss’; not to mention the notorious Jack the Ripper attacks in Whitechapel. With such a dark history, it is understandable that the average Londoner would hesitate to move to the East End and live amongst the crime and grime of the ages.
Regeneration and Relocation
However, in recent years the regeneration boom in the East End has solicited an incredible shift in the appeal of London, from West to East. With the Olympics based in E20, investment in Stratford triggered the words ‘up-and-coming’ and ‘trendy’ to be equated with this area. Shoreditch and Hoxton cultivated a quirky retro ambience; converting disused industrial sites into modern concepts with an edgy, New York loft-style. Whilst the West may maintain its air of designer chic, some are starting to turn away from the pretentious, stagnant zone and towards the fresher, more inclusive taste of the East. From the Tate Modern to the Phlegm Mural; one Michelin starred restaurant St John to popular nightclubs XOYO and Queen of Hoxton, the plethora of culture encourages younger crowds to save money and swap reputation for novelty.
Property Available
To live in the sophisticated world of the West, you must be willing to part with a large sum from your bank account; and it is worth it for direct access to Portobello Market, the Hammersmith Apollo and Notting Hill Carnival, all set amongst classic teahouses, bars and restaurants, including Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. However, for the thriftier individual, the East offers an almost equal alternative with a more affordable property market. In comparing averages for 2015, Rightmove highlights the overall average for a flat sale in the East was £365,000; whilst the same average topped out at over £1,155,200 in the West. Furthermore, in the last year, East End property prices have risen by 8% and a notable 25% since 2012, establishing this area as prime for investment with the strong likelihood of increasing value. Though you may question the living standards, a recent survey revealed that there are more schools, better transport, more open space, lower rentals, lower purchase prices and equal crime in the East when comparing it to West London; thereby making it a strong contender within the property race of the capital.
Galliard’s East London Developments
Shoreditch, EC2A
The Stage
With a multitude of things to do in Shoreditch, the area is renowned as a cultural hub of London and the lifestyle it enables is increasingly desirable to the free-spirited and liberal soul. Galliard’s development The Stage seeks to incorporate the culture of the Curtain Theatre by exposing the original architecture in a public exhibition centre, and providing a 37-storey residential tower with striking views, office and retail space; a prime location for investors and visitors from all walks of life.
Leyton, E10
Church Road
Boasting an outstanding choice of one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as two luxurious three bedroom townhouses, Church Road is a statement development located on the corner of Church Road and Tallack Road in Leyton.
Residents of this development will be able to take advantage of the site’s secure cycle storage (subject to availability), and they’ll only have to cycle 15 minutes to reach one of East London’s most expansive urban green spaces: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It’s also just a 20 minute journey from Church Road to Westfield Stratford shopping centre with public transport.
Church Road is now sold out. For more information, please visit the development page or use our property search tool to find other available properties. Alternatively, call us on 020 3409 2270 to speak with our team.
Romford, RM7
St Edwards Court
Set in the historic market town of Romford, where the London metropolis meets the rolling Essex countryside, you’ll find St Edwards Court. This impressive office conversion has been transformed into a collection of ready-to-move-into apartments, all stylishly furnished and available to purchase with Help to Buy. Conveniently situated just 10 minutes’ walk from Romford’s future Crossrail station, residents of St Edwards Court will benefit from fast connections into the City and Central London. This is an excellent choice for those who wish to live on the outskirts of the capital but within easy reach from its financial and business epicentre.
St Edwards Court is now sold out. For more information, please visit the development page or use our property search tool to find other available properties. Alternatively, call us on 020 3409 2270 to speak with our team.
London Docklands, E14
Galliard Homes is proud to offer a superb selection of properties all over the London Docklands area; from lavish penthouses at the award-winning Baltimore Tower, an iconic addition to the London skyline, to a spacious three bedroom apartment at Maine Tower, an impressive 42-storey block at our Harbour Central development.
You can browse availability at our Docklands developments here.
