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rpm
Plaistow?
Not really got a centre, but close to Stratford and Green Street for shops and stuff.
(I don't know what it's like these days but I enjoyed living there a decade ago, okay pre Stratford "heat", but it's always been a bit below the radar and closer into town than the other places you mention. But - do you have kids? The impression I got was that it was fine for grownups but a bit rough for the kiddiewinks.)
I have a bit of a soft spot for Barking, but that might say more about me... It's an old town centre, it's on the River Roding, there are interesting historical bits dotted around near town, a modern town square (funny "arboretum"), if you like slightly bleak post-industrial wildernesses there are plenty of those nearby, some effort with small businesses trying to get things going by the river, and the full range of housing - shiny flats over the new town square, interesting low-rise "rain garden" new developments further out, loads of inter- and post-war (including the Becontree estate to the east) . There isn't so much demand/competition for housing out there but in a way it means that people - council, developers, local businesses - make an actual effort with things.