Walford East, the fictional London Underground station on EastEnders, has served as a backdrop for drama since 1996. However, the real-life station it's modeled after, Bromley-by-Bow, is quite different. MyLondon explored the Bromley-by-Bow station and found that many passengers were unaware of its television counterpart.
Philly, a local support worker, commented on the station's surrounding diverse community and how it is celebrated at the Bromley by Bow Centre. Other residents noted that Bromley-by-Bow and its surroundings are evolving, with modern developments diverging from the traditional portrayal in EastEnders.
While the real station is smaller and less dramatic, it did have a brief moment in the spotlight in 2015 when Danny Dyer, an EastEnders' actor, announced train times for the show's 30th anniversary. The area around the station is quickly developing, with some flats selling for nearly £1 million, contrasting Walford's perpetual cycle of drama and scandal.