This neighbourhood sits in the London borough of Hackney, covering parts of the wards of Stoke Newington (affectionately known as “Stokey”), Shacklewell, Stamford Hill, Cazenove, and Hackney Downs. Home to vibrant high streets, with a diverse array of shops and restaurants, the area is lined with a range of traditional terraced houses as well as council flats. While there are no tube stations in close proximity, the area is serviced by multiple Overground trains and bus lines, making it a short ride to central London.

The area was initially settled in the 13th and 14th centuries by wealthy Londoners who were looking for more rural homes – a setting long departed that is hard to imagine today. With the introduction of the Great Eastern Railway lines in the late 1800s, housing development picked up in the area and was later further intensified with the addition of council flats after World War II. During the 1980s, many young, middle-income and politically-active residents who were involved in the arts began moving to the Stoke Newington part of this neighbourhood area. This influx drove the development of trendy restaurants, bars and cafes that are still there today. Slightly more north, in Shacklewell and Stamford Hill, the area was settled by wealthy orthodox Jews looking to leave the East End of London. Today, it remains a largely Jewish neighbourhood, characterised by its many Kosher shops and restaurants.

Famous writer, Edgar Allen Poe, once lived in the Stoke Newington area. As a young boy, he attended the Manor House School, which is no longer in operation today.

The area of Shacklewell was named for its sunken location, which lent itself to being a place where animals could be shackled.

Despite the rise in property values, the neighbourhood is in the top 15% of the most deprived wards in England. Additionally, there have been multiple reports of anti- Semitic driven violence over the past couple of years throughout the Stamford Hill region. Still, locals are drawn to the area and newcomers continue to move there for its plethora of diverse restaurants, music venues, and shops.

Since hosting the 2012 Olympic games Hackney has seen a borough-wide increase in housing prices, with Stoke Newington being an area hit especially hard. Many locals are concerned that rising prices and gentrification mean that the area is becoming characterised less by its diverse homey communities and more by transient residents. Attempting to mitigate against this, Hackney Council has committed to providing more affordable housing in the neighbourhood by dedicating 16 million pounds over the next two years. The King’s Crescent development in the west of this neighbourhood is a good example of this increased provision for affordable housing, with 273 homes already built, and an additional 393 to be finished by the end of 2023. However, private luxury developments are still common. The Bastion House project on Amhurst Road and the Garnham Street development are both good examples of this trend. Expected to be completed by the end of 2022, both will consist of 8-10 luxury apartments.