Forest Drive East, London, E11

Only a 15-minute walk to Tube services and Leytonstone’s fabulous restaurants, around 10 minutes to the Overground and within the catchment of several well-rated schools, the location of this four-bedroom Victorian home suits every lifestyle.

Ready to renovate and refurbish, the house has significant potential within. Currently, it features four spacious receptions flanking a central hallway with high ceilings and bay windows to the front. With a kitchen and bathroom to the rear, you could easily reconfigure the symmetrical layout to create a modern open-plan dining kitchen to one side, with plenty of living spaces remaining to showcase the original period features found throughout.

The first floor is equally versatile and spacious, with five bedrooms (the smallest is currently set up as a laundry room) and a second bathroom. Overall, the property offers its next owner the chance to use their eye for design or passion for history to create an incredible family home in leafy Upper Leytonstone.

You’ll find the house in a row of period homes on a residential street only a 10-minute stroll from Hollow Ponds. Set behind a generous front lawn, the exterior was built to impress with its symmetrical double-fronted design, London Stock brickwork, and full-height bay window.

White stone lintels with foliage mouldings to the windows echo the ornately decorated colonnaded entrance, inviting you along the path tiles to a bright-red recessed front door. Here, upper glazed panes and surrounding windows with matching lower panels open to a grandly proportioned hallway, where high walls edged with picture rails and intricate mouldings that continue on the ceiling reflect the Victorian’s flair for welcoming guests.

The hallway runs past a staircase with access to a useful cellar and through to the garden, creating two distinct wings. To your left, you’ll discover a big reception room flooded with light by a canted bay window and characterised by coving and tall skirting boards.

A door links to the reception behind, which has integrated storage. Across the hall, you’ll find an original cast-iron fireplace in the front reception – brightened by a box bay window – and the fourth living area overlooking the side return. Glazed double doors lead into a kitchen with big windows facing the garden, with a bathroom and utility area with direct access to the garden on the other side of the hall.

Upstairs, a split-level landing leads to five bedrooms. The two double bedrooms facing the garden have original cast-iron fireplaces and in-built alcove storage. Meanwhile, intricate coving, picture rails, high skirting boards, and a ceiling rose await in a front primary bedroom with a beautiful bay window.

Two large windows illuminate a further double front bedroom, and finally the bedroom between although set up as a laundry room, its intended use was as a nursery originally, with a door connecting from the primary bedroom. This could easily be transformed back to its original purpose or redesigned into an en suite bathroom or dressing room. To the rear is another three-piece bathroom.

Outside, you’ll find a wide garden enclosed by fencing and trees that feels nice and private. It also comes with a shed and three garages to the rear with access to James Lane – perfect for setting up a workshop or keeping cars and bikes safely stowed off-road. 

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Forest Drive East occupies a convenient spot in Upper Leytonstone, about an 11-minute walk from Leyton Midland Road station and a similarly short distance from Leytonstone Underground (Central Line – 24 hours at weekends). The town centre is also close by, where you’ll find local favourites on the High Road, such as The Red Lion pub, Wild Goose Bakery, Panda Dim Sum, Yard Sale Pizza, Perky Blenders coffee and plenty more besides.

Our local sellers have often recommended San Marino Café for great breakfasts, Fitness Hub Leytonstone for community-based fitness classes, Primrose Florists for flowers and plants, and Noted Eel and Pie House.

Some fantastic open green spaces within walking distance include Hollow Pond (12 minutes) or Henry Reynolds Gardens (20 minutes), with Wanstead Flats and Park extending beyond.

Alternatively, hop onto the A12 and head down to Stratford for shopping and to enjoy sporting events and concerts at the London Stadium, continue to Canary Wharf, or take the A11 into the heart of the city.

Barclay Primary School (rated Outstanding by Ofsted) is seven minutes’ walk away. You can also reach both Gwyn Jones Primary (Good) in six and Leyton Sixth Form (Good) or Leytonstone School (Good) in just five.