Literary Lodgings in Historical Highgate

Octagon’s classic Georgian style house on The Grove in Highgate Village could have been a welcome refuge for Lord Byron, as it is just a few minutes’ walk from his favourite watering hole, The Gatehouse, where he whiled away many a lively hour with local literary legends Leigh Hunt and Shelley.

Byron House may well be the last new build home on the historically renowned, tree lined avenue for the foreseeable future, with all other buildings within the Highgate Village Conservation Area enjoying a listed status – including The Gatehouse, now not just a pub, but also a thriving arts centre – and neighbouring Coleridge House already preparing for new owners to move in.

Accommodation at Byron is generous, suitable for families who like the idea of living within strolling distance of a couple of London’s finest independent schools, Highgate and Channing. Along with 5 double bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 dressing rooms, and a grand Master Suite, there is at garden level, a studio apartment with its own private access. Fitted with compact kitchen and en-suite facilities, this makes the perfect bolthole for nanny, granny or for the most generous of parents, boomerang kid.

On the lower ground floor there is a super large cinema/entertainments room with wet bar, along with a gym and a wine cellar. On the ground floor, off the elegant marble tiled entrance hall, is the formal drawing room with three pairs of French doors opening onto an upper terrace, plus a study and guest cloakroom/W.C.

Returning to garden level, which focused around open plan family living, the kitchen, fitted with sleek lacquered units and top of the range integrated appliances, can all be savoured from the long granite-topped island breakfast bar. A formal dining area with ample space for ten guests adjoins, beyond which is the informal sitting room, and three pairs of French doors, opening onto the wide paved terrace and flight of stone steps leading to the lavishly landscaped and planted rear gardens.