Nestled between the districts of Tower Hill, Bethnal Green and Stepney, Whitechapel occupies a prime position in the west of the East London borough of Tower Hamlets. It is just under 3.5 miles from Charing Cross and remains somewhat infamous as the location of 11 murders between 1888 and 1891, some of which are believed to have been committed by notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper. Modern day Whitechapel is thankfully renowned for far more positive attributes, making it an attractive place to live for both young professionals and families.
The average property price in Whitechapel in 2021 was £616,089, which was approximately £30,000 higher than the overall average across the borough of Tower Hamlets. Whitechapel was also considerably more expensive than the borough's most affordable area, which was Bromley By Bow, with its average price of £353,861. Whitechapel is however a long way from the most expensive part of Tower Hamlets, which is an award that goes to Spitalfields, with its average property price of £1,110,585.
The most commonly sold type of property in Whitechapel during 2021 were flats, and they reached an average price of £519,617. Whitechapel's terraced properties significantly increased the overall average in the district as they fetched £1,539,646 on average.
When looking at how property prices in the area have changed over the years, we can see that they have increased by 2% from 2020. However they are 18% lower than in 2019, when the average peaked at £751,539.
What is living in Whitechapel like?
Many areas of London have their own unique atmosphere, but many residents will argue that none are quite as strong as the feeling you get when you're in Whitechapel. Alongside a buzzing atmosphere, there are many things to see and do in the area including visiting the Whitechapel Gallery, which offers free entry and showcases an array of artists from Pablo Picasso to Sarah Lucas.
The Whitechapel Road Street Market is another must-visit. It has been operating for more than a century and boasts a variety of traders offering everything from fresh produce to art, jewellery and antiques. The legendary Old Spitalfields Market is within easy reach, which houses boutiques, traders and eateries galore. Additionally Brick Lane is a mere 10-minute walk away and offers everything from buzzing nightlife spots to markets, galleries and clothing stores.
Whitechapel is also famed for the variety of cuisine on offer. With eateries, cafés, delicatessens and restaurants at every turn, you'll never need to venture too far to find something delicious. The area is particularly noted for its Bangladeshi cuisine, delivering flavourful dishes served within a welcoming and laid back setting.
There are numerous schools within a mile radius of Whitechapel, including several options that have been rated as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. These include The Aldgate School, Mulberry School for Girls and Thomas Buxton Primary School.
Whitechapel is a wonderfully diverse district in East London with something to offer absolutely everyone. So it's no wonder that it benefits from a strong and welcoming community feel that very quickly feels like home.
Living in Whitechapel pros and cons
Pro: Whitechapel benefits from excellent transport connections
Whitechapel is the district's main station, which is positioned in Zone 2 on the District and Hammersmith & City Underground lines. It provides regular connections throughout the day to the likes of Wimbledon, Richmond, Barking, St Pancras and Upminster. Whitechapel station is also on the East London Line Overground and provides connections to a variety of destinations including Highbury & Islington, West Croydon, Clapham Junction and New Cross. Additionally, when the Crossrail Elizabeth Line officially opens it too will call at Whitechapel.
In terms of road connectivity, the A11 and the A13 connect Whitechapel to the National Road Network, alongside the A1203. A number of London Buses serve the Whitechapel area including the 25 between Ilford and City Thameslink Station, the 135 between Crossharbour and Old Street Station, and several night buses including the N15, the N253 and the N550.
Cyclists also benefit from easy access to the Cycle Superhighway CS2, which runs between Stratford and Aldgate.
Con: Whitechapel is within the ULEZ zone
This means that drivers who own vehicles that don't conform to the scheme's strict emissions standards will need to pay the daily charge to drive within the zone. The ULEZ zone has somewhat improved air quality across the city, with data showing that levels of pollution were within World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations almost 50% of the time between early January and early February 2022.
However, Whitechapel is outside the Congestion Zone area, which may offer some relief to drivers.
Is Whitechapel a safe place to live?
There were 4,770 criminal offences recorded in the district of Whitechapel between January 2020 and December 2021. This was higher than the likes of St Katharine's and Wapping, Shadwell and Stepney Green, but lower than the nearby district of Spitalfields and Banglatown.
Violent crime was most common in the Whitechapel area, accounting for 1,202 reports. There was also a high level of theft in the area, with 1,197 cases reported. Whitechapel also saw 512 drug offences, 486 vehicle offences and 405 burglaries.
Aside from a few highs and lows, crime in Whitechapel remained fairly consistent throughout 2020 and 2021. May 2020 saw crime fall to its lowest level, when there were just 139 reports. Levels of crime peaked in Whitechapel in October 2020, when 257 crimes were reported. In 2021, crime reached its peak in November when 230 crimes were recorded, however this fell to 210 cases in the final month of the year.
In November 2021 Metropolitan Police data shows that there were 37 reports of miscellaneous theft, 26 cases of assault without injury and 25 violent crimes. There are numerous hotspots for crime across Whitechapel including the areas south of Aldgate East tube station and around the Royal London Hospital.
Overall there were 17 crimes per 1,000 residents in Whitechapel during November 2021. This was notably higher than both the 10 crimes per 1,000 residents recorded across the borough of Tower Hamlets and the eight crimes per 1,000 residents seen across the wider London area.
Which celebrities live in Whitechapel?
Whitechapel has strong creative roots, and has been home to an array of famous faces who have spent their lives working in the arts. Musician Damon Albarn was born in Whitechapel in 1968, as was disco artist Tina Charles in 1954, and drummer Kenny Jones. Other notable people who were born in Whitechapel include comedian Micky Flanagan, actor Gary Webster and footballers Kemal Izzet, Muzzy Izzet, Lloyd Doyley and Ashley Cole.
Things to consider when moving to Whitechapel?
The Whitechapel Vision is a scheme promising the creation of more than 3,000 new homes, as well as the construction of numerous open spaces and public squares by 2025. So now could be the ideal time to move to the area if it has the facilities and amenities for you to live the kind of London lifestyle that suits you.
There is a strong tourist scene in the area, largely attracted by the selection of tour guides offering insight into the mystery of Jack the Ripper. The area was also a well-known haunt of the Kray twins, with pubs like the Blind Beggar offering tours that give tourists more of an insight into this part of history.