Stepney
After the Blitz leveled a good deal of the land here; Stepney re-emerged with a rather uninspiring high-rise skyline. A post war tale of poverty and neglected estates saw large swathes of this richly historical patch buried under a dismal urban sprawl. Regeneration schemes in Stepney seem finally to be rewriting the land, with open-minded use of the demolition ball. The area is also starting to attract more wealthy buyers, looking for proximity to the City, and preferring the feel of a past and an established community, to the smooth impersonal lines of Docklands. There are some fabulous Queen Anne houses to be found, and as the new taste for City living takes hold, developers are scouting around for conversion opportunities.
Some of the prettiest and most sought after properties sit around the greens of Albert Gardens and Arbour Square, either side of Commercial Road. Four storey Victorian houses with reasonable parking (quite unusual this close to the city) and a quiet ambience keep the area exclusive and pricey. Properties on the adjoining Havering Street, which ducks down towards the railway arches, are also very in demand. Things have moved up market somewhat since 1870, when Dr Barnardo set up his first refuge for homeless boys in nearby Stepney Causeway.
Heading north you'll run into Stepney Green, the last remaining patch of the field where Richard II faced down the peasant's revolt. The only confrontation to be found nowadays is between locals protecting this rather pretty little spot, and the developers. Judging from the sensitive manner in which new properties and conversions are executed, residents are winning this little battle hands down. Stepney Green names both the green and charming main road, the only blue cobbled street you'll find in the South East, lined with splendid Queen Anne houses. Mews houses and studio conversions make up an exceptionally attractive residential spot, and prices reflect this.
New affordable housing and conversion flats are also popping up along the Grand Union Canal. The houseboats moored along this stretch tend to be pricier than the small apartments overlooking them. Further cheap property options can be found in a variety of ex-council buildings along Commercial Road. Attractive Victorian properties (generally 2 story terraces) sit throughout the region. An enclave around Carlton Square to the north, and Bromley Street, near Limehouse DLR are good examples, with iron railings giving the essential town house feel.
A good spread of local shops and eateries, together with excellent connections to the City and Docklands are improving Stepney's stock as a base for those looking to live and work in the city. Wherever you lay your bowler hat, you'll be within easy reach of a DLR or Underground.
