Accommodation for the Games | Guide To Hackney
HACKNEY
Hackney is a borough of variety and diversity but also one whose devoted inhabitants consider it to be the best bit of London to call home. The council with assistance from the residents are striving to make positive and forward thinking changes to help their environment and ensure the area goes from strength-to-strength. Gentrification is happening wherever you look and the creative crowd that help give the borough its flare are opening new galleries, cafes, bars and clubs constantly. Excellent green spaces, knocking on the door of the Olympic Village and being a host borough for the Games means Hackney is a spot to give good consideration to, when searching for a place to stay.
Neighbourhoods in Hackney
Properties in Hackney
CLAPTON, E5
The housing available ranges from post war blocks to the usual Victorian terrace and a few Georgian delights, Clapton has some diversity to offer both in accommodation and reputation. Located in Upper Clapton is Springfield Park, which offers some pleasant views over the Lea Valley, also the local skyline is dominated by a gothic style church “The Good Shepherd” which has some unusual history worth checking out... Lower Clapton is more bountiful in cafes, bars and shops. The ease of access to Hackney town centre, swathes of open green spaces and the Olympic Park just a stone’s throw away makes for a convenient location.
Nearest underground stations
Tottenham Hale, Manor House, Seven Sisters, Clapton, Saint James Street, South Tottenham, Stamford Hill
Olympic Venues close to Clapton
Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, Eton Manor, Handball Arena, Hockey Centre, IBC/MPC, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Village, VeloPark
DALSTON, E8
Dalston has a vibe of urban activity, with a busy high street, shopping centre and market. With the imminent arrival of a new tube stop, the area is also getting a stack of gleaming and towering new build apartments marketed towards a hip young professional clientele. The area is famous for a variety of food experiences, there are some fantastic Turkish restaurants on offer, ‘Faulkner’s’ is considered one of the best British fish and chip shops for many miles, and if you know where to look you’ll find some Vietnamese canteens offering excellent food in more simple surroundings. The nearby Ridley Road Market is an interesting place to buy the best African and Caribbean ingredients. Entertainment on offer includes an Art Deco art house cinema, jazz bars and cafes. The new train station will offer fast shuttle links to the Olympic Village – which should take no more than a few minutes to reach.
Nearest underground stations
Dalston Kingsland and Dalston Junction
Olympic Venues close to Dalston
Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, Eton Manor, Handball Arena, Hockey Centre, IBC/MPC, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Village, VeloPark
HACKNEY, E8 & E9
With roots home to a more working-class demographic, Hackney has now also become popular with more affluent young professionals and families and features areas of gentrification next to historically less affluent spots. The heart of Hackney is Mare Street with its Town Hall, Civic Buildings and busy shopping amenities however the real local gem is London Fields. This is a delightful park featuring a recently renovated public swimming pool that offers an excellent spot to chill out on a hot summer’s day; you can also grab a cool drink from the excellent pubs conveniently located nearby. The surrounding streets contain both delightful Victorian terrace houses and many warehouse conversions that are home to artistic types. The ever evolving and super cool Broadway Market offers a host of places to stop in at midweek, especially for a good coffee, but really it comes alive with its Saturday market featuring many gourmet food stalls.
Nearest underground stations
Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Homerton, London Fields
Olympic Venues close to Hackney
Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, Eton Manor, Handball Arena, Hockey Centre, IBC/MPC, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Village, VeloPark
SHOREDITCH & HOXTON, E2 & N1
Both Shoreditch and Hoxton offer a diverse urban vibe, swanky new build lofts often sit cheek by jowl with some less affluent estates but this just enhances the area’s reputation as being the hip place to be. Just minutes from the City of London’s financial district, Shoreditch High Street, Hoxton Square and Old Street offer a buzz of bars, clubs, restaurants and galleries. More recently a few members clubs have appeared in some of the historic buildings and if you fancy a fine dining experience in the most unusual and lavish surroundings then Les Trios Garcon is the place for you. A host of transport links are available nearby, as are the curiosities of Brick Lane, Spitalfields Market and Columbia Road Flower Market – at least on a Sunday.
Nearest underground stations
Old Street, Hoxton
Olympic Venues close to Shoreditch & Hoxton
Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, Eton Manor, Handball Arena, Hockey Centre, IBC/MPC, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Village, VeloPark
STAMFORD HILL, N16
Stamford Hill is most well known for being home to a huge Hasidic Jewish community, as well as a broader demographic however they peacefully coexist without great deal of interaction. The Manor Road and Lordship park areas within the district are home to some impressive detached and semi-detached houses although many are now converted into flats. Another local landmark bordering Stoke Newington is the Castle Climbing centre behind which you will find the West Reservoir, a water sports and education centre which offers a delightful and little known cafe overlooking the water.
Nearest underground stations
Stamford Hill
Olympic Venues close to Stamford Hill
Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, Eton Manor, Handball Arena, Hockey Centre, IBC/MPC, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Village, VeloPark
STOKE NEWINGTON, N16
Stoke Newington covers a broad area but the heart of which is centred on Stoke Newington Church Street and the neighbouring Clissold Park. “Church Street” as it is affectionately known, has a real community feel about it, offers a multitude of boutiques, shops, restaurants and cafes, and is ever popular with the bugaboo pushing mums and dads who frequently pop down to the local whole foods market for provisions before stopping at a cafe for an espresso and a baby chino. The surrounding streets are full of attractive Victorian terraces and the recent redevelopment of the now impressive Clissold Leisure Centre with its multiple swimming pools and gym facilities is a real asset. The major drawer card for the local community however is the delightful Clissold Park with its open spaces, lakes, playing fields, animal and bird enclosures plus a sizable kid’s paddling pool in the summer. With an imposing and elegant mansion house at its heart, recently reopened after a multi million pound renovation (including an excellent new cafe and formal rose garden) Olympic visitors should definitely make time to visit and take in its splendour.
Nearest underground stations
Rectory Road, Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill
Olympic Venues close to Stoke Newington
Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, Eton Manor, Handball Arena, Hockey Centre, IBC/MPC, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Village, VeloPark
VICTORIA PARK, E9
Victoria Park has emerged in recent years as an extremely popular place for young professional families and first time home owners to find an attractive Victorian property. The local park was the city's first public park opened in 1845 after a petition was presented to Queen Victorian and is the third largest cultivated green space in London. Offering fantastic facilities such as lakes, cafes, a deer enclosure and over 250 acres of greenery, the park will likely play a major role in the London 2012 Olympics as a ‘Live Site’ with free access big screens and had been planned as part of the route for the race walking for Olympics. The village immediately next door to the park is full of delightful amenities and without being pretentious offers a wonderful and ever increasing number of funky shops, cafes offering outdoor seating, galleries, award winning restaurants and bars, plus a pub right on the park. If you are a foodie a specialist green grocer, fishmonger and most excellent butcher all offer wonderfully fresh produce. The 2012 Olympic Park is also only a short distance away easily walk able down the canal towpath and the village has a convenient minicab office as well other transport options.
Nearest underground stations
Bethnal Green, Cambridge Heath, Hackney Wick
Olympic Venues close to Victoria Park
Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, Eton Manor, Handball Arena, Hockey Centre, IBC/MPC, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Village, VeloPark
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