Hackney Carriage

Hackney Carriage: Greater London

Back in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, this corner of East London was a thriving industrial hub, but today it's the sort of highly coveted neighbourhood where luxury flats such as this one are springing up. You can get a sense of this transformation from the home's balcony, which gives guests a view of the canal and former warehouses that have been transformed into studios, bars and nightclubs — Hackney Wick, where many of these can be found, is only twelve minutes' walk away. Back inside, the long open-concept living space benefits from the huge floor-to-ceiling window at the end, which brings in copious amounts of natural light. The blue kitchen is as sleek as they come, with stone-composite work surfaces and in-built lighting, while the underfloor heating is sure to be appreciated in the winter months, too. The cherry on the cake is the building's communal gym, which guests are free to visit should they wish.

Home truths:
*The building has an elevator and the home itself is step-free
*The host asks that guests do not wear shoes inside the house
*There's no car parking space at this address, although Hackney Wick station is only eleven minutes' walk away
*The home has a portable air conditioning unit