Living in Shadwell – Area Guide

Positioned on the River Thames between Wapping, Stepney and Limehouse, Shadwell is a district within the London borough of Tower Hamlets in East London. It is just three miles from Charing Cross and the area was once home to an important Roman port complex.

In 2021, the average property price in Shadwell was £500,705 making the area notably more affordable than the most expensive part of Tower Hamlets, which was Spitalfields with its average price of £1,110,585. However Shadwell is markedly more expensive than the most affordable area in the borough of Tower Hamlets, which was Bromley by Bow with its average price of £353,861.

Most of the properties sold in Shadwell throughout 2021 were flats, which fetched an average price of £498,008. There were also numerous terraced properties sold during the same period, which reached £662,500 on average. These figures illustrate that property in the area has decreased in value over the last several years. As well as being 9% lower than in 2020, sold prices are 36% lower than they were in 2018 when the average price at its peak was £786,966.

What is living in Shadwell like?

Shadwell is a relatively compact district in East London, stretching from Leman Street in the west to Butcher Row in the east, and the A13 Commercial Road to the north. The area benefits from a central location and excellent transport links, which is why many commuters view it as an attractive place to live. Additionally, as it is sort of tucked away from the hustle and bustle of other central districts, it benefits from a relatively quiet ambiance overall, particularly because it is primarily a residential area.

Shadwell's riverside location offers easy access to the lively marina, which is surrounded by cobblestone streets and offers a selection of historic pubs. In fact, the Prospect of Whitby can trace its lineage to the early sixteenth century, which would make it the oldest riverside tavern still standing. There is a surprising selection of property on offer in the area, including modern apartments within converted warehouse buildings with a long and interesting history.

Despite its small size, there is a surprising number of things to see and do in the area. The Tobacco Dock is just one example, which hosts a varied program of events throughout the year including food festivals and music events. Additionally, the likes of Spitalfields' Upmarket, the Whitechapel Gallery, St Katharine's Docks and the Skylight rooftop bar are all within easy reach.

Living in Shadwell pros and cons

Pro: Shadwell boasts excellent transport connections

Shadwell railway station is located within Zone 2 and is positioned between Wapping and Whitechapel. Its position on the East London Overground line offers connectivity to the likes of Highbury & Islington, Clapham Junction, West Croydon, Dalston Junction, and Crystal Palace. Trains depart from the station every three to five minutes. Shadwell station and the wider area is served by several London bus routes, including the 100 which runs between Shadwell and St. Paul's.

Commuters can also take advantage of the Shadwell DLR station, which is positioned between Limehouse, Bank and Tower Gateway. During off-peak times, there are approximately 15 trains per hour to Bank, nine trains per hour to Lewisham, and six trains per hour to Beckton. Services from the station also run to Tower Gateway and Woolwich Arsenal.

The district is also within easy reach of several other stations, including Aldgate, Aldgate East and London Fenchurch Street. 

Con: Shadwell is within the ULEZ zone

The ULEZ zone has been put in place to improve air quality across the capital. Shadwell is within this zone, which means that all vehicles that don't conform to emissions standards will be subject to a daily £12.50 charge. However Shadwell does have the benefit of being outside the Congestion Zone so it's not all bad news for drivers.

Is Shadwell a safe place to live?

There were 2,681 crimes recorded in Shadwell between January 2020 and December 2021, which was higher than in the nearby districts of St Katharine's and Wapping, Limehouse, and Stepney Green, which recorded 1,825, 1,040 and 2,160 incidents respectively during the same period. Crime in the district of Shadwell was, however, lower than in the nearby areas of Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Banglatown and Canary Wharf which recorded 4,770, 5,522 and 3,230 cases respectively.

Of the 2,681 crimes that occurred in Shadwell, there were 858 violent crimes, 586 cases of theft and 260 drug offences. Vehicle offences in the area were also relatively high, with 229 incidents recorded. As with most areas of London, crime in the Shadwell area has seen highs and lows over the last two years. Crime reached a low in December 2020 when there were just 72 crimes recorded, however figures peaked in October 2021 when there were 146 incidents reported. Between November 2021 and December 2021 crime fell sharply from 140 cases to 96.

Data from the Metropolitan Police groups Shadwell together with Whitechapel, and during November 2021 in this area there were 37 reports of miscellaneous theft, 26 incidents involving assault without injury and 25 violent crimes. Most of the hotspots for these crimes are located in the Whitechapel area, however some cases of theft and some assaults recorded in November 2021 did occur in the area around Watney Market. 

Bearing in mind that this data covers a wider area than just Shadwell alone, there were 17 crimes per 1,000 residents reported in November 2021. This compares to 10 crimes per 1,000 residents in the borough of Tower Hamlets, and eight crimes per 1,000 residents across the wider London area.

Which celebrities live in Shadwell?

An array of notable figures have called Shadwell their home over the centuries, including Eliza Roberts who was Florence Nightingale's Head Nurse throughout the Crimean War. Jane Randolph Jefferson, the mother of Founding Father and U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, was also born in Shadwell, as was scientist Sir William Henry Perkin, Labour politician Mildred Gordon and footballer Ted Juniper. 

Things to consider when moving to Shadwell

Shadwell is primarily a residential district within East London, offering a surprisingly quiet place to live considering its central location. But as we have seen that certainly isn't to say that there isn't also a vibrant nightlife scene, including several historic pubs, modern bars and entertainment venue.

The area is particularly popular amongst commuters who work in the City or Central London, however Shadwell is also home to young families because of its proximity to an array of amenities. There are, for example, more than 40 schools within a one mile radius of the district, including both independent and state offerings. The Blue Gate Fields Junior School and Bishop Challoner Girls' School are just two examples of 'Outstanding' schools in the area, but this list also includes the likes of St Peter's London Docks CofE Primary School, Bigland Green Primary School and Mulberry School for Girls.

From recognisable stores to the variety of fruit and vegetables available at Watney Market, this very walkable part of London has a lot to offer. It has benefitted from programs of regeneration in recent years and its selection of transport links to other parts of the city and beyond are helping to ensure this East London district continues to be a desirable place to live, especially for young professionals.