Clapton: Two worlds fused in one

Clapton is a little bit like marmite - you either love it or you hate it. But actually, there is not an awful lot to hate.

Some people see it as an uppity gentrified area, with no real soul or class, with rough bits around the edges.

Others see it as an ethnically diverse place of great sophistication and character. The truth is it is the latter.

Like many London boroughs, there are some rough bits of it, and there are other parts which are very posh and upmarket.

However, it is also a place of transition and always has been. The area started out as a series of market gardens, before it gradually became more urbanised. 

Over the years, immigration and the arrival of new communities changed the character of the area even more and this has helped to enrich its culture and heritage immeasurably.

It also boasts of being one of the few areas in inner-city London where you can find a horse riding club, ice rink and rowing club.

The area is predominantly split into two parts: Upper and Lower Clapton. 

Lower Clapton

Lower Clapton is close to Dalston and is known for its unique and independent coffee shops, Asian, African and Caribbean stores, and green spaces.

It is also well-known for its new cafés, refurbished pubs, pizza places and thrift stores.

However it is no ordinary area. While you have got the typical urban settings, you can also enjoy long strolls across the side of the canal, which starts from Upper Clapton and runs through Hackney and Victoria Park to Angel.

This helps to give it a slightly 'off the beaten track' feel. In short, it is a special kind of place. 

Essentially, it contains a little bit of everything. It is not as gritty as some of the other parts of Hackney, but at the same time, it does not have the 'yummy mummy' vibe to it that you may see in places such as Islington or Stoke Newington.

This is a quality which it shares with Upper Clapton. In essence, it is two very different worlds, fused together by a radical sense of community and authenticity.

This part of Clapton is immediately adjacent to central Hackney and mainly centred on lower Clapton Road, to the north of which is Clapton Ponds, a former village green.

Properties in this area are a little bit cheaper than they are in Upper Clapton and prices start from around £175,000 to buy a home.

Houses are a mix of mostly Victorian terraces and small post war estates, with some Georgian homes, and contemporary apartments thrown into the mix.

Upper Clapton

Upper Clapton is home to the incredibly pleasant Springfield Park, which was created in the early 1900s. The park contains a number of sports facilities, including five tennis courts and a cricket pitch, rugby fields and recreational grounds.

The influence of different communities in this part of London has also led to the creation of some of the most interesting religious buildings in the city.

This includes the Church of the Good Shepherd, which was once a place of worship by the Ancient Catholic Church, but is now used by the Georgian Orthodox Church. 

The church was originally built in the 1800s by a spiritualist group and the building has been in use ever since.

There is also the very grand New Synagogue, a Grade II listed building built in 1915. The area has a large Jewish community, and is growing in popularity among media people and young professionals.

As with Lower Clapton it contains an interesting mix of coffee shops, retail stores and community pubs. It also has the River Lea running through it and is served by a number of green spaces including Millfields Park, Clapton Common and Hackney Marsh.

Clapton in its entirety is best described as a trendy, up and coming urban centre of contrasts, culture and heritage.

Published 14th March, 2014

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