Falling right in between the sprawling Alexandra Park to the north and Crouch End to the south, this 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. They nearly got us!

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 and 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 talked about how this can give the area a unique feel, and it also keeps the house prices down.

The two largest developments in this area are both large residential complexes sitting on the A105, more commonly known as Green Lanes. The largest of these is the Clarendon development, which will consist of over 1,700 new apartments and will sit just opposite Turnpike Lane underground station when completed in 2023. With additional space for retail and businesses, as well as a private gym, swimming pool, spa for residents, this scheme is set to transform the centre of this neighbourhood. Slightly further south the Evergreen development is currently under construction, comprising 133 new homes as well as a much needed NHS clinic for the area. These developments can be seen as part of a larger development trend, joining recently completed projects such as Quadrangle and Smithfield Square.