Rowley Way XII, London NW8

This exceptional three-bedroom apartment forms part of the iconic Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate in St John’s Wood. Built in the late 1960s to a design by the revered modernist architect Neave Brown, the development has been given a rare Grade II* listing by English Heritage. Inside, original features abound, including parquet flooring, ceramic tiles and expansive metal-framed windows. A double-height sitting room opens onto a generous private balcony, while a mezzanine is home to a smart kitchen and dining area. The building is well served by the shops, bars and cafes of St John’s Wood, with the green expanses of Regent’s Park also close by.



The Building



The Metropolitan Boroughs of St Pancras, Holborn and Hampstead merged to become Camden in 1965. Under the stewardship of Sydney Cook, the borough quickly became renowned for its radical new housing. Cook appointed a “dream team” of architects working out of Holborn Town Hall, foremost of whom was Neave Brown.



The Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate (also known as Alexandra Road) is the most famous of the projects completed during this period – others include the Dunboyne Estate, also by Neave Brown, Benson & Forsyth’s Branch Hill and Maiden Lane, and Peter Tabori’s Highgate New Town. Rowley Way is named after Camden's director of housing. For more information, see the History section below.



The Tour



This apartment is arranged across the ground and lower ground floors of the building. Entry is to a bright hallway with original parquet flooring underfoot, which extends into a wonderful double-height sitting room. On a raised platform with black-painted floorboards, a wall of full-height glazing with black frames and trim floods the space with light. A set of sliding doors unfolds onto the terrace beyond, while an opposite wall is fitted with smart white shelving. Track lighting has been installed overhead.



The kitchen and dining area are found on the mezzanine, accessed via a staircase. In the kitchen, plywood cabinets are topped by blue tiled work surfaces. A ribbon of glazing above the counter has wide windowsills and sliding glass doors, while additional light pours in from full-height glazing on the opposite wall. In the dining area, a counter finished with both original and updated brown tiling has built-in shelving.



On this floor, a bright bedroom with floor-to-ceiling storage is flooded with light from a large metal-framed window. Two further bedrooms occupy the lower ground floor. The principal bedroom is illuminated by a large window that stretches across its width, with a wide windowsill. The additional bedroom is currently used as a peaceful study. The plan is completed by a shared bathroom with a bathtub, and there is an additional separate WC.



Outdoor Space



A generous private terrace with a wooden trellis provides opportunities for sitting out. There is plenty of room for potted plants, and views look toward the striking modernist buildings on the estate.



There is the possibility of renting spaces in the estate’s secure car park.



The Area



St John’s Wood is known for its landmarks, including Abbey Road recording studios and Lord’s Cricket Ground. Its leafy residential streets are filled with fine 19th-century homes juxtaposed with excellent examples of 20th-century modernist apartments and houses.



The popular shops, cafes and restaurants of St John’s Wood are a short walk away from the apartment, including Gail’s Bakery, Y gen and the much-loved Panzer’s delicatessen. Parisian café and restaurant Soutine also comes highly recommended.



Close by are the wonderful Hampstead Theatre and the striking Swiss Cottage Library, a landmark of 20th-century modernist architecture. The wide-open parkland of Regent’s Park is around a 30-minute walk (or a 10-minute cycle) away, with its boating lake, famed rose gardens, open-air theatre and large wetland area.



Closer to home, Alexandra Road Park sits just behind Rowley Way. The four-acre linear park, designed by Janet Jack between 1972 and 1978, is part of the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate. It has a combination of raised gardens, plazas and sunken areas, where a dramatic landscape of ridges and valleys provide excellent views across the lawns, playgrounds and mature trees.



The wonderful Primrose Hill is also close by, with excellent shops and restaurants including Lemonia, Greenberry Café, Melrose and Morgan, and Primrose Bakery. Primrose Hill Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday morning and is particularly popular.



There are a number of excellent local independent preparatory schools; Saint Christina’s School, Arnold House School, Abercorn School, North Bridge House School and The Hall School are either a short walk or drive away. Other independent schools, including London’s best-regarded, can be reached easily on public transport.



Swiss Cottage Underground station is a 14-minute walk away, with Jubilee line services to Baker Street in around six minutes. South Hampstead Overground station is only slightly further afield, with Lioness line services to Euston in approximately 11 minutes.



Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: approx 99 years remaining / Service Charge: Approx. £2,000 per annum / Ground Rent: £10 per annum / Council Tax Band: D