Hackney

course when the Krays was alive, you could leave everything unlocked in the street, doors and windows open, never had to queue at the post office etc

i reckon the krays were soft as a garybaldy. their mum might have been hard but the east end then I would not consider a hardmans place, rather fancy boys still suckling mummy.

Homerton hospital is ok too for minor emergencies

That's damning with faint praise. Homerton is also home to one of the best neuro-rehabilitation teams in the country. Could come in handy if a minor emergency turns out to be a major one.

I lived in Bow which was a gated community so hard to tell what that area was like, sunny Dalston which was great for socialising and going out lots and now Lower Clapton which is my favourite of the lot. You have London's countryside on your doorstep in Hackney Marshes, feels quite safe and feels like an area on the up.

I have to agree with Paul74. Have lived in Archway, Crouch End, Dalston and now Lower Clapton and I'm really digging the Clap. Lovely tree lined streets east of clapton pond and when all the hipsters are cramming themselves into london fields on a sunny day I have pretty much free reign of the marshes, canal and parks. Time out has suggested Clapton is the next Shoreditch. I'm not sure about that, but as has already been said, it does feel like its on the up.

point taken, I did attend their once for kidney problems they were on the ball at diagnosis. I just did not know enough more to sing their praises a little higher, but yeh i would agree great hospital, not sure about the hang-ons outside though, but hey that London.

That's damning with faint praise. Homerton is also home to one of the best neuro-rehabilitation teams in the country. Could come in handy if a minor emergency turns out to be a major one.

They're also very good with gunshot traumas. IIRC the armed forces used to second surgeons there before they had Iraq/Afghanistan to provide them with more practice.

Unfortunately it looks like alot of bankers might be moving into that particular area (around Dalston tube) - given the close proximety to Canary Wharf and/or the City.

However, I think the shops slightly further up Kingsland Road (north of the junction) are owned by the Turkish community (peeps who have been on the scene for ages). I just don't hope they sell up and bugger off.

If it turns into yet another hateful Tory hole like Victoria Park or London Fields then I'm moving further east, hehe.

Bankers? To paraphrase Chris Rock, when I go to the cashpoint I'm not looking over my shoulder for bankers

Only people I know in Dalston, 1 is in IT and the other is a PA in the city. Hardly your typically gang bangers. Their nearest pub was more expensive than the pubs out here in BMWville.. bangers and mash was more like 'corn fed free range chicken pate tubes on a flame grilled paprika seasoned finely pureed potato with a delicate veal escalope jus" or some bollocks

The bollocks sound good, are they organic?

I thought the bollocks were dropped from the menu?

No, but the cock's off

Try the Cream of Sumyunguy instead.

Try the Cream of Sumyunguy instead.

High five!

that's my bad joke! :(

that's **one of **my bad jokes! :(

Fixed.

I've lived in Hackney 6 years (Dalston & Hackney Wick), and would happily say that I've seen few problems, but a couple of months ago armed police rammed the door down of my yardie neighbour (apparently this happens every couple of months?), and then the other week I saw my downstairs Polish neighbour getting his head literally jumped on by two other large Polish men. Apart from that it's fine.

Time Out has suggested Clapton is the next Shoreditch. I'm not sure about that, but as has already been said, it does feel like its on the up.

Damn, and Clapton had som much going for it as well (I really like the place). Shame it's turning into yet another soulless closet-Tory hipster area like Sh*reditch of London Fields. The latter is just freakin horrible (someone turn on the gas please, hehe).

Speedwolf - it just feels like a nice place to live and kind of different for London in that you have a big patch of country side on your doorstep. Just because Time Out writes something it doesn't instantly mean the area goes to pot. It just has a nice atmosphere. Personally I think its because there hardly any transport links bar a couple of buses.

Bankers? To paraphrase Chris Rock, when I go to the cashpoint I'm not looking over my shoulder for bankers

I get your point - and I know you're not insinuating this...

The Afro and Turkish community in the Dalston and Clapton area are generally really friendly - NEVER had any form of hassle. Generally I'd say that whatever estates you see aren't "that" rough and what gang trouble there is seems to stay within the gangs.

With Banksers comes gentrification: Cafe Nero over music venues. Odeon over Rio Cinema. Pizza Express over local Turkish restaurants. Keep the suits out I say ;)

Tuscany has gone down hill, it's all about Bulgaria now.

Speedwolf - it just feels like a nice place to live and kind of different for London in that you have a big patch of country side on your doorstep. Just because Time Out writes something it doesn't instantly mean the area goes to pot. It just has a nice atmosphere. Personally I think its because there hardly any transport links bar a couple of buses.

Totally agree regarding the transport link point. I was just being sarcastic - it is a great area and I still like going to the Biddle Brothers on Lower Clapton Road. Great place. I've also just discovered a couple of nice delis on Chatsworth Road - highly recommended!

Sorry chap. My neighbour owns one of those delis and she is one of those people you joked about who gentrify an area in a not so good way. I like the French one over the road instead with all the hot French girls working in it. Biddel Brothers is a good place definitely, as is the Elderfield. You just have to avoid Maureen the larger lady (probably sitting on her own) whose sister was married to Greg Norman, and who has also starred in Emerdale and Corrie and had a baby at 65 WTF??? Bonkers pub bullshitter.

Sorry chap. My neighbour owns one of those delis and she is one of those people you joked about who gentrify an area in a not so good way. I like the French one over the road instead with all the hot French girls working in it. Biddel Brothers is a good place definitely, as is the Elderfield. You just have to avoid Maureen the larger lady (probably sitting on her own) whose sister was married to Greg Norman, and who has also starred in Emerdale and Corrie and had a baby at 65 WTF??? Bonkers pub bullshitter.

Hehe, yeah the French one is ace! I don't mind the Italian one either (with the big back garden). It's quite cheap and service is good. The coffee sent my head spinning though...had my best round of golf ever after that.

Will check out the Elderfield.

hey Paul 47 do you live in Clapton now, anyway I like you style. Clapton pond is delicious, hackney marsh sweet but I never saw any fixed riders when I lived ther 2003-2007. I thought I was on my own in that area, saw some art school types (me being one of them) Anywhere that has a primark near hand is pretty sound with me.

Elderfield is well alright. Proper pub. And yeah - we have the worst/best golf course in London.

Hussy - right now I dont have a fixed wheel bike - well i do but I dont ride it as I am enjoying my road bike. Guilty your honour. Mine are pretty much in bits. Will eventually get round to building one properly. Just want a nice nice frame. Oh and some nice nice money to pay for it.