Mercia Grove, London, SE13

Guide Price £650,000 - £700,000

Tucked away on one of Central Lewisham's prettiest little streets, this charming period house has been a much-loved home for many years and offers a rare opportunity to create something really special.

Mercia Grove is easy to miss, and that's part of its appeal. Made up of just two facing terraces of late-19th-century houses, the street has its own conservation area and feels remarkably peaceful and established considering just how central the location is.

The house itself is currently arranged with two bedrooms, but there is far more to it than that suggests. The accommodation is spread over three levels, with generous rooms, high ceilings and a layout that offers considerable flexibility. Similar houses along the street have been configured as three and even four-bedroom homes, giving a good indication of what could potentially be achieved here, subject of course to any necessary permissions and consents.

On the raised ground floor, the front reception is a particularly lovely room. A large sash window brings in plenty of natural light, while the period fireplace, high ceiling and built-in bookshelves give it the sort of character that would be difficult to recreate in a newer home.

Behind it is a second reception room, currently used as a study and sitting area. The two spaces connect naturally but remain distinct, making this floor equally suited to separate living and dining rooms, a substantial home office, or potentially a different configuration altogether.

Downstairs, the kitchen is a generous and practical room with space for a dining table and direct access out to the garden. It is perfectly usable as it stands, although there is obvious scope for somebody to update it and put their own stamp on the space.

The garden is another real highlight. South-facing, mature and wonderfully private in feel, it starts with a paved seating area immediately outside the house before stepping up into a deeper planted garden filled with established trees, shrubs and climbing plants. It has the slightly wild, established feel that takes years to create and provides a lovely backdrop to the house.

Upstairs, the principal bedroom is particularly impressive, with two sash windows and enough space for a substantial bed and freestanding furniture. The second bedroom is also a very good size and includes useful built-in storage.

Perhaps one of the most unusual features is the bathroom. Rather than being squeezed into a small space, it is a genuinely generous room with a freestanding-style bath, separate shower, wash basin and plenty of natural light. For somebody looking to reconfigure the upper floors, the amount of space here opens up further possibilities.

The house is not a polished refurbishment, and that's really the point. There are areas that a new owner will likely want to modernise, but there is also a huge amount worth working with. The proportions are good, the character is already there and the house feels warm and lived-in rather than stripped of its personality.

And then there is the location. Despite the almost tucked-away feel of Mercia Grove, the house sits right in the heart of Lewisham, with the town centre, shops, cafés, restaurants and everyday amenities all within easy reach. Lewisham's excellent transport connections also make this an incredibly practical part of South East London for getting into Central London and Canary Wharf.

For buyers who have been looking for a period house with character but also want the opportunity to create a home around their own needs, this is a particularly exciting one.