A former docklands district, Canning Town is the beneficiary of a £3.7 billion regeneration project and thousands of new homes. People ranging from young professionals to families are drawn to Canning Town for its local amenities, including shopping, dining, and entertainment, in addition to its waterfront location and excellent transport links. This area also remains, for London, relatively affordable - but it's likely that won't last long as more people awaken to the benefits of living in E16.
Historically a very deprived area but now undergoing significant regeneration, Canning Town is increasingly being seen as a good place to live by a wide range of people, including young professionals. The area is very ethnically diverse, and there are large Nigerian and Bangladeshi communities here.
Though a historically deprived area, Canning Town is not unsafe. The 2014/2015 crime rate and violence against the person rate were both significantly lower than the London rates, though the rate of deliberate fires was twice that of London as a whole. According to the Met police, the neighbourhood has average crime for London, with high crime hotspots surrounding the recreation ground and across the river at the O2 arena.
Parking in this area can be costly and difficult. Fewer people own cars here than in London overall, at a rate of about one car per every two households.
Canning Town has a wide variety of bars, pubs, and restaurants, including some with waterfront locations. Waterside Park is often the host to special shows and events. While it isn't a nightclub destination, transport links to other parts of the East End with more going on in the wee hours are good.
There is a variety of housing in Canning Town, but there are not many family houses available. The few terraces are smaller, and much of the new development is high-rise. Most of Canning Town's primary schools are "good" or better, according to Ofsted. Canning Town is somewhat lacking in green space, and does not have any vast Royal Parks, but does have a number of smaller, attractive green spaces, including Canning Town Recreation Ground, and the adjoining Ashburton Wood. These include a cycle speedway, a climbing wall, and archery facilities, and there is also the waterfront and additional facilities at Royal Victoria Dock in the summer - including a beach. There is a similar number of children in this area, with about 1 in 5 residents being a child aged 0-15.
Much of the housing in Canning Town, especially the new housing, is in the form of flats and in tall blocks. Canning Town is somewhat lacking in green space, and does not have any vast Royal Parks, but does have a number of smaller, attractive green spaces, including Canning Town Recreation Ground, and the adjoining Ashburton Wood.
Canning Town is located on the border of Zone 2/3, and the station is served by the DLR and the Jubilee Line. Other DLR stations nearby include Custom House, Royal Victoria, and Prince Regent. Crossrail is also set to arrive at Custom House in the near future. The area is well-served by local buses, and there is a cycle speedway connection at Canning Town Recreation Ground. London City Airport is very nearby and accessible via the DLR.