Dalston Area Guide
Dalston is a diverse area, both in terms of housing and the people who live and work there. It has everything from large and small Georgian and Victorian terraces to converted industrial spaces and new apartments in midrise and high rise buildings. It is a cultural melting pot, with newly arrived hipsters and City types rubbing along with the established Caribbean and Turkish communities. Young professionals and creatives are attracted by the vibrant nightlife and bars, shops and restaurants which widespread regeneration has brought in its wake.
Dalston Square is at the centre of the neighbourhood. With over 500 homes, public open space and a library, this transformational new development, along with the adjacent Dalston Junction station (which opened in 2010) resulted in a step change in Dalston’s image. Seemingly overnight it became a connected and cutting-edge place to be. Kingsland Road, running from Shoreditch in the south to Stoke Newington in the north, is the main shopping and entertainment hub; although busy in the day it really comes alive after dark to offer a vast array of bars, restaurants and clubs.
Public transport in Dalston is all about the Overground and the bus. Dalston Kingsland on the North London Line connects directly to Hackney Central and Stratford to the east, and Highbury & Islington, Camden and beyond to the west. Dalston Junction on the East London Line also links to the Victoria Line at Highbury & Islington, as well as to Shoreditch, Canary Wharf and Clapham Junction. Kingsland Road has many frequent bus services.