Montague Road, Leytonstone, London, E11

Set just a stone’s throw from Wanstead Flats, with its open playing fields and lakeside walks, this Victorian flat is also only a few minutes’ walk from the heart of Leytonstone, along with Tube and Overground services.

The ground-floor home has been carefully maintained and enhanced over the years, with a private landscaped garden, a custom garden office or studio, and a private side-return seating area creating an exceptional amount of space both inside and out.

The interiors are finished in a sophisticated palette of Little Greene, Farrow & Ball, and Lick paints, complemented by double glazing and stylish bifold doors. Practical improvements include a new boiler installed in 2014, new column radiators and replumbing in 2016, along with rewiring, new fuse box, sockets and switches. New internal doors and handles were also fitted at the same time as was the bathroom, kitchen and flooring. 

INSIDE – COHESIVE CALM

Approached through a front garden framed by a white-rendered wall with ball-top black metal railings and a matching gate, the exterior makes a charming first impression. Traditional brickwork adds period character, while the recessed entrance is painted in Little Greene’s ‘Ho Ho Green’ and framed by period doorstep tiles.

Inside, you’ll discover a welcoming hallway with Little Greene ‘Slaked Lime’ and Lick ‘Soho Farmhouse Beige 02’ accent walls brightened by ceiling downlighters and warmed by a classic column radiator and rich American walnut V4 engineered hardwood flooring, which continues in the living room and kitchen.

Flooded with sunshine from a broad bay window dressed with white wood shutters, the primary bedroom at the front of the flat enjoys plenty of storage thanks to a pair of full-height built-in wardrobes. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball ‘Treron’, a traditional green paired with Little Greene ‘Slaked Lime’ off-white ceilings and wardrobes and a soft natural carpet underfoot. A classic column radiator and pendant reading lights draped over antique brass hooks flanking the bed add to the feeling of cosy relaxation.

Tucked behind the primary bedroom opposite a useful hallway cupboard, the second double is another light-filled space, overlooking the sunny side garden patio. Painted in Dulux ‘Natural Calico’, it has built-in shelving within the alcove and the same natural carpet as the primary bedroom.

In the centre of the flat, a stylish, spot-lit shower room is fitted with a modern white suite that includes a generous walk-in rainfall shower, with a garden view adding a light and airy feel. White Fired Earth metro tiles are laid in a classic herringbone pattern, which is balanced by light grey Mandarin Stone porcelain tiles across the floor and shower area. A modern close-coupled toilet, a wall-hung basin, and a chrome heated towel rail complete the setup.

Continue into the sleek, gloss-white dining kitchen. Combining style with practicality, it includes a Bosch double oven and microwave, a gas hob with overhead extractor and stainless steel splashback, and an integrated dishwasher, washing machine, and fridge-freezer. Little Greene ‘Slaked Lime’ off-white walls and Lick ‘Soho Farmhouse Beige 02’ accent walls continue the carefully considered colour scheme, brightened by ceiling spots and warmed by a vertical column radiator.

Beyond, the space opens into the spot-lit living room, where bi-fold doors allow for a seamless flow into the beautiful landscaped garden. Lick ‘Beige 01’ walls provide a soft, neutral backdrop, and a side door also opens directly onto the side terrace.

OUTSIDE – THE PERFECT GARDEN RETREAT

Enclosed by urban slate and jasmine white fencing, the spacious garden is beautifully planted with mature greenery, including a cherry tree, rhododendron, Fatsia japonica, and a Madame Alfred Carrière rose that rambles over the archway to the granite-paved patio.

A wonderful sun trap, the externally lit patio is ideal for relaxing, reading, or entertaining, while a second bistro-style patio on the side return catches the morning sun and is scented by jasmine, honeysuckle, and Virginia creeper. The garden also benefits from a gated entrance directly onto Wanstead Flats, providing easy access to the open space, Wanstead Park, and Epping Forest.

Framed by an artificial lawn and planting, the fully insulated, custom-built garden room is a versatile spot-lit retreat, currently used as an office, yoga studio and movie room. Finished with engineered white oak hardwood flooring, Lick ‘White 02’ and Little Greene ‘Mochi’, it’s distinguished by large anthracite aluminium sliding doors and Canadian Western Red Cedar cladding. It’s also served by high-speed Ethernet, Wi-Fi, a TV bracket/sockets, and a Solus+ infrared heater.

An exceptionally useful shed provides direct access from the front of the house into the garden. It doubles as a boot room, bike store, tool shed, storage area, buggy park, and even a handy pantry.

A NOTE FROM THE OWNERS

‘We’ve absolutely loved making this flat our home and expanding our family here in recent years.  It’s given us the best of both worlds with the connection to nature in the garden and forest beyond, yet on the doorstep of Leytonstone with its many coffee shops, restaurants and pubs. The people and community in this corner of London are really special, as are the sunrises over Wanstead flats with the welcoming morning chorus of the neighbourly parakeets.  We know the new owners will love living here just as much as we have – we will be very sad to leave’.

GETTING AROUND

Leytonstone High Road (Suffragette line – Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside) is just a seven-minute walk. Meanwhile, Central line services run from Leytonstone Tube (12 minutes). The Elizabeth line from Forest Gate, which is reachable on foot in 30 minutes, will take you to Stratford in four minutes, Bond Street in 21 minutes, and London Paddington in 25 minutes.  A few minutes’ walk to the High Road provides frequent bus services to Stratford in one direction and Walthamstow and Wanstead in the other. 

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Set in leafy Leytonstone and within striking distance of Forest Gate, Montague Road offers the best of both neighbourhoods. Enjoy exploring the area's thriving food scene, whether indulging in awesome tacos at Homies on Donkeys, tasty Thai at Bangkok Belly or Mum Likes Thai Food, mediterranean at The Olive, or delicious pizza at Bocca Bocca.  You’re spoilt for choice of pubs and Sunday roasts with The Leytonstone Tavern (just around the corner), The Red Lion and The Holly Tree or craft beer at the local Calamity Tank. 

For coffee and pastries, the Good Shepherd Coffee Shop is just around the corner.  There’s also Forno bakery and J’adore for artisan French cakes and pastries.  There’s a great choice of supermarkets, the International Food Centre and M&S food hall and bakery being just two of the highlights.

Wanstead Flats is a popular spot for local games and recreational sports, especially during weekends, and hosts a park run every Saturday. With the Olympic Park, Westfield, the V&A, East Bank, canals, and Hackney Marshes a short distance away, there's plenty more to explore on your doorstep.

Local sellers also recommend Good Shepherd Studios – a community cultural space with creative arts, Pilates, and children’s events, The Pastures Youth Centre for sports, and The Can Club, a lovely café for children and parents.

For fitness, there’s an abundance of options on the doorstep from reformer pilates at Studio M, Blueprint fitness, Crossfit Dawn, Pure Gym and Fitness Hub and then there’s the weekly Park Run on Wanstead Flats.

SCHOOLS

Local schools rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted include Davies Lane Primary (three minutes) and Acacia Nursery School (seven minutes). Connaught School for Girls and Buxton Secondary are rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, and both are within walking distance.