‘People say London is a collection of villages, each with their own character, and that is exactly what this is’
Crouch End has ‘all the charm of a quintessential English town’, according to The Sunday Times(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)
“Oh no! Don’t tell everyone,” Maryse Swanson laughs from her sunny pottery studio. “This area is still quite unknown.” Crouch End Clayhouse sits in the heart of one of London’s Best Places to Live in 2026, offering classes and community to adults across Haringey.
The Sunday Times’ annual ranking described the leafy Zone 3 neighbourhood as “having all the charm of a quintessential English town”, thanks to its thriving independent shops, busy restaurants and enviable green space. But, for locals, the biggest agreeable draw is the seemingly natural penchant for the arts.
“You can be whoever you want to be in Crouch End,” Maryse continues, “We’ve got people doing macramé courses in their houses, sewing classes, bits and pieces like that. It’s a real community.”
Maryse was inspired to open her studio as there wasn’t something similar in Crouch End(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
The business owner has lived on a nearby street for more than 15 years, and says she, like most residents, is very unlikely to move out. Her family has made a home surrounded by ‘lovely’ neighbours who frequently organise street parties.
She adds: “Crouch End has changed a lot though, it was a bit more mixed back in the day. You could have old, young, black, white – all sorts of people. It’s becoming a little bit more middle class now.”
The North London stretch has long been associated with the capital’s creatives, with artists, musicians and actors flocking en masse in the 1970s to take advantage of cheaper rent prices. While a one-bed flat is now likely to cost upwards of £1,800 per month, the crowd stuck around.
Crouch End is known for its striking architecture and independent shops(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
Famous inhabitants past and present include Celebrity Traitors’ champion Alan Carr, comedian Katherine Ryan and beloved actor David Tennant. Several ex-EastEnders stars also made use of Crouch End’s proximity to the BBC Elstree Centre, Maryse explains.
As such, the area has retained a love for TV and film and boasts not one, but two, cinemas just metres from one another. Madison Coyle has been working at The Arthouse, the indie option set up in 2014, for four years.
The 27-year-old believes the red-brick building reflects exactly what Crouch End is all about – togetherness. Audiences regularly sell out screenings and live performances, and the in-house café sees a near-constant queue.
Madison is just one of many creatives working in the Haringey neighbourhood(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
Madison said: “I might be biased but I think this is the best thing to do in Crouch End. I love everyone that comes in, especially the regulars.
“I might live in Leyton, but I consider Crouch End my town. I’m really fond of it. Little places like this is exactly what makes up London.”
Enjoying an afternoon cappuccino, long-time resident Sheri Waddell can’t help but agree with this sentiment. Now aged 72, the film lover has lived in the area for around 30 years.
“It’s just a very pleasant place to live. People say London is a collection of villages, each with their own character, and that is exactly what this is.
The Arthouse cinema has transformed a former church (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
“There’s so much to do – art, music, theatre. Even the library quite often has people exhibiting. I really like it here, very much.”
Other acclaimed spots include Downstairs at the Kings Head, a comedy club dating back to 1981, and Konk Studios, which was founded by The Kinks. In recent years, it has been used by artists such as Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kylie Minogue and Little Simz.
Songs recorded, numerous big names have been known to wander into McCafferty’s Bar for a pint (or two). Manager Stephen McLaughlin says his pubgoers are the ‘absolute best’ mix and a great representation of Crouch End.
Stephen McLaughlin has been behind the bar at McCafferty’s Bar since 2022(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
He told MyLondon: “We’ve had Rod Stewart in, Lewis Capaldi and a few comedians and you’ve got them chatting to the old Irish guys who worked in the tunnels in the 50s and 60s. It’s very diverse; quirkily dressed, blue collar, we get it all.
Stephen initially planned to stick around for just two years but was so enamoured by the neighbourhood and its people that he’s lasted double that. He currently has no intention to live elsewhere.
“From day dot I’ve been made to feel so welcome,” he adds, “The first night I got here a group of locals introduced themselves and ever since then they’ve just been really nice. We only just started putting security on a year ago but even then they’re more like welcoming doormen. We really don’t get any bother.”
Crouch End also marked the end of hopping from pub to pub every few years for Stephen as he’s now settled down with a partner. The couple are expecting a child together in November.
“There are no complaints from me,” Stephen jokes, “As far as I’m concerned, it is the best place to live.”
What it costs to live in Crouch End
Houses in Crouch End are in high demand(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
A house in Crouch End costs an average of £784,902, according to data from Rightmove. The area is primarily known for its Victorian and Edwardian red-brick family homes, characterised by leafy streets and period features.
However, the majority of properties sold over the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £538,026. Prices have steadily increased by 6% and 7% between 2023 and 2025, respectively.
In 2026, a terraced property is likely to sell for an average of £1.28m, while a semi-detached property could fetch around £1.26m.
The best places to live in London, according to The Sunday TimesRichmondBowCrouch EndFulhamPlumsteadSouthwark (Bermondsey-Waterloo)Walthamstow
Got a story for MyLondon? Get in touch via rebecca.mcculloch@reachplc.com
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