Brick Lane is an iconic street in the East London borough of Tower Hamlets. It runs from Swanfield Street in Bethnal Green through Shoreditch and into Whitechapel. Osborn Street connects the southern end of Brick Lane to Whitechapel High Street.
Property prices in the Brick Lane area averaged £930,520 in 2021, which was significantly more expensive that the overall average across the borough of Tower Hamlets. Brick Lane property is significantly more expensive than the borough's most affordable area, which was Bromley By Bow, with its average price of £353,861. Property prices in the area also aren't too dissimilar to those in Spitalfields, which was the borough's most expensive district with sold prices here averaging £1,110,585.
Flats accounted for most of the properties sold in the Brick Lane area throughout 2021, and they reached an overall average price of £574,377. Terraced properties in Brick Lane fetched an average price of £2,132,500, which significantly increased the overall average in the area. Overall, property prices in Brick Lane increased by an enormous 60% between 2020 and 2021. Additionally, they were also 23% higher than they were in 2019, when sold prices peaked at an average £756,023.
What is living in Brick Lane like?
Brick Lane sits at the heart of the Bangladeshi community in the UK, with many affectionately referring to the area as Banglatown. Brick Lane is especially renowned for its curry houses, which attract people from across the city.
In recent decades regeneration projects have contributed to a strong creative, arts and fashion scene with many fashion and fine art universities hosting end of year exhibitions in and around the area. The Rag Factory is a studio, performance and exhibition space which was once the home of artists Gary Hume and Tracey Emit. This creative vibe is also present in the graffiti in the area, which has been created by the likes of Banksy, D*Face, ROA, Stik, Ben Eine and Omar Hassan.
There are a number of notable buildings in the area, including Christ Church Spitalfields, which was designed by renowned architect Nicholas Hawksmore and was constructed between 1714 and 1749. The area is also home to the Brick Lane Jamme Madjid, which is a Grade II listed building welcoming up to 3,200 worshippers.
Brick Lane attracts shoppers from across the city and beyond, offering an array of vintage and antiques emporiums as well as independent sellers and the sprawling Brick Lane Market which runs every Sunday. The area is also home to London's oldest bagel shop and it's not unusual to see long queues forming in the early hours to grab a delicious on-the-go breakfast.
Living in Brick Lane pros and cons
Pro: Brick Lane has a thriving cultural scene
As one of the places in London that has earned iconic status, the cultural scene in and around the area is extremely strong and diverse. In fact its reputation means that it is now seen as more than just a street, expanding to encompass streets between Aldgate, Whitechapel and Bethnal Green. Brick Lane's nightlife scene is also thriving, with chic bars and welcoming pubs lining the streets.
Con: Brick Lane is within the ULEZ zone
As well as being within the ULEZ zone, which has been implemented to improve London's air quality, it is also on the cusp of the Congestion Zone. While this may put off some drivers, the scheme has already started generating results in terms of air quality. Between early January 2022 and early February 2022 levels of pollution exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on fewer than half the days.
Pro: Brick Lane is positioned in an excellent location
Its central position means that travel to and from the area is extremely easy. Residents can quickly get to Aldgate East and Liverpool Street stations, offering access to the Hammersmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan and Central lines. Shoreditch High Street station offers access to London Overground, which is served by trains running to areas such as Dalston Junction, Crystal Palace, Clapham Junction and Highbury & Islington.
Is Brick Lane a safe place to live?
Brick Lane is located within the wider Spitalfields and Banglatown area, which recorded 5,522 crimes between January 2020 and December 2021. This was notably higher than the surrounding areas of Weavers, Stepney Green and Whitechapel, but only slightly higher than in the neighbouring area of St Peter's, which recorded 5,100 cases.
Theft was the most common type of crime recorded in the area, accounting for 1,915 reports. The area also saw 1,153 violent crimes, 632 drug offences and 434 public order offences.
Crime peaked in the area during February 2020, September 2020 and October 2020, when there were 291, 287, and 286 crimes reported respectively. Conversely crime reached a low in April 2020 and February 2021, when there were just 150 and 151 crimes reported. Throughout much of 2021 levels of crime remained steady, with 255 reports made in July and 247 reports recorded in October. Between October and December 2021 crime in the area fell from 247 reports to 218 reports.
Taking a more in-depth look into statistics recorded in November 2021, Metropolitan Police data shows that there were 53 reports of miscellaneous theft, 27 cases of theft from a person and 27 reports of harassment. Overall there were 15 crimes per 1,000 residents recorded in Spitalfields and Banglatown in November 2021. This compares to 10 crimes per 1,000 residents across the borough of Tower Hamlets, and 8 crimes per 1,000 residents across the wider London area.
Which celebrities live in Brick Lane?
The seamless combination of old and new has and will continue to attract people from around the world. From cobblestone streets to chic apartments, Brick Lane is an amalgamation of influences, generations, styles and cultures, all of which contribute to making the area so unique.
While the area isn't necessarily renowned for being home to many current famous faces, renowned artist Tracey Emin spent a significant amount of time living and creating her work in the area during the late 1990s and 2000s.
Things to consider when moving to Brick Lane
Most of the properties in the area are flats and apartments, however as we have seen there are also a handful of terraced properties which can offer more space to growing families. There are also more than 50 schools within a one mile radius of Brick Lane, including the Thomas Buxton Primary School, Virginia Primary School and Mulberry Academy Shoreditch, all of which have secured 'Outstanding' Ofsted ratings.
It is also worth noting that Brick Lane is a busy part of the city, attracting a large number of tourists throughout the year. So if you're looking to enjoy somewhat of a quieter lifestyle, it will likely be in your best interests to consider other districts in Tower Hamlets.
There are also some concerns that new luxury developments in the surrounding areas, which are bumping up rental and property prices, are contributing to gentrification in an area that has historically been a sanctuary for minority communities. Planned developments that have already been given the go-ahead include a five-storey shopping mall which will be constructed next to an existing complex that is home to a selection of independent retailers, markets, bars, eateries and galleries.