Gillian’s guidebook
Coffee & brunch
Hopper & Bean
4 The GrnGood coffee and excellent brunch/lunch options. Lovely walk, only 18 mins.
Small but excellent cafe for grabbing a quick coffee before heading to the tube (which is next door)!
Claud W Dennis Coffee
3 Chase SideSmall but excellent cafe for grabbing a quick coffee before heading to the tube (which is next door)!
Food and drink
For excellent takeaway kebabs
Our local pub. Lots of space, family friendly and good sunday roasts. 15 minute walk
6 locals recommend
The Salisbury Arms
Hoppers RoadOur local pub. Lots of space, family friendly and good sunday roasts. 15 minute walk
Nissi Restaurant
62 Aldermans HillExcellent Greek Meze. Busy in the evenings.
Kervan Southgate
107 Chase SideLarge Turkish restaurant offering great meals for groups and families
Another Winchmore Hill pub a short walk away. Very pretty inside. A fine dining option.
124 locals recommend
The King's Head
17 Hogarth PlAnother Winchmore Hill pub a short walk away. Very pretty inside. A fine dining option.
Part of the fantastic new development at Kings Cross. Dishoom is the Londoner's favourite place! walk-ins only, but reservations can be made for brunch. Get there early to avoid disappointment!
219 locals recommend
Dishoom King's Cross
5 Stable StPart of the fantastic new development at Kings Cross. Dishoom is the Londoner's favourite place! walk-ins only, but reservations can be made for brunch. Get there early to avoid disappointment!
Dotori
3 Stroud Green RdVery busy Korean restaurant in Finsbury Park
The best Chinese food you'll find outside of China. We love this place (order the aubergine and chilli!), although the service can be a bit basic. The food plenty makes up for it.
12 locals recommend
My Old Place
88-90 Middlesex StThe best Chinese food you'll find outside of China. We love this place (order the aubergine and chilli!), although the service can be a bit basic. The food plenty makes up for it.
The best fish and chips ever! Also serve Pieminister pies. And less than a 10 minute walk away. Takeaway or eat in.
8 locals recommend
Cannons Fish and Chips
56 Cannon HillThe best fish and chips ever! Also serve Pieminister pies. And less than a 10 minute walk away. Takeaway or eat in.
Our kids favourite restaurant. Excellent and cheap pizza in a no-frills environment.
36 locals recommend
La Porchetta
265 Muswell Hill BroadwayOur kids favourite restaurant. Excellent and cheap pizza in a no-frills environment.
Going Greek
18 The GreenThe Arnos Arms
338 Bowes RdFood & farmers markets
The Sidings N21 Farmers' Market
62 Station RdSmall weekly farmers market on a sunday a short walk away.
A weekly Sunday market held either in the gorgeous Alexandra Park, or a nearby school (check their facebook page for the location)
13 locals recommend
Alexandra Palace Farmer's Market
Muswell HillA weekly Sunday market held either in the gorgeous Alexandra Park, or a nearby school (check their facebook page for the location)
Fantastic indoor food market and street foodhall near Elephant &Castle. Mostly Italian food but lots of other options too. Has seating and undercover.
227 locals recommend
Mercato Metropolitano
42 Newington CausewayFantastic indoor food market and street foodhall near Elephant &Castle. Mostly Italian food but lots of other options too. Has seating and undercover.
Sightseeing
Fantastic new development at Kings Cross offering great restaurants and interesting shops. Also has street food options and a weekly market. Travel to Kings cross via the Piccadilly Line form Southgate underground station.
70 locals recommend
Coal Drops Yard
Stable StreetFantastic new development at Kings Cross offering great restaurants and interesting shops. Also has street food options and a weekly market. Travel to Kings cross via the Piccadilly Line form Southgate underground station.
Reached easily by the Piccadilly Line from Southgate station, Covent Garden provides access to shops, theatres, museums (e.g. Transport Museum), Galleries (Portrait Gallery and Somerset House), and independent stores in Neals Yard and Seven Dials.
955 locals recommend
Covent Garden
41 James StReached easily by the Piccadilly Line from Southgate station, Covent Garden provides access to shops, theatres, museums (e.g. Transport Museum), Galleries (Portrait Gallery and Somerset House), and independent stores in Neals Yard and Seven Dials.
Reached easily by the Piccadilly Line from Southgate station, South Kensington is the gateway to London's most famous and must-see museums, including the Natural History Museum, Science museum and V&A.
12 locals recommend
South Kensington
Reached easily by the Piccadilly Line from Southgate station, South Kensington is the gateway to London's most famous and must-see museums, including the Natural History Museum, Science museum and V&A.
The busiest and most impressive food market in London. A must see for any visitor. Try to avoid weekends if you can though! Provides an excellent starting point to explore the South Bank, or to hop on a Thames Clipper boat to visit Greenwich or Westminster
53 locals recommend
Borough Market
The busiest and most impressive food market in London. A must see for any visitor. Try to avoid weekends if you can though! Provides an excellent starting point to explore the South Bank, or to hop on a Thames Clipper boat to visit Greenwich or Westminster
Green space
The best park in North London, offering unrivalled views across the whole city, as well as the beautiful Alexandra Palace itself. Has an ice rink, children's park, soft play, a garden centre and food & drink options. Farmers Market on a Sunday.
27 locals recommend
Alexandra Park
Alexandra Palace WayThe best park in North London, offering unrivalled views across the whole city, as well as the beautiful Alexandra Palace itself. Has an ice rink, children's park, soft play, a garden centre and food & drink options. Farmers Market on a Sunday.
Our closest park, only 5 mins walk away. It's a huge space with a large swan pond where you can also fish, a children's playground, a woodland area, pitch and putt golf and a basic cafe.
13 locals recommend
Grovelands Park
44 Queen Elizabeth's DrOur closest park, only 5 mins walk away. It's a huge space with a large swan pond where you can also fish, a children's playground, a woodland area, pitch and putt golf and a basic cafe.
Our second closest park. Huge space and mostly flat so perfect for kids and runners. Children's playground and a community cafe.
21 locals recommend
Broomfield Park
Aldermans HillOur second closest park. Huge space and mostly flat so perfect for kids and runners. Children's playground and a community cafe.
A short drive to Enfield will take you to Forty Hall Estate, with walks, a cafe, market, and regular events,
18 locals recommend
Forty Hall & Estate
Forty HillA short drive to Enfield will take you to Forty Hall Estate, with walks, a cafe, market, and regular events,
Can be reached by taking the tube to Cockfosters (2 stops from Southgate). You won't believe you're still in London when you are wandering the forest here!
25 locals recommend
Trent Park
331 Bramley RdCan be reached by taking the tube to Cockfosters (2 stops from Southgate). You won't believe you're still in London when you are wandering the forest here!
A bit of a pain to get to, but worth it if you can get there
637 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Gardens Car Park
A bit of a pain to get to, but worth it if you can get there
Neighbourhoods
Lovely part of North London which can be reached via bus (299), a short train ride to Hornsey, or 15 mins by car. Explore the independent shops and cafes, stop by Banners for jerk chicken, or The Queens pub for a burger and a pint, and visit the Picturehouse or Art House cinemas.
12 locals recommend
Crouch End
Lovely part of North London which can be reached via bus (299), a short train ride to Hornsey, or 15 mins by car. Explore the independent shops and cafes, stop by Banners for jerk chicken, or The Queens pub for a burger and a pint, and visit the Picturehouse or Art House cinemas.
You can easily fill a day with the beautiful sights at Greenwich. Travel by Thames Clipper boat if you can to take in the best views. Visit the food market, Greenwich park, the observatory and Maritime museum. A great family day out!
541 locals recommend
Greenwich
You can easily fill a day with the beautiful sights at Greenwich. Travel by Thames Clipper boat if you can to take in the best views. Visit the food market, Greenwich park, the observatory and Maritime museum. A great family day out!
Get the train from Palmers Green for 17 mins to Highbury & Islington or the next stop Essex road, and explore the independent shops and cafes around Upper Street, antiques on Camden Passage and wander around the beautiful back-streets of Barnsbury.
52 locals recommend
Islington
Get the train from Palmers Green for 17 mins to Highbury & Islington or the next stop Essex road, and explore the independent shops and cafes around Upper Street, antiques on Camden Passage and wander around the beautiful back-streets of Barnsbury.
St Albans
A beautiful, historic, city only 35 minutes by car
A stunning city which can be reached by train from Kings Cross, or within 1 hour drive.
356 locals recommend
Cambridge
A stunning city which can be reached by train from Kings Cross, or within 1 hour drive.
Transport
15 minute walk from the house, Southgate station is on the Piccadilly line serving central and West London. Kings Cross can be reached in 24 minutes, South Kensington can be reached in 40 minutes and Heathrow in 1hr 15 (all with no tube changes). The W9 hop-on-hop-off bus can take you to the station from the end of our road (hail it from the corner of Fox Lane, and ring the bell on the way back as you approach the junction for Amberley Road).
Southgate station
High Street North15 minute walk from the house, Southgate station is on the Piccadilly line serving central and West London. Kings Cross can be reached in 24 minutes, South Kensington can be reached in 40 minutes and Heathrow in 1hr 15 (all with no tube changes). The W9 hop-on-hop-off bus can take you to the station from the end of our road (hail it from the corner of Fox Lane, and ring the bell on the way back as you approach the junction for Amberley Road).
Here you can get national rail connections to central London, including Highbury & Islington, Old Street and Moorgate in 20 minutes. Old Street and Moorgate provide access to East London and Shoreditch, or you can connect from either onto the Northern Line underground to reach Borough Market, London Bridge and The Shard.
Palmers Green Train Station - Great Northern Rail
Aldermans HillHere you can get national rail connections to central London, including Highbury & Islington, Old Street and Moorgate in 20 minutes. Old Street and Moorgate provide access to East London and Shoreditch, or you can connect from either onto the Northern Line underground to reach Borough Market, London Bridge and The Shard.