Yeah, I'm with you on this. Shortly gonna be leaving E London for deepest SE and was thinking the other day that Victoria Park is probably the place I'll miss most out of everywhere.
My first place in London was one of those houses on Old Ford road that overlooks the park, felt like a big winner sitting on that front porch sharing a beer with pals watching the sun go down over the park*
*romanticised story - never really happened, my house faced North.
Vic park ok?! How dare you! It's literally the nicest place in East London, breaks my heart to leave...
But yeah, Leyton is a good call too IMO as you can still find bargains. Olympic park is dead nice and the Wick feels decent again.