Head five miles due north of central London and you’ll reach a little urban village called Crouch End. Before we go on, however, we must address something so shocking it will give some time-poor Londoners sleepless nights: it doesn’t have a tube or train station. But fear not, this almost unimaginable situation has become an ace up the area’s sleeve – and anyway, Hornsey, Harringay and Crouch Hill stations are close by.
Rather than being overrun by tourists and the high street choked with chain stores, Crouch End has managed to retain a unique community charm thanks to this semi-seclusion. You’ll find young professionals rubbing shoulders with bohemian types – actors are ten a penny around here – in its relaxed leafy surroundings.
Transport
So, how exactly do you get to and from Crouch End? It’s much easier than you might think.
National rail: trains from nearby Hornsey and Harringay stations (both fare zone 3) take just 20 minutes and 18 minutes respectively to reach Moorgate via Finsbury Park.
London Overground: take a 15-minute stroll to Crouch Hill station (fare zone 3) for London Overground connections to Barking and Gospel Oak.
Tube: Finsbury Park station, which is served by the Piccadilly and Victoria lines, is 1.7 miles away.
Bus: routes include the numbers 41 (to Archway) and 91 (to Trafalgar Square). The W5 and W7 connect to Archway, Muswell Hill, and Finsbury Park. Crouch End is served by two night buses: N41 and N91.
Accommodation
A surge in suburban house building in the early 20th century, under the guidance of architect John Farrer, led to the construction of handsome Edwardian red brick houses in the east of the area. Particularly along Cecile Park, which remains one of the most desirable addresses around here. Increasing numbers of new-build developments are popping up, but it’s the architectural heritage that attracts residents to Crouch End.
The average property price in Crouch End is £677,000
The average rental price in Crouch End is £420 per week
Schools
Crouch End’s collection of excellent public and private schools attract families to the area.
Primary schools: Coleridge Primary School is rated as an “Outstanding” school by Ofsted, while several other local schools —Rokesly Junior School and St Mary’s CofE Primary School — received “good” reports from the government’s schools’ watchdog.
Secondary schools: the area also boasts several highly rated secondary schools, including Hornsey School for Girls, Highgate Wood, the Greig City Academy and Mount Carmel Catholic College for Girls.
Things to do
Crouch End’s enticing range of independent cafés and restaurants – from quaint coffee shops and bakeries to French bistros and gastro pubs – sets it apart from other sterile high streets in the capital. The annual Crouch End Festival in June provides the area with an opportunity to showcase the artistic talents it’s famous for. The ArtHouse Crouch End is a popular boutique cinema housed in a former Salvation Army Hall. Crouch End’s leafy reputation is given a helping hand by its proximity to Highgate Woods and Alexandra Park – the latter offering spectacular views of London.