Shoreditch is a fashionable district found in the E1 and EC2 postcodes, in the London Borough of Hackney.
Although once a centre for textile and furniture trades, the past 20 years has seen a gentrification of the area by the creative industries, drawing in a bohemian crowd that adds to Shoreditch’s trendy and vibrant feel.
With its ideal placing in central London, close to Liverpool Street, more and more young professionals are moving into Shoreditch. Despite the wealth that has entered the area in recent years, it has maintained its gritty East London edge and its urban charm continues to attract people of the art and technical industries, including the likes of Tracey Emin, Damien Hurst and Noel Fielding.
Property in Shoreditch
Indicative of Shoreditch’s industrial past and creative, quirky present, warehouse conversions are a prevalent and popular choice of housing for locals, as they offer original, character features, open plan living and often a location central to Shoreditch.
Although you will be able to find Georgian and Victorian terraced homes in Shoreditch, over 80% of the housing stock in the area is made up of flats. People looking to upsize when starting a family do regularly move out of Shoreditch to areas where you can get more square footage for your money and, possible, more conventional surroundings.
Property in Shoreditch is not limited to older buildings, with the many new developments planned, including townhouses overlooking Shoreditch Park and apartments close to Shoreditch High Street, there are many property options if you are considering this area for your house move.
With an average property value of around £650,000 and weekly rental price of around £1,500 for a studio to £3,000 for a three bedroom property, you'll see the strong appeal of the area and booming London housing market clearly reflected in the Shoreditch property prices when looking for a London house in Shoreditch. Property prices do, however, get cheaper as you move further from central London, so you may be able to find a home in budget and in walking distance to Shoreditch High Street if you look further east and north.
For information about council tax, you can take a look at our article, ‘how much is council tax in London’ to find the London Borough of Hackney’s council tax bands and charges.
Transportation
Public Transport
The main station in Shoreditch is Shoreditch High Street Railway Station, which is on the East London line of the London Overground in Zone 1. The Overground connects Shoreditch to areas including Highbury & Islington for the Victorian Line and National Rail services, and only two stops down is Shadwell, where you can change to the DLR; it’s an easily accessible location wherever you need to be in London.
Shoreditch’s central location means you can walk to Liverpool Street in 5 minutes for a number of tube and National Rail services across the capital and beyond. Old Street for the Northern Line is also just a short walk away.
For journeys around the UK, you can be at London Waterloo in 20 minutes, and there are bus links from Shoreditch to Euston Station.
Parking Permits
If you are planning to have a car when living in Shoreditch, the cost of a parking permit will depend on your vehicle size. Parking permits can be applied for on the Hackney London Borough Council website and can be purchased for a three, six or 12 month period.
Attractions and Entertainment
Food, Drink and the Shoreditch Nightlife
With an eclectic mix of bars, cafes, restaurants and pubs, you can see why Shoreditch is one of the trendiest places to call home for young Londoners.
The region offers a varied nightlife choice, from the traditional, relaxed pubs along Hoxton Street and bars on Commercial Street to the multicultural, independent restaurants and late-night, contemporary clubs, there are many evening venues and events to enjoy in Shoreditch.
The Book Club is a popular destination for visitors and locals, offering breakfast in the morning and cocktails in the evening, as well as a packed calendar of music, spoken word and ping pong.
Shoreditch is home to the famous Brick Lane, influenced by the various different cultures residing in the area. Known as London’s ‘curry mile’, this is a must-visit for curry fans, especially if you are soon to be a local resident. There are also many options for affordable Vietnamese food around the area.
There’s also the Urban Food Fest to enjoy, which runs every Saturday from the end of September to mid-December – make sure you use a removal company with local knowledge and awareness if you are moving during this time, so they will know the busy areas to avoid.
Shops and Galleries
Shoreditch is full of independent, boutique shops and galleries. With a number vintage shops and arts and crafts stores, not to mention a vibrant Flower Market every Sunday, Columbia Road is a popular place for locals and tourists to spend their time in Shoreditch, visiting the art galleries and shopping for antiques.
Although Shoreditch’s streets are extensively decorated in street art and graffiti, you won’t have to walk far to find an art gallery. Much of the art work in the area is of a contemporary theme, but still offers a wide variety of British and international art.
With pop-up shops and restaurants opening frequently, there are always more places to discover and enjoy in Shoreditch.
Buying in Shoreditch
Buying a new home is always an exciting time, and if you have found a home in trendy, lively Shoreditch, you’re sure to want to be in as soon as possible. It is essential, however, to make sure you use London professionals during your property transaction.
When buying a property in Shoreditch, it is important to find a reputable conveyancing solicitor with experience in the East London market to undertake your conveyancing. Surface water flooding can be a common problem in East London, so make sure that you have a conveyancing solicitor to complete an Environmental Search to determine whether your Shoreditch home has suffered from any previous flooding and if there is a risk of flooding occurring in the future.
As many of the properties in Shoreditch are older or converted buildings, a house survey before completing on your house purchase is vital. A Building Survey is the appropriate survey type for converted or older properties. To get quotes from Chartered Surveyors local to Shoreditch, you can compare survey quotes with reallymoving.com.