Dalston: Young, hip and trendy

Dalston is a young, hip and trendy area, which was famously dubbed 'the coolest place in Britain' by the Guardian.

Located in the London borough of Hackney, it represents the epitome of contemporary urban living.

With no shortage of bars, clubs, diners, and independent retailers, you literally have all the amenities and resources at your fingertips in Dalston.

Demographic

The demographic of Dalston is as diverse and varied as the place itself. On one hand, it has coined a reputation for being the home of the UK's hipster-wearing "trustafarians" - think young, rich and "hippie".

Nearly half of (41.6 per cent) of the population is comprised of 25 to 44-year-olds, with an interesting mix of young professionals, families and teens.

You also have an interesting blend of different cultures and communities, which have been enriched by the migration of Caribbean immigrants, Turks, African citizens, as well as British.

However, for the past 100 years it has always attracted immigrants and new arrivals. At the turn of the century, it was comprised mainly of Jewish people from Central Europe. After that, there was a lot of immigration from the Caribbean community, Turkish and Vietnamese. 

It is now a melting pot, with people from Eastern Europe and all of the aforementioned communities, who have all helped to contribute greatly to Dalston's local economy and culture.

Lifestyle

It is also a place of contradiction. In some aspects, Dalston is a throwback to post-war Britain, with terraces that line the streets, late night underground bars and poverty in some parts.

However, over the years, demographic changes and gentrification has slowly helped to transform it into a more upmarket place to live - albeit a little on the expensive side, if you are looking for properties to purchase.

The real benefit of living in Dalston is that you get all the suave and sophistication of Mayfair, but with the added edginess and cultural grit of Brixton.

That's Dalston in a nutshell. If you are looking for the experience of a top London nightclub, but without all the pomp and expense associated with it - Dalston is the place to be.

It is known for its abundance of live music club nights, restaurants and social clubs. If you want something cutting-edge and exciting, then the chances are you will love Dalston.

Amenities

Dalston is an important centre for both transport and shopping. It has plenty of cinemas, malls and shops, selling just about anything you can think of.

Ridley Road Market deserves a mention here. It is one of the quintessential London markets, selling everything from your bog-standard fruit and veg, to more exotic varieties.

Rumour has it that the market was the inspiration behind the one seen in Eastenders.

The Kingsland Shopping Centre lies to the south of Ridley Market, while Kingsland road is home to a number of bars, trendy boutiques and cafés. 

The rock and roll scene of the 1970s and 80s really helped to put Dalston on the map, and it still retains some of that culture today.

The new Dalston Culture House, the first wing of which opened on Gillett Square, hosts the Vortex Jazz Club, one of the most notable in the country.

Properties

Rental properties in Dalston are 41.2 per cent below the London average, of £695 per week, and currently stand at £492 per week.

Mortgages are a little more expensive, with the average home costing £527,505, which is 5.3 per cent above the London Average of £499,732.

Here you can find anything from family houses, to apartments and luxury flats. Architecturally it contains a mix of 18th and 19th century terraced houses and 20th century council estates, with a few contemporary new builds thrown in for good measure.

Published 30th September, 2014

© 2014 Estates IT Limited