In partnership with L&Q

2021 has been an eventful year for me: started with the lockdown and delivering our gorgeous baby boy in January followed by buying my very first own property in London in February. For now, let’s leave the baby stories for another blog post and talk about real adulting (aka stepping on the property ladder). In all seriousness, if you told me 10 years ago that I would own a flat in London I’d appreciate your sense of humour. That was until I learned about the Shared Ownership scheme and that in order to own a home in London, I don’t need to compromise on avocado toasts. In short, you buy a share of a flat and pay rent on the rest.

Once you’re ready you can buy more shares until finally owning your place outright. As a solo buyer I couldn’t afford to buy on the open market, so this was the only option for me to buy within London.

When I started my research, first of all I chose a few areas where I’d be happy to live (all in East London of course). One of them was Canning Town and I’ll explain why below. In the end I found my dream home in De Beauvoir, but let me tell you about all the great things in Canning Town first – home to L&Q at Brunel Street Works.

If you ever visited Canning Town before, I promise - you won’t recognise it now! In the last two years it’s been transformed from an industrial docklands outskirts area to a buzzing, trendy neighbourhood. First things first - commute. The DLR takes you from Bank to Canning Town station in 20 minutes. Great, right?! You can also get to Canary Wharf, North Greenwich and Stratford in 15 minutes! I’ll put a short guide to these great neighbourhoods below, for the days out when you feel like exploring London.

Let’s start with interesting places and independent businesses in Canning Town itself. Start with a walk through Leamouth Peninsula. It is home to the English National Ballet. Stop by at Homestead cafe for a cup of speciality coffee and a fresh croissant. Then head to Trinity Buoy Wharf, a place for contemporary arts with a sculpture park, cafe, bar and original 19th century lighthouse. On the way you can see a few reminders of East London’s heritage, industrial warehouses with ghost signs advertising shipbuilding and sugar trade.

After a wonder in Canning Town, take a quick DLR ride to Canary Wharf. Home to Mudchute city farm, Billingsgate fish market, famous Docklands pubs, museum of London Docklands (my favourite museum in London) and head up to Bokan rooftop bar to catch the sunset.

Another idea for a day out around Canning Town is exploring North Greenwich. Take a picturesque flight over the Thames on the Emirates Air Line and head to the Design District. Try a new food & drink hub at Design District Canteen or book an adventurous Dinner in the Sky for spectacular views across The O2 and beyond. You can also climb to The O2 rooftop or, closer to the ground, take a bike ride to Thames Barrier.

Finally, take a 10 minutes DLR ride to Stratford for a day of shopping, sport and leisure. Swim in the Olympic Aquatics Centre, shop in Westfield, have lunch at the new design hub - Haugen restaurant, and take a stroll in Queen Elizabeth park. Pop by East20 Village with its independent coffee and grocery shops and finish at The Stratford Tower - an Allegra restaurant with the best sunset views over East London.

Hope you’ve enjoyed a brief guide to some of the best areas in East London that are only 15-20 minutes away from Canning Town, home to L&Q’s new development – L&Q at Brunel Street Works. L&Q’s new developments features a range of one to three bedroom apartments available through Shared Ownership. Offering excellent views towards the 02 Arena, River Thames and Canary Wharf, you can enjoy use of rooftop terraces, podium gardens and play areas, plus a 24-hour concierge service in an ultra-modern building. There’s excellent transport links, with Canning Town station just a few minutes away, providing quick access to Canary Wharf, Bank, London Bridge & City airport. Take advantage of the Government-backed Shared Ownership scheme, making it easier to get on to the property ladder in London.

For more details visit: L&Q at Brunel Street Works.