Hoxton is a district in the North East London borough of Hackney and is nestled between the areas of Shoreditch, Haggerston, Dalston and De Beauvoir Town.
In 2021 sold prices in Hoxton reached an average of £686,919, making the area considerably more affordable than nearby De Beauvoir Town, which recorded an average price of £819,690 in the same period. Conversely, Hoxton is significantly more expensive than the most affordable area within the borough of Hackney, which was Trowbridge Estate, with its average price sitting at £513,295.
Most properties sold in the district in 2021 were flats, which fetched £648,203 on average. The area also saw some terraced properties hit the market, which ultimately pushed the district's overall average up somewhat, as they alone averaged £2,855,000.
Interestingly, property prices in Hoxton fell by 9% from 2020 and by 14% from 2019, when the peak average reached £798,134.
What is living in Hoxton like?
While some maintain that Hoxton is technically part of Shoreditch, the area has its own vibe, and certainly doesn't sit in the shadows.
Hoxton is generally viewed as stretching from Regent's Canal to the north, Old Street to the south, Kingsland Road to the east, and Wharf Road to the west. Its history can be traced back to the Domesday Book, where it was recorded as 'Hogesdon', which translates to 'fortified enclosure'. Although not much is known about the settlement's origins, it was likely occupied from the 1st century.
After the Second World War, a lot of Hoxton's small industry moved out of the area. In the 1980s many young artists moved into these abandoned warehouses, which they used as spaces to both live and work. In the 1990s, many of Hoxton's former retail and office spaces were used as clubs and exhibition spaces, which cemented the district as a real hub of creativity and self-expression.
Curator Joshua Compston organised several art fetes which were hosted in Hoxton Square and brought many other creatives to the area from the early 1990s to the mid-200s. Additionally, chef Jamie Oliver chose Hoxton as the location of his restaurant Fifteen in the early 2000s, which should go some way to highlight the area's trendy reputation.
Today the southern part of Hoxton upholds its fun and carefree vibe, and is home to an array of nightclubs, bars and restaurants. Conversely, the district's northern half is considerably more residential, however it also benefits from its fair share of amenities. The Hoxton Market, for example, has existed since the late 1680s, and after a considered effort to transform its fortunes in 2013, it has continued to serve the local community well.
Living in Hoxton pros and cons
Pro: Hoxton benefits from strong transport links
Hoxton railway station sits on the East London line. In 2015, the station was extended as the new five-car electric trains were accommodated and services depart every 5-10 minutes. Connectivity to an array of destinations is made simple, including Highbury & Islington, Dalston Junction, New Cross, West Croydon and Crystal Palace.
Hoxton railway station is served by numerous bus routes including the 394 between Islington and Homerton University Hospital, the 149 between London Bridge and Edmonton Green, and several night services operating between 11pm and 6am.
Hoxton is also located within easy reach of Old Street station, which is on the Bank branch of the Northern line and offers connectivity to the likes of Morden, High Barnet, and Edgware. Old Street is also served by National Rail services, which provide connectivity to the likes of Watton-at-Stone in Hertfordshire and to Moorgate.
Con: Hoxton is within the ULEZ Zone
Although Hoxton sits just outside the Congestion Charge zone, vehicles that don't conform to emissions standards are subject to ULEZ charges.
Pro: Hoxton benefits from beautiful open spaces
Hoxton Square is widely considered to be one of London's oldest public garden squares, and since the 1990s it has sat firmly at the heart of the district's entertainment scene. As well as an array of musicians and dancers performing in the square, it is surrounded by a selection of bars, clubs and restaurants.
Hoxton also benefits from lower than typical levels of air pollution for such a central location. Between mid-January and mid-February 2022, air pollution only exceeded recommendations set out by the World Health Organisation on four out of 30 days.
Is Hoxton a safe place to live?
In the Hoxton West SNT area there were 3,240 crimes reported between January 2020 and December 2021. Approximately one third of reported crimes were categorised as theft, and a further 711 were violent crimes.
Crime fell sharply in the area between January and April 2020, and again between November 2020 and January 2021. It then climbed steadily and remained relatively high for the final few months of 2021. In December 2021 for example, there were 157 crimes reported.
Overall there were 19 crimes per 1,000 residents recorded in Hoxton West in November 2021. This is significantly higher than the 11 crimes per 1,000 residents seen in the borough of Hackney, and the eight crimes per 1,000 residents recorded across the wider London area.
In the Hoxton East and Shoreditch SNT area there were 6,600 crimes reported during the same period. More than a third of these incidents were related to theft, and the area also saw 1,352 violent crimes.
Crime in this area remained low between April 2020 and June 2020, and again between January and March 2021. Crime them rose steadily throughout the rest of 2021 before falling between November and December from 460 reports to 310.
Which celebrities live in Hoxton?
Hoxton has experienced many highs and lows over the decades, and has been home to people from all walks of life. Some of the district's more notable names include actor Jason Donovan, filmmaker Sir Alfred Hitchcock, and notorious East End gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray.
Writer and social reformer Mary Wollstonecraft was born in Hoxton and spent many of her formative years in the area. Bare-knuckle boxer and actor Lenny McLean was also born in Hoxton, as was soap actor Peter Dean, union leader Frank Chapple, and TV actor George Sewell.
Things to consider when moving to Hoxton
As the years tick by, Hoxton is gradually becoming increasingly gentrified. It is no longer the same place it was in the 1990's when the artists arrived, as large organisations have moved in and purchased significant amounts of office space.
As such, Hoxton is particularly attractive to young professionals who want to be in the midst of the action and minimise their commutes to work. For example, it's possible to be in the City of London in under 30 minutes by public transportation, and in under 15 minutes by bicycle. Westminster is 45 minutes away, and residents can be in Southwark in just over half an hour.
There is a good selection of property on offer, including beautiful Georgian and Victorian townhouses which have been converted into modern apartments. This certainly isn't to say that there aren't any family homes available in the area, however they are outnumbered by flats and competition for them is often high.
There are also a number of excellent schools in the local area, including Shoreditch Park Primary School and the Central Foundation Boys' School, both of which have secured coveted 'Outstanding' Ofsted ratings. So, families shouldn't necessarily discount Hoxton immediately, it's also worth noting that spacious family properties do come at a premium.