Why choose Hackney for your 2012 summer rental?

Well: for several reasons, to be honest...

A part of inner London, the London Borough of Hackney is administered by Hackney London Borough Council.

The south-western part of the borough has recently seen major redevelopment due to its proximity to the central City of London  area. Neighbourhoods such as Shoreditch and Hoxton play host to an alluring array of pubs, clubs, restaurants, bars and shops. Hoxton Square is one of the most popular centres of these types of establishment. The rising land values and property prices of Hackney’s south-west have meant that more of the borough has been opened up to redevelopment, a trend which seems to be continuing in spite of the economic troubles of recent years.

The southern end of Hackney enjoys its proximity to Victoria Park. Old-fashioned but charismatic rows of terraced Edwardian and Victorian houses saturate the area, giving it a different feel to many other locations nearby. Further north, the administrative core of Hackney occupies an area dubbed Hackney Central. A new town hall is being constructed near the old building and the nearby Hackney Town Hall Square has recently been given a new buzz due to its designation as a creative quarter. Also near this part of Hackney is the famous and recently refurbished Hackney Empire.

Hackney and the Olympics

What everyone wants to know about the place they’re thinking of staying for the 2012 Olympics is what events will be nearby for them to enjoy. With Hackney, there is tremendous choice available.


As one of the Host Boroughs to the games, the location could not be better for enjoying the spectacle to the full. To the East of the borough is situated the new Olympic Park, the central hub of everything that will happen during this summer’s tournament in the city. Within walking distance from nearly any part of Hackney, the Park features many of the headline events of the Games.

From Athletics to Diving and Wheelchair Tennis to Hockey, the Olympic Park will have it all. Almost every type of swimming imaginable will be featured at the Aquatics Centre, a stunning piece of architecture and engineering which will form a permanent part of the London landscape for years to come. The VeloDrome and VeloPark will hold many of the cycling events of the games, showcasing the incredible stamina and strength of competitive riders. What many consider to be the highlight of the games – the athletics events – will be hosted by the Olympic Stadium itself. The fresh, circular design will allow everyone in the stadium to enjoy the events to the full.

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Get spoiled for choice with Hackney’s attractions

Hackney isn’t just about the games, of course. The borough also features numerous cultural highlights. In fact, the borough holds within its boundaries a grand total of over 1,300 listed buildings.

When considered alongside the 25 conservation areas in the area, including large tracts of Georgian architecture and areas of industrial heritage, this makes for a very rich place to visit indeed.

Among the huge list of attractions in the borough, a few stand out. The Hackney Empire, for example, a grade II* listed theatre from the very beginning on the 20th century, has been a highlight of the area for decades. Originally a music hall, the stage has been graced by such colossi as Charlie Chaplin, Stanley Holloway and WC Fields. Art fanatics are incredibly well-catered for, with gems like the Victoria Miro gallery sitting alongside commercial establishments like Hoxton Square’s White Cube.

For something a little bit different, Hackney also features The Circus Space, a circus school offering the UK’s only degree programme in circus. Youth and adult evening classes are run by the school each week as a side-project to running the London Youth Circus.

Cars, buses, planes, trains... and Hackney carriages?

With the Olympic Park so close by, transport once in Hackney is a breeze. A quick stop or two on the tube will have you at the venue of your choice in no time at all.

Being situated slap-bang in the middle of the city makes it easy to reach the other venues too. The radial transport links by road and rail out to the suburbs opens up endless potential for adventures into new areas of the capital.

Getting to Hackney from elsewhere in the country is also a very simple thing to do. National rail links abound which terminate in central London where, again, a short trip on the tube will have you at your destination in no time. If air travel is preferred, all the regional airports are tied into the local transport services to minimize hassle.

If travelling by car is the best choice then head for the M25. Once on it, aim to merge onto the M11, following it in as far as it goes. From here, it’s a matter of using local road signs to guide you to your destination.