Hesketh Road, Forest Gate, London, E7

Beautifully updated with a stylish extended kitchen, ample bespoke storage and a leafy private garden, you’ll find this welcoming two-bedroom flat on the doorstep of Wanstead Flats, Leytonstone town centre and Forest Gate, close to green spaces and great transport links.

Renovating with love and care over the last few years to create an airy, open-plan feel, the current owners have fitted a new custom-made dining kitchen, stylish shower room and separate WC. The property has been rewired (with new metal sockets and switches), fully insulated and soundproofed, resulting in a quiet sense of calm throughout. Every detail has been carefully considered, from attractive column-style radiators and designer lighting by the likes of Flos and &Tradition, to the warm, cosy palette of paint shades by Lick and Benjamin Moore. 

The flat occupies the ground floor of a Victorian terraced house, with a London stock frontage. A new reclaimed brick wall with a scrolled metal gate opens to a traditional terracotta and black tiled path, leading past a lovely plant-filled front garden, to the recessed olive-painted front door. 

INSIDE – CONSIDERED CALM

From the communal entrance, your own front door (painted cheery Pomegranate by Benjamin Moore) opens to a hallway with sanded, restored floorboards that flow throughout most of the living spaces. 

At the front, the primary bedroom is currently laid out as a living room, where warm neutral-toned walls are warmed by light from a tall bay window with bamboo blinds. Bespoke alcove shelves flank a chimney breast with a rendered fireplace, while an asymmetric opal glass Foscarini Gregg Media pendant light draws the eye to the high ceiling. 

The peaceful second bedroom sits beyond, bathed in the warm glow of late afternoon sunshine through a garden-facing window. Carpet runs underfoot, and the walls are painted Imperial Gray by Benjamin Moore. This is a flat that takes storage seriously, and here the bespoke wardrobe with characterful timber sliding doors includes dedicated storage for shoes as well as clothes. 

Returning to the hallway, you’ll find a WC with close-coupled loo and basin to your left; and an architecturally designed wet room to your right, where a fabulous full-height window gives a feeling of showering outside. There’s a deep basin with a round mirrored cabinet; and brushed silver fittings by Crosswater include an overhead rainfall shower and separate shampoo attachment. White elongated tiles line the walls, focussing attention on the gorgeous blue terrazzo floor tiles by Huguet Mallorca; while ceiling bluetooth speakers (which repeat in the kitchen) allow music to play while you bathe.

The hallway floorboards continue through an archway to the large dining kitchen, newly renovated in 2022. It feels wonderfully connected to the garden, with light and greenery spilling in from wide Sieger slimline bifold doors to the rear, and both an aluminium-framed window and an original reclaimed Pomegranate-painted Crittal door to the side return courtyard. The European oak-fronted cabinetry includes plenty of pan drawers, and is completely bespoke, with worktops in Iroko and quartz paired with a stunning tumbled travertine tiled splashback. 

There’s an undermount sink with brushed brass Crosswater Cucina cooks mixer tap, while integrated appliances include a Samsung fridge-freezer, Neff oven, dishwasher and induction hob with downdraft extractor. Thoughtful details include open shelving to both the kitchen and living area; designer lighting such as an &Tradition Journey SHY2 wall light and a Ferm Living Collect pendant; and a custom-made dining bench with boucle upholstered seat. 

OUTSIDE – SECRET GARDEN

A green and leafy oasis, the garden wraps around the house, with a Mandarin Stone tumbled limestone paved path leading to bespoke outdoor seating at the rear. Boston Ivy covers the back wall, shimmering in the breeze and turning a beautiful, vibrant red in the autumn; while a productive grape vine covers a pergola on the side of the house and casts pretty dappled shade through the kitchen window later in the afternoon. Planting has been designed to ensure flowers from early spring to the first frost, and includes Acanthus, red bistort, white hydrangea, ferns and bamboo. 

A NOTE FROM THE OWNERS

‘The beautiful atmosphere in the flat is hard to put into words. It’s incredibly tranquil, and the garden really does feel like another room to the house. The front room is classic Victorian cosy and doubles as a second bedroom or for guests. We love spending our time in the back rear extension and have enjoyed many dinner parties around the banquette seating, moving into the garden on balmy summer evenings.’

GETTING AROUND

The Elizabeth line is within easy reach at Forest Gate Station, walkable in just over 10-minutes, putting Liverpool Street a short journey away and Stratford just two stops away. Wanstead Park station (Overground) is also  just 8-minutes away. For further connections, Leytonstone High Road (Overground) is 20 minutes on foot, and Leytonstone Underground for the Central line is within walking distance (around 32 minutes). Stratford's major interchange offers the DLR, Central and Jubilee lines, along with shopping, cinema and food at Westfield and East Village. Various local bus stops run regular services to Stratford, with the No. 58 the closest — only a two minutes' walk.

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Hesketh Road is part of a pocket of Victorian streets between the lower end of High Road Leytonstone and just one street away from the wonderful Wanstead Flats – a walking, jogging and mountain-biking paradise that acts as a gateway to Epping Forest, hence the naming of ‘Forest Gate’. Nearby Harrow Road playing fields – a gateway to sprawling green space, ponds and woodland – are also just a 13-minute stroll away.

Alternatively, head to Langthorne Park for pools, wildlife, basketball courts, a play park and an outdoor gym. You are also just 2 miles from the Olympic Park & Hackney Wick with all it has to offer. 

Just 50m away is local favourite the Holly Tree, with it’s vast beer garden, and just a ten-minute walk to the lovely Leytonstone Tavern (check out the fantastic Tacos, one of London’s best burgers) and the specialist coffee shop Tamping Grounds – both particularly recommended by local sellers – as well as community favourite, Wildgoose Bakery. Other notable artisanal food and drink choices less than 5-minutes are the fantastic Joyau Wine Bar and Pretty Decent Brewery. 

The current sellers particularly recommend Roost – for tasty rotisserie chickens, salads and cocktails and Wild Goose Bakery (famed for their custard tarts). They also enjoy walking across the Flats to the Golden Fleece and North Star in Leytonstone.

The High Road is around 8 minutes on foot, and has many cafés and convenience stores at its southern end. If you like traditional Italian pizza, check out Giovanna’s Deli and Wine. Our local sellers often suggest a visit to Earls Sandwiches in Cann Hall Park for the best in local bread-based delicacies, and La Regret Wine Bar for interesting bottles and pop-up chef residencies.

Besides food and drink, there are plenty of local activities for families to enjoy. Some of the most popular include Leytonstone and Leyton Leisure Centres for swimming, local five-a-side football, Wanstead Park Run, and running clubs; and Fitness Hub East, E7 Movement, and Pause yoga studio (all within walking distance).

You’ll find Harrow Road Medical Centre close by, located in Triangle House or E7 Health near the station.

SCHOOLS

The popular Jenny Hammond Primary School is 14 minutes on foot, while Buxton Primary & Secondary School is reachable in seven (both rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted), and Davies Lane & Aldersbrook Primary School (‘Outstanding’) are a 17-minute walk away across the flats. Nearby nurseries often recommended by local sellers include, Acacia, Chestnut & The Arches.