“Bow, really? You can’t be serious,” followed with a hearty laugh. That was the response I got when I told residents that Bow was ranked among the best places to live in London.

The shock, the horror and the complete confusion left everybody laughing. The only constant was that opinion usually came from someone who had lived or worked in Bow for a long time. I grew up in Homerton, and Bow is a 10-minute journey from me. I echoed people’s surprise to see that the Sunday Times ranked Bow among the ‘Best Places to Live’ in London

I remember when I was young, going regularly to Bromley-by-Bow Tesco on the S2 bus from Homerton. It always felt like an adventure going there, and back then, the area was certainly a bit rough. If you asked 12-year-old Ayo, would this be the best place to live? I would have certainly replied that there must be better.

After I visited Sutton a couple of months ago, as it was also named one of the best places, it was only right that I visited Bow, which was on my doorstep.

When I headed down to talk to people, I knew the first place I would have to go was Roman Road. The iconic market is synonymous with Bow, and where better to get some opinions? And opinions are exactly what I got. Whether it was the group of adults sat outside a cafe who seemed in disbelief when I told them it was one of the best places and scoffed at the thought of it, to eventually say “I wouldn’t live anywhere else though” – showed that it was clearly a love/hate relationship with the area.

They all praised the community aspect as being one of Bow’s biggest draws. And I can see why. It’s easy to get wrapped up in it. People sitting outside cafes chatting about life, people walking their dogs outside a block of flats or the traders who are still smiling even if the market isn’t as busy; walking around Bow makes you feel good.

Growing up, I knew Bow had its reputation. The same as Hackney for being a bit rough around the edges. I’m sure that still holds true today; I spoke to some older residents outside a cafe on Roman Road who said, “You wouldn’t want to walk here at night.” As much as that made me chuckle, I thought to myself that is literally the case for a majority of London. I asked a couple of young teachers later on if they felt safe in the area, and their answer was a resounding yes, so, like anywhere in London, it’s all about your experiences.

The thing I give Bow credit for is how it has retained much of its history. Living in Hackney, I saw it undergo rapid gentrification, changing in what felt like the blink of an eye; Bow seems to have managed to retain itself and resist that rapid expansion, which I think is one of its charms.

It shows that modern aspects of life and old-school values can coexist. One group doesn’t need to be pushed out for the other to thrive. It can be a relationship where both can grow. New “trendy” cafes exist while your old-school builder’s cafe still provides a lifeline and spot for the older community to come to. Those proper old-school boozers are still a staple in the area, with the likes of the Lord Morpeth, The Bow Bells and The Wentworth Arms, to name a few.

With Victoria Park a short walk away and the Hertford Union Canal, I can see why Bow is appealing. You are still close to the hustle and bustle of the city and Canary Wharf, but still away in a way that you can be away from it and enjoy a stroll through the park, especially with the weather getting better.

The community aspect was infectious. Every person I spoke to was full of compliments about how nice people are in the area.

Even with new developments popping up along the dual carriageway, the Tesco is still standing, and it feels as if not much has changed, despite the high-rises and fancy flats. Old-school Victorian houses still stand strong, and the pubs are always a great look. Walking through Bow still feels like the proper East End.

Sadly, overflowing bins are a constant sight, but I guess you can’t have it all.

Do you agree that Bow is one of the best places to live? Let us know in the comments