Stanstead Road, London, SE23

Guide Price £750,000 - £775,000. A light-filled kitchen extension has turned the ground floor into one flowing, social space. Fully renovated and ready to go, this stylish cottage near Forest Hill station now blends Victorian character with everyday ease.

Positioned on the peaceful end of Stanstead Road - where the pace slows and parking’s easy - this Victorian mid-terrace has been renovated from the ground up. 

The result is an open-plan ground floor that is much more aligned with how we live today - bright, sociable and effortlessly connected from the front door to the private back garden.

Gone is the traditional narrow galley kitchen. In its place, a full-width kitchen-diner with a roof lantern, quartz worktops, white diamond-tiled splashback and a butler sink. It flows seamlessly into an open plan living space, created by opening up the traditional two reception rooms. 

Whether you’re hosting friends or having a quiet night in, the new layout just works. It’s light-filled in the summer and cosy in the winter. 

And it’s packed with thoughtful touches too - integrated appliances, handy corner storage, bi-folds to the garden (complete with removable catflap) and a clever downstairs loo squeezed in under the stairs.

Upstairs, two double bedrooms deliver calm, comfort and plenty of built-in storage. The main bedroom looks out onto the quiet street, while the second makes a brilliant guest room, workspace or nursery. 

And the stylish four piece bathroom - with its separate bath, shower and calming blue tiles - will make Monday mornings that little bit easier to cope with after a busy weekend.

The back garden is a low-maintenance courtyard that’s surprisingly private, with raised beds, seasonal planting and fencing that keeps cats safely in (though it’s easily removed if needed). 

And there’s substance to backup the style. The 2019 refurbishment wasn’t just cosmetic, it was stripped back to the beams and rebuilt, including new joists, walls and floors. It’s been finished with care and a real understanding of how people live today.

Forest Hill station is less than a 10 minute walk away, with London Bridge, Canada Water and Shoreditch all easily reached by Overground and National Rail. 

You can grab a quick coffee at The Pantry on your way to the train, pop to the Co-op or gym after work - just two minutes down the road - or head up to Horniman Gardens for a weekend wander. 

From Clapton Craft to The Signal, there’s a growing list of locals’ favourites right on your doorstep.

And while Stanstead Road stretches east, all the way to the South Circular, this end of the street has a relaxed, neighbourly feel. People chat, help out, feed each other’s cats. There’s even a resident-run garden across the road.

If you’re looking for a home with character, comfort and a superb, sociable kitchen that changes everything - this one’s ready when you are.