League table

The 9 boroughs of East London

Fast-changing neighbourhoods with new schools, Elizabeth line upgrades and large green spaces along the Lea Valley and out towards Havering. Below: every east London borough, ranked for families on schools, safety, commute and green space — all on the same yardstick. Top of the table: Hackney at 59/100.

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Boroughs in East London

East London has 9 London boroughs in our coverage:

  1. Barking and Dagenham
  2. Bexley
  3. Greenwich
  4. Hackney
  5. Havering
  6. Newham
  7. Redbridge
  8. Tower Hamlets
  9. Waltham Forest

What each East London borough is actually like

One paragraph per borough, built from the same four datasets: schools within a mile, Met Police recorded crime, green space, and typical peak commute — plus the Band D council tax bill for 2025/26.

Hackney

Hackney averages 59/100 for families across the 4 postcodes we cover, scoring 75/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 130 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 24th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,054 a year. Its strongest postcode is E5 (Lea Bridge) at 66/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to N16 (Stoke Newington) at 36/100 — a 30-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest averages 44/100 for families across the 4 postcodes we cover, scoring 25/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 108 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 19th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,213 a year. Its strongest postcode is E17 (Hoe Street) at 66/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to E11 (Leytonstone) at 36/100 — a 30-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Barking and Dagenham

Barking and Dagenham averages 36/100 for families across the 4 postcodes we cover, scoring 0/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 115 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 21st lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £1,942 a year. Its strongest postcode is IG11 (Eastbury) at 36/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to RM10 (Alibon) at 36/100 — a 0-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Bexley

Bexley averages 36/100 for families across the 7 postcodes we cover, scoring 0/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 62 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 2nd lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,287 a year. Its strongest postcode is DA5 (St Mary's & St James) at 36/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to DA17 (Belvedere) at 36/100 — a 0-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Greenwich

Greenwich averages 36/100 for families across the 5 postcodes we cover, scoring 0/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 100 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 15th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,178 a year. Its strongest postcode is SE3 (Blackheath Westcombe) at 36/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to SE28 (Thamesmead Moorings) at 36/100 — a 0-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Havering

Havering averages 36/100 for families across the 6 postcodes we cover, scoring 0/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 72 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 5th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,379 a year. Its strongest postcode is RM1 (Marshalls & Rise Park) at 36/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to RM13 (Beam Park) at 36/100 — a 0-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Newham

Newham averages 36/100 for families across the 6 postcodes we cover, scoring 0/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 120 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 23rd lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £1,938 a year. Its strongest postcode is E6 (East Ham South) at 36/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to E16 (Custom House) at 36/100 — a 0-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Redbridge

Redbridge averages 36/100 for families across the 6 postcodes we cover, scoring 0/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 82 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 9th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,194 a year. Its strongest postcode is IG1 (Ilford Town) at 36/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to RM6 (Chadwell) at 36/100 — a 0-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets averages 36/100 for families across the 5 postcodes we cover, scoring 0/100 on schools, 100/100 on safety, 0/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 135 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 27th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £1,997 a year. Its strongest postcode is E1 (Whitechapel) at 36/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to E1W (St Katharine's & Wapping) at 36/100 — a 0-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Frequently asked questions

How many boroughs are in East London?
East London has 9 London boroughs: Hackney, Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets.
Which East London borough is best for families?
Hackney tops our ranking at 59/100 — strongest on schools, safety, commute and green space combined. See the full table above.
What's the safest borough in East London?
Hackney scores highest for safety in East London at 100/100, based on Met Police crime data.
Where do the East London boroughs sit vs the rest of London?
See the full 32-borough London ranking to compare East London boroughs against North, South, East, West and Central on the same yardstick.

East London boroughs ranked

Ranked by overall family score. Tap a row for every postcode in the borough.

  1. 1

    Hackney4 postcodes

    Schools 75 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: E5 Lea Bridge (66)

    59
  2. 2

    Waltham Forest4 postcodes

    Schools 25 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: E17 Hoe Street (66)

    44
  3. 3

    Barking and Dagenham4 postcodes

    Schools 0 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: IG11 Eastbury (36)

    36
  4. 4

    Bexley7 postcodes

    Schools 0 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: DA5 St Mary's & St James (36)

    36
  5. 5

    Greenwich5 postcodes

    Schools 0 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: SE3 Blackheath Westcombe (36)

    36
  6. 6

    Havering6 postcodes

    Schools 0 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: RM1 Marshalls & Rise Park (36)

    36
  7. 7

    Newham6 postcodes

    Schools 0 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: E6 East Ham South (36)

    36
  8. 8

    Redbridge6 postcodes

    Schools 0 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: IG1 Ilford Town (36)

    36
  9. 9

    Tower Hamlets5 postcodes

    Schools 0 · Safety 100 · Green 0 · Commute 70 · Top: E1 Whitechapel (36)

    36