This residential area to the eastern side of Muswell Hill sits within a quaint Edwardian suburb, perfect for those who wish to escape the clamour of the city while remaining within commuting distance. It is a charming and family oriented area that provides plenty of great schools, as well as the idyllic green spaces of Alexandra Park to the south and the Muswell Hill Golf Club to the north.

Transport links are few and far between, however, with only a few bus routes passing through, and Bounds Green tube a good walk away, yet, with the North Circular Road bordering the area to the north, those with cars should have no trouble commuting. This lack of transport has had a surprisingly beneficial effect for those located in the area though, as the neighbourhood has learnt to provide for itself, with quaint cafés,
bars, and other conveniences, serviced and run with a village-like community feel.

Deriving its name from the famed “mossy well” which reputedly restored the health of Malcolm IV of Scotland some time in the 12th century, Muswell Hill has been a peaceful, rural idyll for much of its life. Originally part of the 64 acres granted to the nunnery of St Mary from the manor of Hornsey, this area would have been populated by dairy farms from 1152. Villas began to appear in the 19th century as wealthy city dwellers built holiday homes to escape the commotion to the south, and a village emerged in the middle of the century. Poor rail connections and its remoteness meant that the area missed the first wave of suburban developments, but the end of the 1800s saw the sale of many of the grand manors and their grounds to just a couple of building firms, leading to a blanket Edwardian transformation alongside the new, but still rather sparse, rail networks to the north. Alexandra Palace made the area fashionable and expensive as it attracted those who wished to purchase a house with a view, and this fashionable but quiet reputation lasts to this day.

Comedy fans will be excited to learn that Perrier Award winning comedian, actor and writer, Ed Byrne lived at 76 Sydney Road from 1998 to 2007. Born in Dublin, Byrne is known for his observational comedy and is a regular on many of Britain’s much loved panel shows.

The area was once home to one of the most important figures in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Oliver Tambo (1917-1993), was a close friend and colleague of Nelson Mandela, and both men worked together at the ANC, however Tambo unfortunately did not live long enough to see the ANC elected in 1994. He lived with his wife Adelaide at 51 Alexandra Park Road.

Founded in 1893, Muswell Hill Golf Club is one of the select few golf courses that can truly boast a London postcode. Its greens are so well kept that they have been compared to those used in European Tours!

A common complaint from those who live in or near to Muswell Hill is its distinct lack of transport links. However, when speaking to a member of staff at the Maid of Muswell, she mentioned that the area has a great community feel and the rent stays cheap despite it having everything one would need in a town!

While it is not yet confirmed, the Muswell Hill Metro Group are campaigning tirelessly to improve transport links to the area by reopening the line between Finsbury Park and Muswell Hill, which will also extend to Alexandra Palace. The line was laid before the Second World War, but the conflict meant that electrification was never completed and Muswell Hill has been lacking transport services ever since. The group believes that if the proposal is allowed to go ahead it will significantly reduce traffic congestion as well as platform congestion at nearby stations. Nearby, The Folium is a residential development under construction on the site of the former Coppetts Wood Hospital. The scheme will comprise 80 one, two and three bedroom apartments as well as a number of four-bed town houses, 54% of which will be affordable. Looking further forward, nearby Alexandra Palace will also be greatly affected by the introduction of Crossrail 2 which is planned to pass through the station. Yet despite £1.8 billion being invested in the project in 2020 it is unclear when the project will materialise as plans have been underconsideration in different forms since the 1970s.