Realistically priced new homes and exciting job opportunities are drawing families, city workers, investors and first-time homeowners to this storied, well connected and rapidly changing area of Bromley-by-Bow.
Sandwiched between Bow and Hackney to the north-west and Stratford to the east, Bromley-by-Bow which is part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is firmly on the up – Significant investment and rejuvenation projects which are part of the 10-year, Tower Hamlet’s wider regeneration masterplan are creating new waterside developments fronting the River Lea.
What’s more, Bromley-by-Bow is connected to London’s financial centres old and new, invigorated by an influx of creative people and enhanced by sitting at the nexus of three of London’s most soothing waterways, including the River Lea.
Here are 10 reasons why you should make Bromley-by-Bow your home or investment destination:
#1 Great connectivity
Bromley-by-Bow Station upgrades will be completed by the end of 2018. The new Crossrail Elizabeth Line will be opening in Stratford (6 minutes away from Bromley-by-Bow tube) in 2019.
There is over £9m being invested to improve the transport infrastructure in the area, as well as a dynamic district centre planned that will bring new shops, offices, a hotel, a school and riverside park.
Bromley-by-Bow Tube station, soon to be upgraded, is in Zone 2 and is served by the Hammersmith & City and District lines. You can be in the City within 10 minutes and Oxford Circus in under 20 minutes.
#2 Education offerings
Located just 27 minutes away via the tube is Queen Mary University which has campuses across London including Mile End, Whitechapel, and Lincolns Inn Fields as well as across the world in Paris, Piraeus, Greece, Victoria, Malta, Beijing, China, Nanchang, Xian, and Singapore, which makes it particularly attractive to international students. The university dates back to 1785, with the founding of England’s first medical school at the Royal London Hospital.
The Higher education offering in the area will be improving over the next few years as well, with the new UCL East campus arriving in 2021 and UAL’s London College of Fashion will be uniting 6,500 students within one campus in 2022.
Meanwhile, local schools located within a 2-mile distance include East London Arts & Music, Ian Mikardo School, St. Paul’s Way Trust School and Beatrice Tate School.
#3 Vast green open spaces
Residents have miles of pretty riverside walkways lining the River Lea to enjoy. Also on the doorstep is Mile End Park – a linear park taking you via Wennington Green to the historic Victoria Park with its year-round popular events and festivals. You will also be a short distance from the Olympic Park and Stepney Green Park.
#4 Abundant employment opportunities
Savvy young professionals, students and investors are buying into the area’s all-around appeal boosted by excellent transport links and a bright future. Bromley-by-Bow is within walking distance of the capital’s major creative, financial and educational employment hubs; Canary Wharf, the City of London and Shoreditch can be reached in less than ten minutes via the Hammersmith & City and District lines.
Tower Hamlet’s wider regeneration masterplan is going to change Bromley-by-Bow as it becomes a more and more prominent chapter in the story of East London’s regeneration. The borough is planning a “new district centre with a vibrant mix of uses, including flexible community space that provides new jobs for existing and future communities.
Also planned is a new cultural and educational quarter, ‘East Bank’, it is championed by the Mayor of London as a powerhouse of culture, education, innovation and growth.
The BBC, University College London (UCL), the V&A and Sadler’s Wells are all setting up new outposts north of Bow Creek, bringing international attention, investment and cultural opportunity to the local area.
#5 Scenic river views
At the intersection of Bow Creek, the River Lea and the Limehouse Cut canal, there are riverside views in every direction. With new developments in various stages of completion, coveted riverside living will be accessible to forward-thinking Londoners minus the premium price tag; from your apartment, you will have scenic views of the River Lea and Bow Creek as well as superb riverside walkways where residents can walk, jog or cycle.
#6 Shopping galore
Bromley-by-Bow is hemmed in by some of London’s most exciting shopping destinations – from the unique boutique stores of Shoreditch to major scale retail at Stratford Westfield and Canary Wharf and the unique vintage stores of Roman Road, Roman Road Market and Victoria Park Village.
Further afield there is Spitalfields Market and Columbia Road Flower Market held on Sundays. Boxpark in Shoreditch is the world’s first pop-up mall and home to more than 60 fashion brands and food and drink retailers.
#7 Arts & culture, social activities aplenty
East London has an ancient, colourful history and vibrant culture and there are many places to get a flavour of both the past and the future. Start by exploring The Art Pavilion at Mile End Park, Ragged School Museum, Three Mill Studio, Museum of Childhood, Whitechapel Gallery and Museum of London Docklands.
Then there are independent theatres, such as Genesis Cinema, showing blockbuster and independent arthouse films, as well as the Hackney Empire – an iconic venue for the arts and popular culture since 1901.
For fans of music festivals and concerts, there is something to suit everyone, from Spitalfields Music, Greenwich Dockland International Festival, and the many festivals held and big stage events held at Victoria Park.
East London’s eateries boast an array of cuisine from around the globe and when it comes to nightlife, East London is where it’s all happening. From lively pubs to bars and clubs, the incredible collection of music and drinking establishments is unrivalled in the UK.
#8 Area regeneration & investment
According to Knight Frank’s London Development Hotspots: Residential Development Opportunity Areas 2018 Report – In neighbouring West Ham, property values are set to rise by more than 35% by 2021. Bromley-by-Bow is naturally the next place to benefit from the Mayor’s £1.1bn vision for the East Bank, which has encouraged world famous cultural and educational brands to the area. Bromley-by-Bow is moments away from Stratford, where property prices have grown by 82% in the last five years, according to the Land Registry.
TfL, Tower Hamlets Council and the London Legacy Development Corporation are investing over £9m to upgrade the area’s transport infrastructure. The planned improvements to the District line will boost capacity by 24%. In addition to the infrastructure improvements, Tower Hamlets is creating a local hub that will bring new shops, offices, a hotel, a school and riverside park space.
Besides the UCL East building and the UAL’s London College of Fashion, the Victoria & Albert East Museum is set to open its doors too, by 2023.
#9 Robust rental market
East London’s rental market is buoyant, with exceptionally high demand set to grow in line with ongoing regeneration and the completion of numerous riverside residential schemes in Bromley-by-Bow, including Three Waters by Mount Anvil.
The area attracts young professionals, civil servants, international students, city workers and those in the legal and financial sectors based in Canary Wharf.
#10 Three Waters by Mount Anvil
Three Waters is a residential development by Mount Anvil and Peabody which offers zone 2 living with zone 1 journey times. The Tube is a seven-minute walk away and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) just moments more. From there you can be in The City or Canary Wharf in fifteen minutes.
The developer is now launching studio units as well as one, two and three-bedroom homes that will put you minutes from the city and metres from the water. Residents will get to enjoy all the perks that come with city living without compromising on headspace – a raised garden, roof terrace and generous private balconies offer views of London and with water surrounding the properties, you will enjoy triple the tranquillity.
Not to mention, residents will be privy to 24-hour concierge services, a private screening room and a waterside café.
Thinking about buying property in Bromley-by-Bow? Find out more about Three Waters – an exciting new waterside development.
Edited by Reena Kaur Bhatt