Dalston used to be a village and much of the area has retained that community feel today. Alongside Kingsland, Shacklewell, and Newington it formed part of the Parish of Hackney, dating all the way back to the 13th century, when it was referred to as Derleston. Today, you couldn’t find an area that is more up to the minute, whether you’re looking for the latest food, fashion or music. However, Dalston isn’t a passing trend type place – if you choose to live here it’s in a historic London spot with a wealth of exciting development happening.

Dalston’s Data

• It’s had some famous residents - Prime Minister Tony Blair lived in Mapledene Road from 1980–86.
• This is an area where ‘gentrification’ can be seen in evidence all around. Thanks to development over the past decade, Dalston property prices are now at least 8% above the London average.
• Like Hoxton, Dalston was named after someone’s farm - Deorlaf's tun (tun = farm).
• Dalston’s landscapes are thought to have provided inspiration for Eastenders - Fassett Square (Albert Square) and Ridley Road Market (Walford Market) were rebuilt on the BBC set in Elstree.
• In 2009, Dalston was named “the coolest place to live” in Britain by The Guardian.
• Dalston has also been home to a number of other arty events, including filming Britney Spears’ “Criminal” video and providing the setting for the second and third series of The Mighty Boosh.

Transport lifeblood

It was the extension of The Overground into Dalston that really started to breathe life into this area and it is well served by it today. All stations here are in Zone 2. Dalston Kingsland provides services to stations such as Highbury & Islington, Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction. Dalston Junction is the best choice for Canada Water as well as Shoreditch and stations in South London. Haggerston station also serves some of Dalston and trains run between Highbury & Islington and West Croydon, Crystal Palace, New Cross or Clapham Junction. Dalston is also very well connected in terms of buses including routes such as the 243 and 277, which run 24-7.

As you might expect, cycling is one of the most popular routes for transport to and from Dalston. There are a number of key cycle routes that pass through Dalston, including Cycle Superhighway 1 and Quietway 2.

Urban Green

It’s a mere hop, skip and a jump from Dalston to some of East London’s greatest parks. Within the area itself you’ll find the small but perfectly formed Stonebridge Park. Look out for the distinctive mosaic snake. Clissold Park, Hackney Downs and London Fields are not Dalston, strictly speaking, but not that far off.

Educating little ones

There are seven primary schools located in Dalston in total, as well as Hackney New School, which is the sole secondary school here. In addition, there are a number of children’s centres located in Dalston, as well as The Boxing Academy AP Free School.

Foodie Heaven

You’ll find a lot to love about Dalston when it comes to culinary experiences. There are a myriad of Turkish restaurants in this part of London and they are the place to be if you’re looking for breakfast with a difference. We’d recommend trying dishes like the gözleme stuffed with spinach and cheese. Hash E8 is renowned for its breakfast hash browns while Café Route is amazing for eggs. If you don’t fancy a kebab for lunch then the range of other options is enormously wide. Lunchtime pizza at Voodoo Ray’s is 22 inches and served by the slice. There’s also a Mildred’s that has a delicious range of dishes for vegetarians. You can get pretty specific about your menu range when you’re eating out in Dalston whether that’s deep fried rice balls from Arancini Brothers or fried chicken and sour cocktails from Chick ‘n’ Sours. If you’re all about the sweet things, Jidori has won awards for its dessert.

Immersive nightlife

Not conforming is something that Dalston does best so if you’re looking for a slice of unusual London nightlife you’ll find plenty of it here. Farr’s School of Dancing, for example, is in fact a pub and not a dance academy – although it used to be. The craft beer here is excellent, as is the pub quiz. If you’re a live music fan then head over to The Victoria, especially if you’re looking to drink some rum. Dalston Roof Park has become a ‘go to’ during the summer months and is a great option if you’re looking for parties that go on through night and day. In terms of dancing, Dalston also has some great options, including the legendary Dalston Superstore or the Servant Jazz Quarters if swing is more your thing. Of course “nightlife” doesn’t have to been loud music and lots of booze, Dalston also has culture aplenty, including the Arcola Theatre, which puts on plays, operas and musicals featuring established and emerging artists. If art is more your vibe then head for The Invisible Line Gallery – the curators here don’t stick to a particular style but choose anything that they love.

Gains, no pains

Given the relative youthfulness of the population in Dalston it’s perhaps no surprise that fitness is a priority here. That means you have a very wide range of options to choose from when it comes to working out. There are a number of traditional gyms, such as Anytime Fitness and Kings Gym and plenty of other options, including Yoke yoga studio, Yoga on the Lane and BOXFIT.

Stay on top of it all

Dalston is a vibrant area that’s constantly changing but you can stay connected to the latest news via resources like Loving Dalston or our own Twitter (@storeys_london) – as letting agents in Dalston we often post about new openings, events and ideas in the area. Head over to our Twitter and follow to stay in touch.