When I first moved to London I lived north. Five years in Hampstead meant I explored a lot of the city’s higher latitudes. But now that I live south I don’t get up that way as much. Until today, when a friend’s birthday party has given me an excuse to explore Crouch End, London.
Crouch End
Crouch End is one of my favorite under-the-radar London neighborhoods. It has lots of independent shops and restaurants, vibrant streets, and great views of London.
East of Highgate and south of the Alexandra Palace, it stays incognito partly because it’s not really on the tube.
How to Get to Crouch End
It’s worth navigating the trains to get here, though. While there’s no Crouch End station or Crouch End tube, there are a number of other ways to arrive in the area.
Highgate tube station isn’t a million miles away, so if you prefer to travel via London Underground, it’s a good choice. It’s around a 20-minute walk away, so it’s not too far if you like walking.
Hornsey station is also nearby. There are trains from central London stations like Moorgate, Old Street, and King’s Cross to Hornsey. The station is a 10-minute walk from Crouch End.
If you prefer traveling via London Overground, Crouch Hill station is the best place to alight. It’s a 15-minute walk from the heart of the area.
There are lots of local buses that serve the area from other parts of central and north London, too.
Things to Do in Crouch End
I’ve alighted at Hornsey station, and I’m ready to discover all there is to do in Crouch End.
The area centers around the 19th-century Crouch End Clock Tower, which sits at the junction of the four roads that lead to it.
Each one is packed with restaurants, shops, pubs, and cafes, meaning there’s a lot to discover where “X” marks the intersection.
Crouch End Shops
Park Road is my favorite of the four, not least because it has the most appealing shops. On this visit a downpour means I’m highly motivated to browse, and I stop in at places like Little Paris Store.
Its lampshades and vintage maps are just the things to get me excited to decorate my flat, and I spend a while choosing colors and shapes.
Back outside, I dodge raindrops as I make my way past flower shops and art galleries to get back to the clock tower. En route I pass street art murals and colorful facades that brighten up the gloomy day.
Back by the clock tower I find myself in House of Books, an independent bookshop I remember going to when I first discovered Crouch End.
It’s been nearly a decade since I was last inside, but this Crouch End shop still retains its appeal (bookshops are all the more cozy on rainy days, aren’t they?).
Broadway Parade
I browse through the titles then head back into the rain to explore Broadway Parade. This street packs in a lot more shops and Crouch End restaurants, including The Queens.
The pub is beautiful outside and in, with a stunning historic facade giving way to dark wood paneling and stained glass.
Not far from The Queens are a sleek cinema and several restaurants with interiors that could be straight out of a design magazine.
And speaking of design, my favorite shop on the street is Indish Design Shop. Its lamps alone could keep me entertained all afternoon.
Side Streets and Views
But I can’t spend all my time in Crouch End indoors. One of the best things about this London neighborhood is the views, and they’re best seen from the side streets.
I walk back towards Hornsey station and turn down Montague Road. Its rows of colorful facades slope down, offering a view of terraced houses in the distance.
Seeing them reminds me of another reason I like this area so much. The topography means there’s always a glimpse to be had of something beautiful on the horizon.
But today there’s mostly a storm on the horizon, so it’s time to leave Crouch End and head to my friend’s party.
It’s been a great day exploring in spite of the weather, and while the rain has meant I haven’t had much time to get onto the side streets, it’s also given me an excuse to come back in better weather. Fingers crossed for sunshine!
Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!
New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.
Pin it!