What you need to know about Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets is one of the many truly cosmopolitan areas in London. With over 127 languages spoken in its schools, the borough is notably diverse. It was formed in 1965 from the merger of Bethnal Green, Stepney and Poplar. Considered the core of the East End, The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is located north of the River Thames and east of the ancient walled City of London. There is a huge regeneration plan in progress, driven by the local council, as the borough continues to experience major change and growth. The aim is to turn Tower Hamlets into a key focus area for London’s growth while attracting the enterprise sector by improving connections between the borough and surrounding areas.
According to the council, there will be a mix of housing types with high quality developments and well-designed spaces served by a range of excellent infrastructure and facilities throughout the borough. Whitechapel is one of the key regeneration areas in the borough, and it is looking forward to the arrival of the Elizabeth line, attracting investment and further new developments. In the meantime, Canary Wharf wants to attract creative and technology business to the area and is planning to create mixed-use scheme buildings. The regeneration of London Dock will boost Wapping district which has plans to turn a 7.5 acre area into an incredible open space with many restaurants, boutiques and bars, bringing fresh new air to this side of the borough. Tower Hamlets has a young population and is shaping its path into the future.
This vibrant part of London can deliver a hipster atmosphere in Brick Lane and Whitechapel while on the other hand it can put you directly inside the forward-thinking financial district of Canary Wharf. So it doesn't matter what your preferences may be, here you will definitely find a place to call home. Living in Tower Hamlets presents the opportunity to explore some amazing ancient and modern places with your family with exciting markets just around the corner. The Tower of London is a must-see attraction for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of the East End.
The majority of properties in Tower hamlets are flats or maisonettes and 66% of houses have only one or two bedrooms, according to the council’s report “Communities and Housing Evidence Pack”. The same report also shows that private rented housing is the fastest growing sector in the borough, representing 39% of all homes.
In this area, you will find approximately 238 primary schools and 91 secondary schools, of which 86 are rated as outstanding by Ofsted. The Royal London Hospital and Mile End Hospital are the main hospitals in the borough, but there are many other NHS community sites, such as Whitechapel Health Centre and Albion Health Centre. The air quality in Tower Hamlets is considered excellent, and the borough is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The crime rate in this region is higher than the average in London.
Tenants are frequently looking for houses to rent in Canary Wharf, Bethnal Green and Bow while new buyers are eager to find the perfect property in Shadwell, Mile End and Wapping. According to Housing in London 2019, there are 317,705 people living in Tower Hamlets with 2.65 people per dwelling. The housing stock in the area has grown by 23.7% from 2008 to 2018, with 43,280 affordable homes representing 11% of total stock. The average private rent is £1,647 and the average house price is £430,892, according to the same report.
The borough has 11.81% of owned outright dwellings, 17.94% owned with a mortgage or loan, 34.46% private rent and 35.79% social housing, according to the Office of National Statistics. If you would like to rent a house in Tower Hamlets, it is estimated that you will need a total annual income of £49,410, according to the rent affordability formula.
