London Advice - Hackney area?

Yes, lots of graffiti on buildings in the East End. Some bits very much better than others, although everywhere much better than it was. A lot now very buzzy and lots of terrific restaurants. You don't say where in Hackney exactly, and I wonder which "tube" station you mean, there really aren't any in Hackney though some on the edges.

Maybe you or your daughter could contact whoever is offering the internship and ask pointed questions.

I can't offer a lot of insight, though on my last trip, I did visit House of Hackney. Took the bus. It is urban and seems to be becoming revitalized. Hey, I got an iced coffee at a local cafe. It reminded me of areas beyond business Center City and more towards grittier South Philly, Philadelphia. But it was just a short trip. Would not mind visiting again.

I wondered about fashion and found this article. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/how-hackney-became-a-luxury-hotspot-for-fashion/

and this

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/17/fashion/london-fashion-week-hackney-style-capital.html

Looks to be a happening place for fashion internships. Is your daughter's residence in Chelsea by choice?

Oh, and Violet Cakes - baker made Harry and Meghan's wedding cakes - is in Hackney or nearby.

If I were 20, I think I would enjoy this.

The address in the Hackney area is 445 Hackney Road, London E2 9DY. My daughter has called and they are quite nonchalant about the commute. I'm not exactly sure how she would travel there from Lightfoot Hall in the Chelsea area. Thank you for your responses.

Hackney is pretty hipster heavy now and in Europe, everywhere has graffiti so a building with it doesn't mean that it's unsafe. However, there is no Tube around the area so perhaps they meant she has to take a bus. She might want to ask her company about it and the commute.

Google maps shows some choices, but check at Transport for London. They give many options, including buses only, fewest changes, etc. Yes, it looks like it will take a minute. There may be other student residences closer?? Can you check that out?

I'd looking into student housing closer to the area.

Looks like a horrible commute. Nearest tube to the Chelsea address seems to be South Ken or maybe Sloane Square, but both a bit of a walk there. Then the nearest tube to the destination looks like Bethnal Green, then another walk. Bethnal Green on Central Line, so there would need to be a change of tube, in the rush hour. There may be buses that work better. Is the Chelsea lodging fixed?

A Google search shows the Bethnal student living place as not too far from the Hackney address - really, like a 5 minute walk. But, as I have no idea what the set up is, not sure if you can make any changes. Good luck. You get used to commutes,

If graffiti conveys places not to go then avoid Rome, it’s everywhere.

Hackney has gentified over the last decade.

I mentioned in another post how the area near St Pancras used to be a vast grungy wasteland. Google Coal Drop Yards and Granary Square. Gentrification and the hipness.

You certain she can’t find somewhere closer to reside?

Thanks so much everyone for the information. Unfortunately, her residence is set by a third party who is coordinating the internship. I will make sure she asks about other housing options that you all have suggested but it is likely out of her control. I so appreciate the information about the fashion scene there. She may just have to put up with the commute if this is really her path in life.

That's too bad that housing is out of her control...that's not going to be a fun commute on the tube. I don't know why they would put the kids in Chelsea, an uber-expensive area of the city, if their day-to-day work is going to be out in Hackney.
My 21-year-old son is currently living in London as a full-time student. He lives in iQ student housing that has private dorms all over the city for students attending any type of educational institution there. They have dorms in both Highbury as well as Tufnell Park (where my son is) that would cut her commute in half. If she has any option at all of living elsewhere she should take it. I see that Lightfoot Hall is another private dorm run by a different company but it makes no sense that they would put students there...unless kids are spread all over the city for their internships? If so, they should give them a choice of where they will live. The tube sounds like a great adventure at first but is a grind after a while...my son only has a 10-15 minute commute and he's SO over it! Her commute would be rather ridiculous and unnecessary in my opinion.
She will be fine in Hackney...it's super hipster/gritty with unique and upscale cafes, trendy shops, coffee places, a bit of urban decay, and graffiti. That's why there's a thriving arts/fashion scene there and I'm sure that's why here internship is centered there. Hopefully she'll make friends and be able to go out in that area for drinks/dinner after her day is done...it's a great place to socialize and designed for people in their 20s and 30s.
The graffiti in Europe means something very different than graffiti here in the US...here it indicates a gang presence. Not so much there. You'll see it but don't let it worry you.