Living in Crouch End
The secret of Crouch End is out. In spring 2023 Crouch End was voted the best place to live in London.
The Crouch End area has a long association with creativity, especially since the 70s, when artists, musicians, film and TV makers moved to the area, giving Crouch End a Bohemian flair. It has been described by the BBC as one of “a new breed of urban villages” in London.
But how did all this start?
From the later part of the 18th century, Crouch End became home to wealthy London merchants trying to escape from the city. The development of the railway changed the area significantly.
In 1965 Crouch End became part of the London Borough of Haringey.
The area became known as bedsit land into the early 1980s, until rising house prices changed the social profile of the area and progressively wealthier residents moved in.
Among its more prominent buildings is the modernistic Hornsey Town Hall. The red-brick Clock Tower has become a meeting and a reference point in Crouch End. Hornsey College of Art was established in 1880 and renowned for its experimental and progressive approach. The Queen’s Pub built in 1899 is one of the early Edwardian pubs with a hotel.
There are several primary schools within Crouch End: Rokesly, Coleridge Primary and St Peter-in Chains, among others. There are also three state secondary schools: Highgate Wood , Hornsey School for Girls and The Greig City Academy. Kestrel House is an independent special school for pupils with autistic conditions. The two private schools are Highgate School and Channing School for girls, located in nearby Highgate. There are few nursery schools in the area.
The main two parks in the area are Stationers’ Park and Priory Park. Also on the west is Highgate Wood and Queen’s Wood. In the north is Alexandra Park home to a newly restored theatre, ice-rink, farmers market on Sundays and amazing views of London.
There are several shops, restaurants, pubs and endless coffee shops, many of which are independent serving a variety of delicacies. If you run out of milk, a Waitrose is perfectly located on the Broadway with M&S a short walk away.
For a good night out, Crouch End is home to the King’s Head, London’s oldest comedy venue. Want to watch an independent movie? The Art House cinema is the perfect place.
The best way to experience Crouch End and discover this unique place is to visit. Sit down in one of its coffee shops and enjoy the Crouch End life passing by. You may end up having a coffee next to a celebrity!!!!
Getting around:
Trains: Hornsey, Haringey and Finsbury Park Stations
The nearest tube is Highgate station
Buses on 41, 91, W3, W5 and W7
For more information go to: visitlondon.com, LondonTown.com and timeout.com
Article written by Bernardo Calero | [email protected]
