Stratford London Guide

Go back 20 years and a lot of people would have turned their nose up at the idea of living in Stratford, London. But bring in the 2012 Olympic Games and a Westfield Shopping Centre and, slowly but surely, Stratford has become a popular place to live!

So popular in fact that property prices have soared. Rents have soared too, but Stratford remains one of the most affordable prime locations to rent in.

So what’s it like to live, work and play in this booming East London locale with speedy travel links, a huge shopping centre, an Olympic legacy and an abundance of things to do?

Well, keep reading to discover the world of Stratford.

Stratford London on a map

Stratford can be found in the London Borough of Newham in East London.

It borders Hackney to the west and Forest Gate to the east. Leyton and Bromley-By-Bow are to the north and south respectively.

History of Stratford, London

Stratford’s roots go way back. As far as 1067 in fact.

At this time, it was known as Strætforda, which means ‘ford on the Roman road’. And that’s how Stratford began; it was a crossing on the original Roman road over the River Lea.

During the 18th century it was an agricultural area known for potato farming, with London as its nearby market for produce. And it was a leafy country retreat for the wealthy, who would also value its close proximity to London.

By Victorian times, industrialisation started to pick up steam (pun intended). In fact it increased pretty rapidly in Stratford, turning what was a rural area into a very industrial district. You may remember the scenes from the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games, where smog-billowing chimneys burst through the green idyllic pastures.

But the industrial revolution did bring the Royal Docks to nearby Woolwich, and a railway station came to Stratford.

Throughout the 20th century, Stratford went through de-industrialisation instead. And this was made worse in the 1960s with the closure of the Royal Docks. The focus then switched to retail and leisure, and the Stratford Shopping Centre was built.

And then in 2011 and 2012, Stratford bagged a double whammy. The Stratford Westfield opened in 2011 – the largest urban shopping centre in the UK. And in 2012, Stratford was the centre of the world stage hosting the Olympic Games.

These two years put Stratford on the map in a big way. They turned the area into a desirable place to live. And the Olympic Village sparked a deluge of brand new high spec apartments to live in.

Renting in Stratford

The Olympic Games left almost 3,000 brand new apartments empty and ready for new residents. And these all became homes for rent.

And the Olympic Village (now known as East Village) was just the start. The Stratford Local Plan aims to deliver a whopping 24,000 new homes by 2036. Many of those are built and being rented out already.

This means that most of the properties you can find in Stratford are swanky new apartments in smart residential towers. Many of which coming with shared facilities like lounges, gyms and roof terraces.

In terms of price, Stratford is one of the more reasonably priced zone 3 locations, considering what it has to offer.

The average rents for the different apartment types across the Stratford area are:

• Studio apartment: £1,600 per month
• 1-bed apartment: £1,800 per month
• 2-bed apartment: £2,600 per month
• 3-bed apartment: £3,000 per month

Homes to rent in Stratford, London

Travel from Stratford, London

Stratford has fantastic travel connections. It has 4 local stations:

1. Stratford
2. Stratford International
3. Stratford High Street
4. Maryland

These 4 stations give commuters access to the:

1. Jubilee line
2. Central line
3. Elizabeth line
4. DLR
5. Overground
6. National Rail

And most of these lines go into the central Stratford station.

And these lines mean that you can conveniently get to:

• Canary Wharf (9 minutes)
• Bond Street (23 minutes)
• Liverpool Street (8 minutes)
• Bank (13 minutes)
• Camden (19 minutes)
• London Bridge (15 minutes)

So it’s a very well connected place to live!

Things to do in Stratford, London

There’s a huge amount to do in Stratford. From acres of shops through to dozens of bars and restaurants, there’s plenty to keep you occupied throughout the week.

Restaurants

If you’re on the hunt for a restaurant in Stratford, check out these options.

The Real Greek

If you’re looking for authentic Greek cuisine, look no further than The Real Greek. You can find it in Westfield Shopping Centre. Tuck into delicious mezze, Greek pies, grilled halloumi and finish it all off with some syrup-drenched baklava.

Address Westfield Stratford City, 2 Montfichet Rd, Stratford, London, E15 1AZ

The Last Drop

For more of a casual stop-off, check out The Last Drop. This café will have you covered for fresh coffee, lighter lunches, delicious cakes, gorgeous pastries and more. It’s in the middle of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, so a great spot if you’re out for a walk.

Address Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Thornton Street, Stratford, London, E20 2AD

The Westbridge Hotel

If you’re after a slice of fancy, then The Westbridge Hotel is a good choice. Even if you’re not staying overnight, it’s has a great restaurant to visit for dinner. This 4-star hotel is right on the High Street next to the DLR station. So it’s it a great location if you want to head elsewhere for drinks before (and after!).

Address 335-337 High St, Stratford, London, E15 2TF

Attractions

On top of the great restaurants, there are also a number of places you should visit in Stratford. Check them out below.

Westfield Stratford

The obvious choice when it comes to places to visit. Westfield Stratford is a huge shopping centre with dozens of shops. The largest urban shopping centre in the country doesn’t disappoint with over 250 shops. The quietest times to visit are early in the day Monday-Thursday.

Address Westfield Stratford City, Montfichet Rd, Stratford, London, E20 1EJ

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

A legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a sporting complex and public park in one. It’s home to a stadium, aquatics centre, marathon track, mountain bike trail, BMX track, tennis centre and that strange red bent-metal sculpture. And it’s got everything you’d expect from you local park too.

Address Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London

The London Stadium

The former Olympic Stadium has a new lease of life now that its olympic purpose is complete. The 60,000-seater London Stadium is now the home to West Ham United and also hosts other events as well. As well as Premier League football, you can also head here to watch live music, athletics and even a bit of Major League Baseball.

Address London Stadium, Stratford, London, E20 2ST

Moving to Stratford, London

If you appreciate things that are new and shiny, then Stratford is definitely for you. With most of the homes to rent being built since 2010, Stratford screams ‘new’.

And with tons to see and do locally, and fantastic travel connections if you want to travel to other areas of London, this really is an ideal location to rent in London.

And considering how many perks Stratford offers, the rents are still reasonable compared to other similar areas.

So if you want to get your hands on a prime rented apartment in a fantastic neighbourhood, Stratford is an ideal choice.