Makepeace Avenue, London, N6

If you are a first-time buyer looking for somewhere with character, green space, a sense of community and easy access into central London, this first-floor studio apartment on the private Holly Lodge Estate offers a very different proposition to the typical starter home. Guide Price: £325,000-£340,000.

Because buying your first property is not always about finding the biggest home your budget will allow. Sometimes it is about securing the best location and lifestyle you can afford — and in Holly Lodge Estate, that lifestyle is difficult to replicate.

The current owner explains it perfectly:

“What attracted me to Holly Lodge Estate in the first place was how peaceful and full of character it felt. It’s rare to find somewhere in London that feels so quiet and safe, but still has so much life around it.

I love being so close to Hampstead Heath, whether it’s for a walk, a swim in the ponds or the Lido, or just some time outdoors. The old pubs and village atmosphere around Hampstead also make the area feel really special.

After living here, I’ve come to appreciate even more that Holly Lodge Estate feels like a little escape from London, while still being very much part of it.”

That sense of escape is one of the estate’s biggest attractions.

Set on the southern slopes beneath Highgate Village, Holly Lodge Estate was principally developed during the 1920s and remains one of North London’s most distinctive residential enclaves. Its private roads, mature landscaping and mock-Tudor mansion blocks create a setting that feels established, peaceful and full of character.

There is also a fascinating connection between the history of the estate and the idea of a starter home. Some of the mansion blocks were originally developed to provide accommodation for independent working women moving to London — offering them somewhere practical, secure and well located from which to begin their lives in the capital.

Almost a century later, that idea still feels relevant.

This could be your opportunity to buy a manageable home of your own in one of London’s most sought-after neighbourhoods and begin your own chapter of home ownership.

Positioned on the first floor, the apartment itself feels bright and welcoming, with numerous windows allowing plenty of natural light into the living space. Wooden flooring adds warmth and character, while the layout has been cleverly organised so that the studio does not simply feel like one room trying to do everything.

Instead, the accommodation has been carefully divided into zones for cooking and dining, relaxing, sleeping and working from home.

The kitchen and dining area provides a defined place to cook and eat, while the living space gives you somewhere to properly unwind. There is a dedicated sleeping zone and even a work-from-home space, making the apartment particularly well suited to modern hybrid working.

For a first-time buyer, another major advantage is that the apartment is move-in ready.

The contemporary bathroom is tiled from floor to ceiling and includes a wood-panelled bath with shower above and matching vanity sink unit, meaning there is no immediate refurbishment project waiting for you after completion.

Outside, the lifestyle continues.

Residents can enjoy peaceful communal gardens with mature planting, a rose garden, water fountain and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the surroundings — a considerable benefit for anyone buying an apartment in London.

And then there is everything beyond the estate itself.

Hampstead Heath is within easy reach for walks, running, swimming in the ponds or visiting Parliament Hill Lido, while Waterlow Park provides another substantial green space nearby.

Highgate Village is also on your doorstep, bringing independent shops, cafés, restaurants and historic pubs into your everyday neighbourhood.

For commuters, Highgate, Archway and Tufnell Park Underground stations provide Northern line connections towards Camden Town, King’s Cross, Euston, Bank and the West End, while local bus services connect the estate with surrounding North London neighbourhoods.

Permit parking is also available, adding another useful benefit for buyers who need a car.

So while this may technically be a studio apartment, the lifestyle surrounding it feels considerably bigger.

For the right first-time buyer, this is not simply an opportunity to buy a flat. It is an opportunity to stop renting, own a home on a private historic estate and make Hampstead Heath and Highgate Village part of everyday life.

The property is also being offered chain free, helping to make the buying process potentially simpler for someone taking their first step onto the property ladder.

If you have been waiting for the right first home in North London and assumed Highgate might be beyond your reach, this could be the one that changes your mind.

Contact us today to arrange your viewing and discover what life on Holly Lodge Estate could look like for you.

Additional Information:

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Remaining: 88 years
Service Charge: £3000 per annum (approx)
Ground Rent: £100 per annum
EPC Rating: TBC
Local Council: Camden
Council Tax Band: C (£1873 per annum)