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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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Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill offers fine views of London to the south and east, some of the best Edwardian domestic architecture in London with grand houses lining broad streets, and a lively atmosphere considerably enhanced by the area’s leavening of cosmopolitan and bohemian residents.
History
Muswell Hill takes its name from an ancient well believed to have miraculous properties and a place of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages.
Around it, for centuries, Muswell Hill was a pleasant rural retreat with fine vistas across open farmland which was dotted by small hamlets, isolated cottages and the occasional elegant villa.
But the rural character began changing in the 19th century as London began spreading northwards up towards the Hill’s 400 ft high summit and some splendid Victorian houses were built, each with its own grounds. However, the Muswell Hill we know today was created between 1897 and 1914, the years immediately before the First World War, when the area was comprehensively developed.
Two visionary developers, James Edmundson and W.J. Collins laid out a regular pattern of streets which they lined with stone-dressed brick-built terraces adorned by abundant ornamental plasterwork. At the heart of the area they provided sweeping parades of shops. The rapidity of this very large development meant it was accomplished in a planned and coherent way which is very rare for London, where most areas grew haphazardly, in fits and starts, over long periods of time.
Today Muswell Hill remains the pre-eminent part of London in which to see Edwardian domestic building, displaying what architects call ‘a unique homogeneity of style’.
Location
Muswell Hill lies to the north of Highgate and Crouch End, approximately 30 minutes by road from the City or the West End in normal traffic.
Amenities
Muswell Hill adjoins Alexandra Park, a beautiful steeply sloping area of almost 200 acres which offers glorious panoramic views over London as well as sports facilities, a nature reserve and attractions for children.
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.
A little further south, between Muswell Hill and Crouch End, lie the open spaces of Queens Wood, where there are playing fields, tennis courts and a swimming pool.
The residents
Like nearby Crouch End, Muswell Hill has become a favourite location for actors, writers and musicians, and people in the media and entertainment worlds, as well as lots of professionals. Nicknamed ‘Muesli Hill’ in the 1970s, it has shed the aura of earnestness that implied and developed a more bohemian and cosmopolitan lifestyle, acquiring great vitality with its abundance of popular pubs, cafes and eateries.
Many of the houses are very large and are popular with two kinds of buyer. The first group consists of large families where both parents work and a nanny or au pair has to be accommodated to help the children and needs her own space. The second group are people who work from home and need space for a studio or separate office to avoid colonising the living room.
Almost needless to say, however, Muswell Hill still has plenty of medium-size houses and flats for people with regular-size families, and singles, who commute to work each day!
Transport
Muswell Hill has no stations on the Underground or overland rail lines but excellent bus services will transport you to stations in nearby areas.
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