Life In London | Area guides - where to eat, drink & shop

Living in Mile End London - Area Guide | PropertyLoop

Written by PropertyLoop | 1, Dec 2022

Table of contents

The Mile End may have been one of London’s original suburbs several centuries ago, but there is little that makes it feel like a suburban neighbourhood today. It’s true that it’s gritty, creative, and becoming gentrified. But it also offers good public transportation, with an extremely wide range of residents.

Introduction to Renting in Mile End

There is a long-standing reputation for Mile End as a popular student rental neighbourhood, but the demographics are shifting with young professionals moving in, who can take advantage of lower rentals and an easy commute into the City and Central London.

This neighbourhood is great for Londoners who work in the central city. Due to the surge of revitalization in the East London area, Mile End is experiencing an increase in amenities. Therefore, it is likely that the cost of living would continue to rise.

 

History of Mile End

Aldgate, a mile away from London’s financial district, is the first record of Mile End. Mile End Road is one of London’s first suburbs, and it has been an important east-of-England artery for a long time. This location played a critical role in the Peasants Revolt of 1381, which took place when the Essex rebels traveled into the city from this location and camped out in preparation. On the next day, Richard II met them here and rode out to meet them. A great number of the rebels were put to death as a result of their involvement in the insurrection.

Getting Around

Mile End is located in the East London borough of Tower Hamlets. Bethnal Green is to the east, while Hackney lies to the south, with the combined postcode E1/E3 covering it. A short walk from Scape (serving Central, District, and Hammersmith & City lines) and at Mile End Underground Station (the Central, District, and Hammersmith & City lines are served), you will find a very useful travel resource at Mile End.

 

One of the primary characteristics of Mile End is the mix of Victorian terraces, local authority buildings, and modern development, with only a few exceptions. However, rental prices in this neighbourhood are about 15% cheaper than those in Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, and Victoria Park, and a little more expensive than those in Bow.

You’ll see single-family homes in the area, as well as students. 20% of the population are students because the Queen Mary University of London is located nearby, hence some of the area’s fringe areas are quite vibrant.

 

Broadband Internet

Mile Ends has broadband speeds up to 100Mbps in most places and up to 120Mbps in upgraded areas.

Local Authority

Valuation Band Range of Values Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
A Up to and including £40,000 £984.61
B £ 40,001 – £ 52,000 £1,148.72
C £ 52,001 – £ 68,000 £1,312.82
D £ 68,001 – £ 88,000 £1,476.92
E £ 88,001 – £120,000 £1,805.12
F £120,001 – £160,000 £2,133.33
G £160,001 – £320,000 £2,461.53
H More than £320,000 £2,953.84
 

Local Life in Canary Wharf

 

Nightlife

When you move out of the extremely residential sections, there are many bars and restaurants to choose from, and new establishments are springing up in every neighbourhood, including family-friendly ones.

Pubs in the East End are traditionally well-known for their quality. The Morgan Arms gastropub is frequently visited by locals because it is located in the centre of town, as is The Palm Tree, situated along Mile End Park’s edges, and The Lord Tredegar, situated just outside the lovely Georgian Tredegar Square. The Rusty Bike in the East End is one of a growing number of local favourites in London where visitors can get a genuine Thai meal in a traditional atmosphere.

The Blind Beggar was previously owned by the Kray twins, and was where England soccer captain Bobby Moore spent a lot of time. Kids and families will find plenty of outdoor space at Mile End Park, while the East End’s mix of stores and boutiques is present in Roman Road.

 

Shopping

Compared to the rest of the high street, shopping in Mile End is like going to a well-stocked superstore. Stores like Boots, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s are mixed in with independent merchants like the quirky East End Vintage Clothes, where you pay for your vintage goods by the kg.

The borough of Stratford is accessible by train from Mile End, and the main shopping and restaurants are located there. A popular destination for shopping, because of the recently constructed Westfield and the historic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford is the finest place to go.

The biggest shopping district in the neighbourhood is known as the Roman Road market. A recently opened supermarket in the Grove area is called Bow Wharf, and there is a Tesco store next to the Bow Flyover as well.

Wine lovers should visit Vinarius, a prominent Roman Road wine retailer, where they may find both their Sancerre and their Sauvignon. There are all sorts of different wines from all over the world, and not only do they have a large selection of those, but they also sell craft beers, artisanal meats and cheeses, and you can even drink your bottle in the shop with some food and a £5 corkage fee if you aren’t quite ready to take it home.

Start by blending in with the hip people in E1 by wearing some of the clothing, accessories, and decor from this stylish designer boutique. What’s fantastic about it is you can discover new brands (Scandinavian designers are plenty) or acquire something eye-catching from their own African-inspired collection.

The shelves are stocked with a wide choice of unique, unusual presents and design-led accessories at this gift shop. The options are practically limitless when it comes to knit T-Rexes, pineapple print bags, and printed graphics.

 

Eating and Drinking

This area is seeing an exciting food scene, with the delicious and inventive restaurants Ink and the unique meat purveyor Greedy Cow as prime examples. If people in Mile End want to have a good time, they go to pubs and bars in Shoreditch or Hackney instead of packed clubs.

For the foodies, be sure to try Ariana where you’ll get tasty Persian and Afghan meals such as The Pizza Room and The Greedy Cow, all in the same restaurant, as well as Brick Lane, where curry lovers go from all over the world.

You should try the Greedy Cow on Grove Road, where the menu goes as far as camel burgers, wild boar, and kangaroo. There are also a number of non-edible options, such as beef, chicken, lamb, and fish.

For a spring day in a fabulous park, there’s nothing like relaxing with a nice cup of coffee outdoors of the Pavilion Cafe in Victoria Park. This casual and welcoming restaurant overlooks the boating lake and features a diverse brunch menu that includes conventional breakfast foods, sandwiches, and salads as well as cakes cooked from scratch and a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

This stylish Scandinavian restaurant located on Palmers Road in East London brings Scandi-cool to the neighbourhood with a modern menu made up of foamed, powdered, and creatively presented plates. In most cases, Chef Martyn Meid’s seven- or five-course tasting menu changes constantly, but you can expect salted cod that has been aged for 148 hours, pork belly that is covered in caramelised sugar, and a sweet, surprise chocolate salt to round out your gastronomic adventure.

Schools

In Mile End and the Tower Hamlets, families find a wide range of excellent schooling alternatives.

More than 200 primary schools that have gained a “outstanding” rating from Ofsted include the Beatrice Tate School for kids with special educational needs, Old Ford Primary, Bonner Primary, Old Palace Primary, St Agnes Catholic Primary, and Phoenix Primary and Secondary School.

A highly rated secondary school that consists of a single secondary school with an enrollment of about 1,500 schools includes the Stepney All Saints Church of England Secondary School, Bishop Challoner Girls’ School, the Ian Mikardo School for boys, and the Morpeth School.

A popular destination is the iconic Queen Mary University of London, which is located nearby in the Bethnal Green neighbourhood and the east end area has good public transport links to London’s premier universities.

New parents have everything covered at the other end of the spectrum. There are many different groups for babies and toddlers.

 

Crime and Safety

In terms of violent crime, Mile End has a high rate and a higher property crime rate than the London average.

 

Fun Fact about Mile End

Mile End was one of the City of London’s early suburbs. Mile End is named after an earlier hamlet that was first documented in 1288; it was built one mile (1.6 km) east of Aldgate. Mile End Road was an imposing way to get to London during the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt.