Belmont Hill, London, SE13

This London house has serious history and buckets of space. From the street it looks like a perfect example of an Arts and Crafts semi, but step inside and it just keeps going. The home has been looked after by the same family for 45 years, who have been careful custodians, renovating the house in 2017 with new double-glazed wooden windows, bathrooms, and a kitchen handmade by a local carpenter, while keeping all of it’s original features - steeped gables, timber-framed porches and big bay windows - perfectly preserved.

Inside, the house has a layout that works brilliantly. The hallway is incredibly bright, lit by original stained glass. Parquet floors start here and run through the reception rooms, and thoughtfully planned joinery, made by the same local carpenter as the kitchen, means storage and shelving fit the spaces perfectly. At the front, the formal living room is flooded with southern light which pours through a broad bay window. Hardwood parquet floors add warmth, and the “fire hole” is ready if you ever fancy the crackle of real logs. Next door, the dining room comfortably seats ten, and the original fireplace now hosts a gas insert, creating a room that feels incredibly welcoming for family gatherings and festive feasts.

At the back, in the kitchen, bespoke carpentry by local craftsman John Duffy, hardwood parquet floors, Siemens appliances, a Franke sink, Gessi tap, and Buster + Punch handles combine beautifully. LEDs, pendant lights, and spots ensure it’s never gloomy despite the north-facing aspect, and the space opens to the garden.

Behind it, the garden is a suntrap in summer, northwest-facing with a sheltered feel in winter, making it an ideal Mediterranean-style courtyard if you fancy. Artificial turf keeps it usable all year, and there’s even a sunken trampoline with a lid for safe play. Nature is very much at home here too, with nesting robins, wood pigeons, tits, and even a resident frog in a small wildlife pond. Shared side access makes life easy for bins, bikes, or tradespeople, while an ancient splayed lime tree provides privacy at the back.

Downstairs, the basement spans the footprint of the house, split into a large family and TV room, utility area, and a modern shower room with marble floors and top-quality fittings. A wine wall and shelving, again by the same local carpenter, make it practical but still stylish. The original parquet hints at its previous life as a dance studio, adding a playful touch. A Valiant gas boiler installed in 2017 runs through the Hive app for smart control.

Upstairs, there are four comfortable bedrooms, each with parquet or 100 percent wool carpet and fitted storage. The main bathroom, redone in 2023, has a Bette tin bath, Duravit fittings and

Vado taps, while the ground-floor cloakroom and basement shower room keep mornings smooth.

Above, the loft is already boarded and ready for conversion and there’s space for a suite with dressing room and bathroom, or two further bedrooms with ensuites, without changing the layout below.

Back home, the street has a community feel you don’t usually associate with London. There’s a WhatsApp group for sharing news and swapping things, and the council recently planted new trees along the road, softening the view. Many of the houses here were designed by Reginald C. Fry between 1907 and 1909 as part of his entry for the 1912 Daily Mail Ideal Home Competition, a landmark event that helped shape the suburban landscape of Edwardian Britain.

And then there’s the location, which is a commuter’s paradise.Not only that, but the eye-wateringly pretty Blackheath Village is a brisk 15-minute walk (0.7 miles) with its cafés, pubs, independent shops and weekend farmers’ market, while Blackheath Common and Greenwich Park are both within walking distance when you fancy green space with serious wow factor.

Also, Lewisham town centre is practically on your doorstep, with M&S, Waterstones, Sainsbury’s, H&M, and exciting redevelopment, including a hoped-for cinema.

For commuters, Lewisham Station is just around the corner (0.25 miles), with trains into London Bridge in under ten minutes, plus services to Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Victoria. The DLR gets you to Canary Wharf or Bank without hassle, and if you’re feeling adventurous you’ve got the riverboat and even the Emirates cable car to whisk you around town.

The area’s increasingly popular with families and professionals, thanks to great schools, with John Ball and St Margaret’s primaries rated Outstanding, along with a number of independent schools in easy reach, as well as more green space than you might expect this close to the city. Hilly Fields and Manor House Gardens are both nearby, perfect for dog walks or weekend picnics.

If you want to come and see it, get in touch - viewings are just a phone call away, and we promise not to judge if you fall in love the moment you step through the door.