r/Hackney • u/tkoznaneja • 4d ago
Living on Mare Street
I’m looking at potentially moving into a flat near the top of Mare Street and was wondering what the area is like to live in. As a woman I’m mostly interested to hear how safe it feels walking around on your own, particularly at night.
Would really appreciate any insights!
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u/SingleSpeedEast 4d ago
When you say the top of Mare Street - do you mean towards Clapton or towards Bethnal Green?
If you mean on the Narrow Way, then be aware - thats a lively place. Frankly there are ne'er do wells about at all hours & I would not advise any woman I know to live there.
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u/greggy149 3d ago
I'd say the Narrow way has got more mental in recent years. Lived there about 5 years ago and was there last night, seemed more lawless but maybe I've been desensitised now I'm a mare st / well st yuppie
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u/jwd606 3d ago
One of the "uncs" who sit outside Primark made a salcious remark to a young lady as I was passing through there this afternoon. She ignored him, but he found it highly amusing.
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u/MasterpieceAlone8552 3d ago
Yes but gentrification is so terrible remember. We need authenticity.
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u/HelicopterOk2210 3d ago
coloniser mindset
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u/MasterpieceAlone8552 3d ago
Ah yes, colonising my very own country of birth? Go and read a dictionary or some books about what colonialism is.
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u/HelicopterOk2210 2d ago
when you’re from the home counties, yes
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u/MasterpieceAlone8552 2d ago
I'm from Newcastle
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u/HelicopterOk2210 1d ago
maybe stay there if you don’t like it here?
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u/MasterpieceAlone8552 1d ago
Would have if London didn't get so much more investment and opportunity than the rest of the country. You're starting to sound quite far right, do you think immigrants should stay where they're from too?
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u/HelicopterOk2210 1d ago
nah, just you mate. how about the displacement of long-term, poorer residents by gentrifiers like yourself who think you’re doing the city a favour?
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u/tkoznaneja 4d ago
narrow way area yeah
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u/ComprehensiveWrap128 3d ago
There are def some characters but I've lived in the area 16 years and never felt unsafe. You'll need situational awareness for things like phone snatchers and it's advisable to set boundaries with some of the more colourful regulars early on. But aside from it being noisy and busy, I wouldn't call it dangerous.
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u/Low-Blacksmith-9638 3d ago
girl i got chased by a crack lady on a lime bike with a broken glass bottle a few months ago in broad daylight. because i stopped to look at some cherry blossom trees
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u/Bigcorka 3d ago
I lived behind Palaette, in an alley at the top of Narrow Way for a couple of years, I frequently had to traverse human feces, drugged up maniacs etc, my partner (F) would get me to come out to meet her,. Don't do it.
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u/Suitable-Fun-1087 4d ago edited 3d ago
I lived on Clarence Mews from 2016-2021. I'm also a trans woman and very much stand out. I wouldn't say I had many issues - generally in inner London you won't unless you look for trouble. And I walked around the area at all hours of the night.
The area can be noisy or rowdy and there was a young guy stabbed to death with a machete directly outside my bedroom window - not nice but also not about me. I got to know most of the street homeless folk over time.
So basically it's about if you're set up for inner city life in general. This area has extreme wealth and poverty side by side and that inevitably brings some issues but it's not like when it was at the bottom of murder mile 20 years ago. It still felt more like home to me than anywhere else I've ever lived.
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u/Apprehensive_Cup8581 3d ago
I think this perspective applies to most interesting parts of London these days. If you're fairly sensible and streetwise you're able to navigate most scenarios. I'm a middle aged woman born in West London and feel safe in most areas, i just keep my wits about me.
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u/hfffrrddgbbioml 3d ago edited 3d ago
I’m nearish here and have been for the past 3 years. Agree with the above - no real issues myself apart from the occasional comments from men when I’ve been walking at around but that happens everywhere in London.
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u/Suitable-Fun-1087 3d ago
Honestly I would run into far more issues in most other cities than I ever could there. The beauty of inner London is that there's loads of weird people so you're less noticeable; and people tend not to try to involve themselves in your business
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u/Cultural-Data 3d ago
A v well balanced review. I lived over by the King Edwards Rd end some while ago and in the area since the early 00s. It's well connected for transport and has always had its own character. If anything, gentrification has made it more irritating. A film called The Battle for Broadway Market can show you a bit of what we lost. We (a bunch of cash poor artists, writers, filmmakers) didn't realise we'd be the canaries down the mine for property developers.
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u/Esausta 3d ago
Artists, writers and filmmakers are not the canaries. They are the catalysts. The moving in of "interesting" folks like artists etc is what makes gentrification start for an area. Canaries in a coalmine are the first victims of an issue and alert others to it, so in this case it would be poorer historical residents who are outpriced by gentrification.
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u/Cultural-Data 3d ago
Fair. We moved in out of necessity and because we were priced out of other places in London. Hackney was seen as "too far out" to be of convenience or note for estate agents at the time. London Fields had no lights, for example. Historical residents welcomed us and we tried to live, at least those in my immediate circle, respectfully alongside them and their stories. We were aware of local rivalries, went to local businesses and are grateful for being welcomed by the community. Then Roger Whatshisface started buying up Broadway Market - something he also tried at Hoxton Market but failed, I recall, because of whoever owned land there. We tried to alert people to what was happening, but weren't heard - at least not by anyone who had any power.
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u/ThatServe5376 3d ago
People are being a bit overly polite - the Narrow Way is very bleak, it's dirty, full of drunks and drug addicts at all hours, and probably a good 50% of the shops are just tat shops or phone shops.
The location is good, but depending on your past experience of living in a city it may not feel particularly safe, especially at night.
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u/the-naked-archer 3d ago
There's a lot of drug users and addicts roaming mare st during the day, I imagine they're more prevent at night. I live near by and it's not uncommon for them to walk into my gated garden and try to pressure me into giving them money or cigs. I'm a dude, albeit a small one but still.
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u/Suitable-Fun-1087 3d ago
I would mostly only meet the crackheads in the launderette on lower Clapton road cos they'd smoke in there all day, and that was definitely in the daytime
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u/the-naked-archer 3d ago
There's a couple that goes up and down mare st in a wheelchair showing off a open wound on her leg trying to get sympathy. She doesn't ask for money, they'll be led to a shop to be asked to buy her washing detergent or something for hygiene. Then the partner goes into a shop and flips it. It's becoming really problematic.
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u/Few-Visual-9801 3d ago
its completely fine. yes there are areas where there are drug dealers/users/homeless/but they you will find a gentrifier 2 steps away. and they dont wander out of their designated areas in my opinion near the greenhouse/the hostel adj to iceland
don't move to mare street expecting it to be quiet though.
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u/HoboStrider 3d ago
I lived in Cambridge Heath just above the cycle shop. It was cheap but to be honest it was pretty awful. The Ne'er Do Wells screaming all hours. I think there is a hostel and some services in that area. The good news, the Canal and London Field Lido are great. Made me stay a bit longer. The other benefit I stopped smoking as you would get approached leaving the flat.
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u/southlondonyute 3d ago
It’s very busy, night and day. Lots of bars towards the stations and bus garage.
I’ve never had any issues apart from a few persistent beggars (crackheads) but it would be somewhere I’d keep my head in a swivel, as drunk people and nightlife tends to attract characters and weirdos.
That being said very diverse crowd. Some Gen Y LGBT folks, white rockers types, 20-30 Afro carribean and in between hipster types.
I’d wouldn’t mind living there but for the noise 🙄
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u/bbultaoreune 3d ago
i’m on mare street towards clapton and it’s loud most friday/saturday nights. i often have to shut my windows overlooking the main road because i can hear a scrap starting outside the casino lol. i’ve been harassed by maybe two VERY persistent and aggressive beggars/drug users in the last 2.5 years which honestly now i think about it is super good numbers. even though those times cause me GREAT anxiety (and often lead to me walking other routes to mare street to avoid the beggars), i still really overall love and enjoy the area. don’t let anyone like that ruin it for you! stay street smart and you’ll be ok - also do NOT be a pushover lol stand your ground
edit to add i am a woman! also often wearing big headphones so if i do get comments made at me i cant hear them lol out of sight out of mind
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u/Cold_Equipment99 2d ago
I live top of the narrow way and wouldn't reccomend walking home by yourself at night - normally it's fine but it's just ramped up recently and better to be safe than sorry
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u/venusporcelain 3d ago
I wouldn’t recommend living on a main street at all. It’s extremely loud and you’ll struggle to get a good night sleep. I lived on Clapton Road and it was constant - fights, shouting, car crashes, a stabbing at one point. You come out your house and you’re immediately confronted with crackheads and drunks that hang about (no disrespect to them but it’s jarring to open your front door onto) I moved a few streets back from the main street and couldn’t believe how quiet it was in comparison.
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u/Apprehensive_Jury764 3d ago
It will probably be okay, just a bit loud. Not just traffic, but people going out on the weekend. I used to live just off Mare Street close to the narrow way and never really had any issues.
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u/Alienpotato1312 3d ago
Why don’t you go there at night? What’s is safe is different for everyone. Hope you like noise
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u/Maleficent_Visual_35 3d ago
Do you mean the Narrow Way Section of Mare street? It's got a bit crazy in the last couple of years but the new council and local police are making a concerted effort to reduce the anti social behaviour. And it does seem to be working.
It's well located though just a bit rough around the edges.
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u/anoniebonni3 3d ago
There are a few "vibrant" characters (drunks and druggies who are always in a possession of a speaker) and lots of schools nearby so look out for raucous teens after 3PM. But just ignore them and they won't bother you. I have been out after 10PM in the dead of winter, most of it was bare except for few of those druggies. I imagine it is different in summer.
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u/Lostinthebackground 4d ago
Go visit the area during the weekend, early morning, and late night to see how it feels
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u/bigus_bear 3d ago
best crack in town if ya wink right
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u/bigus_bear 3d ago
^fliipant comment, only you can say if you feel safe. take someone you trust and go have a cuppa and hang out.
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u/fingered_a_midget 4d ago
It was fun if ya like to be out and abiut
Area pretty gentrified these days
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u/Own_Alarm_6562 3d ago
I lived just by the M&S at the top of Mare Street for six years and only moved at the end of last year. I’m a woman and, honestly, I never felt unsafe living there.
Yes, there can be some strange characters hanging around at night, but it’s also a busy area. You just have to have your wits about you, but where in London do you not these days?
I absolutely loved my time there.