Canonbury: An attractive and culturally significant suburb of north London

Canonbury is one of the most serene areas of North London, located in the borough of Islington.

It has a back-woodsy allure and small town feel about it which attracts people from all over the world.

It is one of those areas in London where you can find casual pubs and colourful, independent stores lining the pavements.

Some of the capital's most up and coming restaurants, bars and independent cinemas are located there and it is also known for its art galleries, coffee shops and thriving music venues.

One of the things that stands out most about this part of London is its abundance of green spaces and parks, which provide a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The picturesque Regent's Canal is close by, and comes complete with riverside bars and pubs.

Nearby, there are cultural attractions and landmarks such as the eclectic Spitalfields market, Broadway market, Camden Antiques Passage, the Columbia Flower Market, and Petticoat Lane.

It is also home to various food stalls and vintage stands.

Transport

Like most areas of London, Canonbury has excellent transport links to the rest of London, with the nearest Tube Stations being Angel, Highbury and Islington, as well as Dalston Junction.

It is also served by Essex Road and Canonbury rail stations. 

Additionally, there are many bus routes within the area which run through the heart of London.

Property

Canonbury properties have a kind of pastoral charm which is part of its rich cultural heritage and history.

It is famous for its  brownstone flats and cobblestone streets. 

Average house prices in Canonbury are £473,990, for a flat. If you are seeking to buy a semi-detached house, you are looking at £2,261,750, whereas a terraced house can set you back as much as £1,349,600.

Lettings in the area tend to be the cheapest option, at between £240 and £575 per week, depending on what type of property you are after.

The average rental value in the area tends to be £413 for a decent flat.

Notable residents

Canonbury is the birthplace of many famous faces - one of the most notable of all is, of course, George Orwell.

Then you have other famous figures like the actor Cate Blanchett, who lived at number seven Canonbury Grove and Dame Stella Rimington, head of MI5, who also lived there.

Alan Davies was also resident in the area, as was Sir Francis Bacon, who lived in Canonbury Tower during the 1600s.

In actual fact, the number of famous people who lived in the area are too numerous to mention, but those are just  a few.

High demand

New research published by Knight Frank has revealed that unsurprisingly, Canonbury is a highly popular place among Brits, and is always in high demand.

Its findings showed that house prices in Islington rose by 1.7 per cent in October, second only to the 'City fringe' area at 3.5 per cent. 

The report also showed that property prices in prime Central London increased by 0.6 per cent in October and have increased by 6.2 per cent over the first ten months of this year.

Liam Bailey, global head of residential real estate at Knight Frank, had this to say: "Demand for prime Central London property remains high, with the number of new applicants registering their interest in buying a home 34.4 per cent higher so far in 2013 compared to the same period of 2012. The number of property viewings is also higher over the same period, by almost 15 per cent." 

Cultural attractions

Canonbury is very well known for its artistic creations, and is home to such landmarks as the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, Canonbury Square and Canonbury Tower, which was originally built by William Bolton of St Bartholomew's Priory between 1509 and 1532 before being handed over to to Thomas Cromwell during the dissolution.

 

Published 29th November, 2013

© 2013 Estates IT Limited