In fact, the rebirth of this corner of the capital has turned E postcodes into desirable places to live, with a certain type of home buyer drawn to the cosmopolitan and edgy vibe. Winkworth east London estate agents report the latest house price data and the elements that make this part of London desirable.
The East End's ability to reinvent itself on a regular basis is what attracts buyers coming, comment Winkworth east London estate agents (http://www.winkworth.co.uk/regions/east-london). Areas such as Shoreditch, Bow, Hackney and Brick Lane are where trends are born, new obsessions developed and counter-culture ideas brought to life. East London residents want to stay ahead of the curve and have colonised the Victorian terraces, garden squares, warehouse conversions and waterside developments in a bid to be 'where it's at'.
House prices now reflect the area's desirability. According to Rightmove, the overall average house price in east London is £353,968, with Tower Hamlets being the priciest area in the E postcodes (an average property price of £442,613). During 2014, sold prices of properties for sale in East London were up 14% on the previous year, and up 27% on 2011.
The latest draw in east London is quirky and unusual food venues, which has seen the opening of Cereal Killer Café - the UK's only cereal-only eatery, which has opened on Brick Lane. On offer are 100 varieties of breakfast cereal, more than 13 kinds of milk and a selection of 20 toppings, as well as locally-produced coffee, Pop-tarts and other breakfast staples.
Also in Brick Lane is Suzzle - a gluten-free deli/take-out/café that features a small art gallery and courtyard garden to the rear. Owner Melanie Denyer creates fresh temptations daily, with soups, salads, cakes, pastries and pies without a whiff of gluten. The food is so good that local artists Gilbert and George regularly place an order.
If it's a quirky decor you're after, head to Les Trois Garcons on Club Row in Shoreditch, where rich French cuisine with pan-global influences is served against an unusual decor. Hanging among the lavish crystal chandeliers are numerous vintage handbags, while the walls sport a selection of stuffed animal heads and oil paintings.
Finally, east London loves a 'pop up' concept and the idea has crossed over into cuisine. The Underground Supper Club takes place in a decommissioned 1967 Victoria line tube carriage in the Walthamstow Pumphouse Transport Museum, where tables are set up in the carriage aisle. The concept has proved such a success that the chefs have started The Ships' Kitchen - haute cuisine served at the captain's table on a massive 1914 Dutch barge in Barking.
