Florence Road, London N4

This wonderful architect-designed apartment backs onto the leafy and perennially popular Parkland Walk nature reserve. Recently refurbished to a high standard, the apartment has soaring ceilings and a wealth of original features. A loft above, currently used for storage, offers opportunity for conversion into a three-bedroom home. Minutes from the brilliant shops and places to dine along Stroud Green Road,  Florence Road is a quiet residential street within easy reach of Crouch Hill and Finsbury Park stations.

There is active planning in place for the addition of a dormer with second bedroom and bathroom - details of the proposed plans can be found here.

Setting the Scene

Florence Road is to the north of Stroud Green Road, an area on the boundaries of Haringey and Islington boroughs. Stroud Green’s name likely comes from the Old English ‘stod’, meaning ‘marshy ground covered with brushwood’, and ‘grene’, a Middle English word indicating a village green. As with much of the city, it was developed in the 19th century when demand for housing increased as the city’s population boomed.

The house looks over the Parkland Walk, a much-loved trail that connects Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill and Highgate to Finsbury Park and spans around five kilometres. Five kilometres long, it traces the route of a disused Victorian-era railway line that shut down in the mid-1950s. Opened to the public in the 1980s, it is now a local nature reserve and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation; it is also popular with strollers, dog-walkers and runners alike.

The Grand Tour

With a stock-brick exterior and stucco-dressed windows, the building that this apartment resides within is typical of housing stock that proliferated in the area during the early 20th century. Entry is via a uniquely intricate stucco-adorned porch, conveniently sheltered for finding keys.

The front door opens to a shared and recently renovated hallway and, in turn, a stairwell that ascends to this home’s first-floor entrance. There is coat storage on arrival, along with another set of stairs that winds up to the second floor.

At the front of the apartment is a generous open-plan living space with a beautiful navy-blue kitchen along one side – a hue that is subtly repeated throughout the home. Its units house a wealth of storage and are topped by a timber countertop with a deep butler’s sink and a hob above an electric Smeg oven. An integrated fridge is cleverly concealed at one end, and an open oak shelf is perfect for displaying favourite glassware or ceramics.

Two large south-facing sash timber windows draw in plenty of natural light. A seating area lies opposite the kitchen, orientated towards a cast-iron fireplace with an original stone surround. Alcove-set shelves provide plenty of space for storing a personal library. Traditional column radiators and upgraded thermal fabric have been added throughout and keep the apartment warm throughout the year.

The bedroom is towards the rear of the plan and has a sash window that faces onto the Parkland Walk’s leafy canopies. Two wardrobes have been fitted into the alcoves on either side of an original cast-iron fireplace insert with a navy-blue surround.

At the rear is the bathroom; here, brilliant bespoke joinery – again in a navy blue – carves out a dedicated space for laundry, with a convenient Victorian pulley set above. The room is especially generous and has a neutral scheme that amplifies its brightness. A freestanding bath is set beneath a window that frames a view of the woodland beyond; there is also a generous walk-in shower. Underfloor heating and a dedicated booster tank have been added under current ownership.

The loft space is currently accessed through a hatch and used for storage. Planning permission for development of this space has been obtained, giving an opportunity for further expansion, with freeholder permission required.

Out and About

The apartment is wonderfully close to the brilliance of Stroud Green Road, where popular places to dine out include Itto, Jai Krishna, Pizzeria Pappagone, La Fabrica and brunch spot Common Ground. Close by are the Faltering Fullback, a lively local pub that serves delicious Thai food, and Tollington’s Fish Bar, a recent but much-loved addition to the area. The road connects to Finsbury Park in the east, where pub and culinary hotspot The Plimsoll is known for its delicious burgers and small plates.

In the other direction is Crouch Hill, home to Max’s Sandwich Shop and cosy local pubs including The Robin. Crouch End is just beyond and has a further offering of places to dine out, including Paesan, and places to drink, such as The Queen’s and bar Little Mercies.

Also within easy reach is the Hornsey Road branch of coffee shop/restaurant Jolene, along with several popular pubs including The Landseer and The Swimmer at the Grafton Arms. Tufnell Park, Green Lanes and Highbury can all be reached on foot.

Aside from the Parkland Walk, nearby green spaces include Finsbury Park, Highgate Woods and, a little further afield, the East and West Reservoirs.

Transport connections are excellent; both Finsbury Park (Victoria and Piccadilly lines and National Rail) and Crouch Hill (Overground) stations are in easy reach, and a range of buses serve the local area. There are also excellent cycle routes into central London.

Lease Length: approx. 999 years remaining 
Service Charge: approx. £2,000 pa
Ground Rent: N/A
Council Tax Band: C