We stayed for one week in Alison's Hackney apartment and had a wonderful experience living like locals.
Alison is a great host, very prompt in her communications and very helpful with any questions we had regarding public transportation and things to do. In addition, we left our keys from home in her apartment and she found them and she is returning them by mail at our request.
Her apartment is cozy for two people and the kitchen is small but very functional. It is super close to overground train and convenient to several bus lines right out the door. It takes roughly 30-45 minutes to get downtown, and it took us about 75 minutes to get to Gatwick airport from her apartment. The basic amenities like groceries (Tesco!) are also nearby.
We spent a lot of our time simply walking around Hackney and exploring the surrounding neighborhood. The array of restaurants in Hackney is spectacular and affordable (unlike many other neighborhoods). We loved the fish and chips and grilled sea bass at Sutton's, Bahn Mi vietnamese sandwiches, Jerk Chicken at Sylvia's, Patty and Bun for a Smoky Robinson burger, and the Broadway Market for a the best fried chicken sandwich I've ever tasted! And the E5 bakery and Charles Artisan bakeries are also a must. What makes Hackney so special is the rich multiculturalism, people were very friendly. In fact, we wish it were possible to pack up and move to London! Someday perhaps.
We highly recommend a stay at Alison's flat in Hackney.