Camden: an urban hotspot with leafy streets
THOSE who consider Camden a gritty choice may want to think again. “Prices dipped in the credit crunch,” says Ed Robinson, of the year-old Camden office of Foxtons. “But they’re already higher than they were before it, and they’re going to rise next year. There’s limited stock and a lot of demand.”
The spring opening of The Henson Building, a sleek warehouse development in the old Jim Henson Muppet Factory, will be a welcome addition to supply. Robinson predicts that the 46 flats, starting at half a million pounds each, will be snapped up.
Upmarket, distinctly hip additions to Camden have added to its appeal: the relaunched Roundhouse, which attracts top music and theatrical acts; Gilgamesh, the massive, opulent restaurant and bar; yummy-mummy favourite Alchemy yoga studio; Gordon Ramsay protegee Angela Hartnett’s York and Albany restaurant and the new Blues Kitchen, offering soul food and jazz to trendy diners.
“The beauty of Camden is that you get a mixture of everything,” says Rob Soning, of Londonewcastle, the Henson Building developer. “People used to living centrally but fancy some trees too are going for it.”
THE HENSON BUILDING, OVAL ROAD, NW1
Price: Flats start at £500,000
The former factory and printing works owned by Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets, is being renovated into 46 canalside homes and a loft office and includes 4,000sq ft penthouses with roof gardens, and it is seconds from Camden Market, Primrose Hill and Chalk Farm. The style is overtly warehouse, with exposed brickwork, timber and pipes, and the location right on Camden Lock is highly desirable.
Go to www.thehenson.co.uk to register interest.
NORTH VILLAS, NW1
Price: £2.25m
Featuring top-of-the-range fixtures and fittings, gorgeous wood floors and designer bathroom suites, this stunning five-bedroom house also offers ample living space, private garden and a great location moments from Camden Town. Arranged over five floors, the property comprises a generously-sized reception room, smart kitchen with extensive dining space, utility room, superb master bedroom with contemporary en suite bathroom, two further stylish en suite bedrooms, two good-sized bedrooms, trendy bathroom, two guest cloakrooms and a landscaped garden.
Contact: Foxtons on 020 7704 5000, www.foxtons.co.uk
PARKWAY, NW1
Price: £875,000
Moments from Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, this sleek, stylish two-bedroom property includes a spacious reception room with smart, well-lit open-plan kitchen, impressive 2,000sq ft private garden and secure off-street parking. Parkway is home to a wealth of nifty shops, bars and restaurants, while the open spaces of Regent’s Park and Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant York and Albany are nearby. Contact: Foxtons on 020 7704 5000, www.foxtons.co.uk