This fashionable residential area is part of Dalston and Shacklewell, and was at one point in 2009, voted part of the coolest place to live in Britain. Certainly, Stoke Newington Road, which forms the neighbourhood’s western border, offers some of the best nightlife in London, including Dalston Superstore and, nearby, the Shacklewell Arms. The Dalston Eastern Curve Gardens and Hackney Downs also provide an unexpected dose of nature amongst this bustling urban sprawl. They are perfect for a Sunday piknik after a weekend clubbing and partying. The rows of handsome Victorian terraces along wide, leafy streets, have been converted into valuable flats for creatives and young professionals. With an array of local conveniences, trendy cafes and bars, and a host of nearby stations on both the Underground and Overground networks, this once notorious neighbourhood is now one of the most sought-after parts of town.

The area of Dalston was first recorded as Derleston in 1294, beginning its life as a farmstead owned by a man named Deorlaf, with Shacklewell likely referring to a well near to which animals were shackled. In the 16th century Sir John Heron, supposedly the richest man in Hackney, had a manor in the area. Interestingly, it’s always been a key spot for entertainment; in the 1600s it had become a playground for the middle-classes and was home to freakshows and pleasure gardens. By the mid-18th century, Dalston was just a handful of large manor houses, but by the early-19th century a number of middle class terraces had emerged alongside the station, which was opened in 1850. A strong Jewish community had formed by the 20th century, moving into homes that were purpose built for the community in 1905. Many of these houses were damaged in the Second World War, forcing the council to clear much of the area, which saw a mass rebuilding of this area in the postwar period.

This area is home to the independent Rio Cinema; one of the last survivors of Dalston’s 20th century cornerstone entertainment institutions. You can also spot the cinema in the movie “One Day” featuring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.

One of the key issues facing the community in Dalston as of late, like many parts of East London, is the topic of gentrification. Many long-standing locals and businesses are being put at risk of being priced out of their homes. Sadly, this is an issue that is widespread in many areas of London that were previously stereotyped as dodgy and dubious, and are now receiving interest from investors. Additionally, the popularity of nightlife in this area specifically has brought anti-social behaviour with it, making it difficult to start a family here according to some residents.

The newest development plan in the area comes in the shape of transforming the Tesco Express on Kingsland High Street into a 120-room hotel to encourage tourism to the high street. This proposal will bring more visitors to the area and may boost the local economy, although some locals are concerned about further anti-social behaviour. Hackney council has also pledged to build 600 new homes in Dalston to tackle the area’s housing shortage. Half will be ‘genuinely affordable’ according to a council spokesperson but residents still worry about the lack of new social housing which many Dalston natives have relied on for decades. Two projects are currently underway on Dalston Lane at numbers 27 and 101 with varying levels of affordable housing, but no social housing provision.