Falling right in between the sprawling Alexandra Park to the north and Crouch End to the south, the area is a dream spot for those who want the suburban village feel without the overinflated house prices so common in this part of north London. The quiet residential streets, made up almost exclusively of Edwardian and Victorian terraced houses, most of which are split up into flats to accommodate the growing population, priced out of the surrounding areas, give way to the bustling High Street full of an eclectic mix of independent antique dealers, greasy spoon cafes, supermarket chains and coffee shops. The area is surprisingly well connected for this part of town, with Hornsey station nearby and Turnpike Lane Underground station just a short walk to the east, supplying Piccadilly line services throughout London. With Alexandra Park defining the area’s northern border and with Priory Park to the south, there is a huge amount of green space which provides playing fields for the abundant local schools as well as a lovely environment for a stroll. While slightly more affluent than nearby Tottenham, Hornsey is an underrated area that people rarely consider in their North London house searches, but more often than not are left pleasantly surprised by its variety and community spirit.

Like it’s borough, Haringey, the area of Hornsey derives its name from the Saxon chieftain Haering, who conquered the district over 800 years ago. Rural for a long time, the village of Hornsey slowly began to develop along a road - now the High Street - which provided an alternative route to The Great North Road which took travellers from the northern countryside down to London. The New River, which provided drinking water to the whole city, was dug during the 17th century and today lines the area’s eastern border. In the 1860s the village grew dramatically alongside the introduction of the railways, and continued at an increasing pace into the Edwardian era, turning the area from rural countryside retreat into a quaint residential suburb dotted with a few industrial zones. The establishment of the Lotus Cars factory in 1954 brought with it a great deal of workers until it moved to Cheshunt 5 years later, and since 2000 much of the area’s former industrial space has been converted into a variety of housing to accommodate Hornsey’s incredibly diverse population.

In keeping with the area’s industrial suburban heritage, the inventor of the shopping trolley, Carswell Prentice (1891-1964), lived at 118 Hillfield Avenue in 1932. Or at least that’s what the plaque leads one to believe. However, the plaque is a fake, and in fact comically marks the offices of The Society for the Promotion of Historic Buildings, a company who make and deliver false blue plaques to order.

The New River, an artificial waterway which was opened in 1613 and designed by Hugh Myddelton to bring fresh drinking water to the city from the River Lea at Hertford, passes through the area to the east. Its origin in the Chilterns is responsible for the extreme hardness (high mineral content) of London’s tap water.

Priory Park, which sits to the south of the area, contains a beautiful fountain, installed in 1909 and made out of Lamorna Stone. The fountain originally stood in the churchyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral!

Given Hornsey’s ancient history, slow higgledy-piggledy development, and lack of fame and focus compared to its neighbouring Crouch End, Harringay and Muswell Hill, some residents have mentioned that the area has a tendency to feel a little bit cobbled together and tatty. However, when speaking to a local shopkeeper who lives in the flat above, he said that he likes how this can give the area a unique feel, and it also keeps the house prices down.

The Hornsey Town Hall project is the largest recently completed development in the neighbourhood. This mixed use development was finished in 2021 and is widely praised for its tasteful reimagining of this Grade II* listed building. Comprising 135 flats, a hotel, landscaped gardens, and a public arts centre, this project seeks to move Hornsey forward while maintaining its civic centre. Just north of here will sit the Candela Yard development at 163 Tottenham Lane. This more modest project comprises 26 new one, two and three-bedroom apartments which will sit above ground floor retail space.