Forest Gate is a long-overlooked part of East London with good transport links, excellent green space and schools, and increasingly good local amenities - but the best part is the affordable period housing. Double-fronted Victorian 3- and 4-bed houses go for hundreds of thousands of pounds less here than in nearby places like Wanstead, though Forest Gate is also bordered by Wanstead Flats. First-time buyers or those looking to climb the ladder from flat to house are flocking to this area, and prices are rising, also due in part to the imminent arrival of Crossrail.
Forest Gate attracts first-time home buyers as well as those looking to upsize from a flat to a house, many of whom come from parts of North London where they have been priced out of the local property market. The area still has a good sense of community, and is considered by many locals to be an interesting, unpretentious place. There is a popular local market held at weekends around the clock tower.
Forest Gate is a safe area, with the Met police rating its crime as average. The 2014/2015 crime rate and violence against the person rate were comparable to London overall, with the North ward being slightly safer and the South ward being slightly less safe. Nearby, surrounding Westfield Stratford City, is a high crime hotspot.
Parking difficulty and cost in this area is about average. Forest Gate has good road links, incliding to the A12 and the North Circular. The rate of car ownership in this area is a bit lower than for London overall, with slightly more than one car for every two households.
There's an improving selection of pubs and restaurants in this area, and nearby destinations like Westfield Stratford City increase the area's offerings. It's not a nightlife destination, but transport links are fairly good to nearby areas with more going on late at night.
There is a good range of schools in this area, including numerous good primary and secondary schools - secondary school choices include a state comprehensive as well as private Muslim schools and 'outstanding' Catholic comprehensive schools. Many of the houses are larger Victorians, including some semi-detached and detached houses, which would make suitable family homes. There is a great amount of green space in this area, with Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park as well as numerous smaller parks in the area.
There is a great amount of green space in this area, with Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park as well as numerous smaller parks in the area. Many of the houses are larger Victorians, including some semi-detached and detached houses, which would be suitable for housing pets. This would be a good place to own a dog.
Forest Gate is in Zone 3, and its railway station is served by TFL Rail. Wanstead Park and Woodgrange Park are on the Overground. Upton Park and Plaistow are on the District and Hammersmith & City Lines. Crossrail will make the journey from Forest Gate to Tottenham Court Road take less than 20 minutes. The area is well-served by buses, and has good road links, incliding to the A12 and the North Circular.