East London continues to attract a wide range of residents. From more central areas like Shoreditch or Canary Wharf out towards Barking and Dagenham, the easterly side of the capital offers a unique mix of industrial heritage, artistic flair and strong community spirit. We take a look at the best places to live in East London, according to resident reviews of new homes developments.
The HomeViews Transparency Rating gives extra weight to recent reviews. Developments with more reviews are also ranked higher to reflect consistency across a large number of reviews.
10 best places to live in East London
Now it’s time to take a look at our ranking of the 10 best new build developments in East London. As ever with HomeViews, our rankings are based solely on the reviews of verified residents of each new build development.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Recently leaping to the top of the East London developments rankings, Dressage Court offers 104 rental-only one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The development also enjoys easy access to Bethnal Green’s tube and rail stations, with great views towards the City and Canary Wharf. In addition, residents can access a 24-hour on-site team along with shared spaces that are free for everyone to enjoy.
In second place is Greystar’s Sailmakers, a Build to Rent scheme comprising 327 units. It is within the mixed-use Galliard Homes development, Harbour Central. The site is situated on the Isle of Dogs close to the River Thames, and less than a 10-minute walk from the heart of Canary Wharf. In addition, transport links come courtesy of nearby South Quay DLR and Canary Wharf’s DLR and Underground services. Residents enjoy fast and frequent connections to the likes of Bank and Monument.
In 3rd place, Vertus’ 10 George Street is a London Docklands development rising 37 storeys above Canary Wharf’s new district, Wood Wharf. There are 327 ultramodern apartments available, all overlooking waterside gardens and boardwalks below. In addition, residents have exclusive access to “Vertus+.” This includes access to a 24/7 gym studio, self-service bar, private dining room and lounge which opens out onto a large, south-facing terrace. Residents love this mix of exceptional on-site facilities and easy access to the thriving Canary Wharf scene.
In 4th it’s another built-to-rent favourite in the form of Fizzy Stepney Green from Greystar & Fizzy Living. The development has a prime setting in E1, very close to Stepney Green Underground and Queen Mary’s University. There are one, two and three-bedroom apartments available here, managed by Greystar.
Rolling into the middle of this list is Coppermaker Square, a new offering from Greystar with 1,225 rental apartments in a vibrant city neighbourhood, available to move in now, where residents can benefit from resident-only amenities including a 25m pool, spa, gym and studios, co-working space, roof terrace, private dining space and more. Situated in the heart of Stratford, East London’s new cultural hub, residents can enjoy green spaces and amenities on their doorstep in a well-connected area of London.
East Village has steadily climbed the ranks to reach number 6. This is a vibrant community offering fully-furnished studios, one, two, three and four bedroom apartments and townhouses. All of these have superfast WI-FI. In addition, parking spaces and storage pods are available for rent and free cycle storage is provided. Also, East Village is extremely well connected by the London Underground, and other train services. These can take you to King’s Cross in seven minutes.
A relatively new development is currently situated in 7th place for East London. Riverstone Heights is located on the banks of the River Lea. Way of Life’s newest East London residence has a rooftop terrace mid-barbecue, a private lounge and dining room. The building’s first floor is dedicated to co-working; with meeting rooms, phone booths and a kitchen for residents. The inclusive rental package includes superfast WIFI and on-site resident hosts.
Taking 8th position in East London, Apo Barking is a development situated on the banks of the River Roding and opposite Abbey Park. It features a range of studios, one and two-bed apartments. Residents can choose from a range of flexible leases and apartment upgrades. In addition, residents can access a range of amenities and facilities on site. This includes an exclusive on-site gym, The Barking Local, a co-working and lounge space as well as The Hub, the Apo HQ where residents can get help with any day-to-day stuff. Likewise, there is a members’ roof terrace on the seventh floor. Residents can also manage their home and membership through the Apo app.
9th on our list of the best places to live in East London is Oxbow. This joint venture by EcoWorld and Poplar Harca is just seven minutes away from Canary Wharf and 15 minutes from the City. The development offers a range of studios as well as one and two-bedroom apartments in East India Dock. Canning Town Underground station is only a 11-minute walk away, providing swift connections for residents via the Jubilee line. In addition, the development is just moments away from many of East London’s attractions.
Last up it’s Fizzy East16, which is located only 30 seconds from Canning Town Station. It comprises 292 apartments with a mix of studios and 1,2 and 3-beds available. In addition, residents have access to podium gardens, a co-working suite with a meeting room and resident lounges to meet, work and play. The development is pet-friendly and residents say it has a relaxed community feel.
The East Village development by Get Living in Stratford – the highest-rated new homes in Stratford on HomeViews
Living in East London
Along with Wembley and Nine Elms, Stratford has experienced some of the capital’s most rapid redevelopment over the past decade. Property prices have soared in the East London area since the 2012 Olympics, as a new generation of renters and buyers have moved in.
Gentrification has long since transformed easterly neighbourhoods like Shoreditch, Dalston and Haggerston. In more recent years, more peripheral areas like Barking, Canning Town and Beckton have seen new developments springing up. These have brought with them the new amenities and transport facilities needed to serve these new communities.
East London areas
Tower Hamlets covers a large and diverse swathe of East London. Stretching from the lower tip of the Isle of Dogs right up to Victoria Park in the north and Whitechapel to the west, Tower Hamlets residents vary widely in both nationality and income levels.
Ballymore’s Royal Wharf, E16 development in Royal Docks
To the east of Tower Hamlets lies the London Borough of Newham. This former industrial region is now a popular residential neighbourhood. Attractive new homes cluster around the Royal Docks, with London City Airport and the Excel Centre at the heart of the area’s new economic prosperity.
Moving out into the suburbs, and the borough of Barking and Dagenham offers some of London’s lowest-cost housing. In addition, numerous highly-rated new homes developments can be found here.
Further to the east, the outer London borough of Havering includes the commercial hub of Romford. Residents here enjoy excellent transport links out to Essex or westwards into Central London.
Perhaps the capital’s biggest oxymoron, East London is a place where traditional meets contemporary and all walks of life collide. And there lies its draw, as many of its millions of occupants will attest to. Read on to discover developments that are the best Read more about East London
HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
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