Highbury, in North London, feels like an oasis of calm in the middle of several less reputable districts, including Holloway to the west and Finsbury Park to the north. Unless, that is, it is being invaded by rowdy Arsenal fans on matchdays. It centres around Highbury Barn, once the site of the old manor house barn, and now home to the Highbury Barn pub, a pleasant hangout, although too often host to an intimidating swell of rowdy Gunners fans.
The main thoroughfare is Highbury Park, with the requisite delis, caf?s and organic food shops typical of any middle-class urban village. This year the butchers, Frank Godfrey, won the Britain’s Best Butchers Shop award and on the weekend is packed with yummy mummies and hungry City types. Local residents question whether the “Highbury effect” will move five minutes up the Blackstock Road to Finsbury Park, which looks instantly grimier and has considerably cheaper houses, or whether Finsbury Park’s influence will creep further south.
What is the property like?
Mostly Georgian and Victorian stock, varying hugely in size and quality. The best, and most expensive, houses look out over Highbury Fields, where a three-bedroom house with a garden costs upwards of £850,000 and a one-bedroom flat at least £300,000. Clive Anderson, the Whose Line is it Anyway presenter, has a house here.
The four-bedroom house, pictured, is just off Highbury Fields on Calabria Rd and is available via Hamptons International for £1.1 million (020-7226 4688). Highbury Hill also has some very pretty houses, with large gardens, although many of these have been split into rather poky flats, and the grid of streets near Arsenal Tube station has slightly cheaper family homes for £600,000 and above.
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Anything a bit more modern?
There are two large new-build developments: Drayton Park, which overlooks Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and Highbury Square, the redevelopment of the club’s old stadium. The latter is 95 per cent sold but does still have fairly upmarket flats available, starting at £275,000 for a one-bedroom ground-floor flat with a garden. Savills, the agent, says that the market has now really picked up; 30 properties in Highbury Square were sold last month.
Any good schools?
St Joan of Arc, a Roman Catholic primary off Highbury Park, and St John’s Highbury Vale are well-regarded. Many families move on as children reach secondary age or choose independent schools in Hampstead, Highgate or the City. However, Highbury Fields, a non-selective school for girls, has been improving, and the new St Mary Magdalene Academy has had good results.
Places to eat and drink?
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Iznik is a wonderful Turkish restaurant, Il Bacio does excellent pizza and La Fromagerie, the local cheese shop, has a lovely (although pungent) caf?. There are plenty of pubs but a surprising lack of good ones, unless you find ominous notices saying “Gunners fans only” appealing. The Woodbine on Blackstock Road is cute but small, and the Snooty Fox in Canonbury has a great menu. The numerous bars of Upper Street, Islington, are nearby.
How’s the transport?
Pretty good. Arsenal is on the Piccadilly line, Drayton Park has overland trains that go to Moorgate in 11 minutes and Highbury & Islington is on the Victoria Line and has overland trains to the City and to East and West London.
What about green space?
Highbury Fields is very pretty and is often packed with families, joggers and dog-walkers, although there have been reports in recent months of muggings and assaults after dark. Clissold Park, which has a deer park, a menagerie and a summer fair, is nearby.
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Francesca Steele
highburysquare.com