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West Hampstead | |
Tufnell Park |
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Hampstead Garden Suburb | |
Camden Town |
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Muswell Hill | |
Kentish Town |
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Crouch End | |
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Crouch End
Crouch End is a green and leafy area with plenty of large houses which has become renowned for being cosmopolitan and bohemian. It is popular with people in the arts, media and entertainment worlds and has a plethora of well-frequented restaurants, cafes and bars which have sprung up to cater for them and others.
Because it is both green and has a clearly defined centre, it is often referred to as a village – and most residents find it a neighbourly place to live.
History
Crouch End Broadway, at the area’s centre, has been a meeting place for centuries.
The land was long owned by the Bishops of London and used by them for hunting before it was turned into farmland. Housing developed in the late 19th century as London’s population grew and the city spread up the slopes to its north.
Amenities
Crouch End has plenty of green open spaces. A large open area behind Park Road has playing fields, tennis courts and a swimming pool. To the north you find Alexandra Park, nearly 200 acres of steeply-sloping, beautiful parkland, where there are sports facilities, a nature reserve and attractions for children, but best of all perhaps, glorious panoramic views over London.
Within the park’s grounds is Alexandra Palace, built in the 19th century as a rival to Crystal Palace. For many years it was the home of the BBC but today it contains an entertainment complex with an ice rink and an exhibition centre.
An unusual attraction in the area is the recently completed Parkland Walk, a charming rural track over three miles long, created along the line of a disused railway, which offers an abundance of plant and animal life including deer, foxes, bats and butterflies.
Property in the area
There is an array of large Victorian houses with gardens which appeal to people with families and which can be acquired more cheaply than in areas closer to Hampstead Heath.
Residents
The large houses, open aspect, green spaces and air of tranquillity make it a popular location for people with families. It’s also a favourite with actors, writers and musicians, and people in the media and entertainment worlds.
Transport
The area is not notable for its public transport. However, Highgate station on the Underground’s Northern Line is on the eastern edge; and Archway station (also on the Northern Line) is just to the south at the bottom of Highgate Hill (so you can follow the route to and from it in the steps of Dick Whittington). Crouch Hill station on the overland Silverlink metro network is in the southern tip.
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