A quaint North London neighbourhood that boasts ‘village’ charm offers some of the most stunning views of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, earning a reputation as a celebrity hideout. Situated amidst the scenic heights of Hornsey Lane, Highgate Hill, and Waterlow Park, which straddle Archway, Highgate, and Crouch End, locals are treated to panoramic vistas over the capital.
It’s the perfect vantage point to take in the dazzling fireworks display without ever leaving home. Once “Auld Lang Syne” echoes through the streets, the sky above these North London streets erupts in colour.
Kirsty, a 25 year old resident, shared her experiences with MyLondon last New Year’s Eve: “This will be my third New Year’s Eve living on the hill. Going out out on New Year’s Eve is always anticlimactic so it’s a bonus to have a great view of the fireworks whilst still being in the comfort (or chaos) of our flat.”
Walk the streets of Highgate Hill and you’ll see the city peeking through in the distance
(Image: MyLondon)
She said: “It’s a great location in general, with great access to beautiful green spaces like Waterlow Park and, of course, Hampstead Heath.” Kirsty has even rubbed shoulders with stars like Carriad Lloyd, Damien Lewis, Matt Smith, and Noel Fielding who often frequent the area.
Despite its location outside the city centre, there are still plenty of hotspots for a good night out. Village Square, a local favourite, is a popular karaoke bar where residents can live out their Wembley performance dreams on a much smaller scale. Kirsty revealed: “One of the worst kept secrets in the area is Village Square karaoke bar. It truly is a roll of the dice, but there’s always some fun to be found even if the pitch and key are lost.”
The area is not only beautiful, according to its residents, but also provides a safe haven from the crime of surrounding areas. One such resident is part-time barista Jack George, who works at Archie’s cafe in Wood Green. The 22 year old shared his love for the “character” the area has to offer, especially spotting actor James McAvoy around. He said: “The energy in the area is very interesting because of the hospital [Whittington]. You’ve got the people that may be getting a quick coffee before they go to the hospital, and the people around the area that want to come in for a brunch, so there’s a lot of mixed energy.”
He added that the area’s hilltop location “gives it an interesting dynamic in terms of how everything’s laid out”. He also praised the area’s “tight” sense of community, saying: “it’s not somewhere like Brixton or Camden where I see a lot of people just going in and out.”
Jack has a deep fondness for Highgate Hill and isn’t too keen on the neighbouring Crouch End, where he feels the locals “think that they’re almost better” than those in Highgate Hill. He loves being on the hill, which he believes makes the residents “blessed.”
Jack George loves how safe the area feels
(Image: MyLondon)
Jack said: “I think firstly it adds to the overall vibe of the place. It adds a lot to the character to be able to look out your window or look down the road and see the skyline so far away. I think it opens the place up as well because I don’t like it when an area feels too flat.”
He also appreciates how the hill’s presence allows for green spaces, such as the nearby Parkland Walk, his favourite route. The view of London from the hill provides a sense of tranquillity. He added: “Sometimes I look out when the cafe’s quiet, and I just feel a sense of peace.” However, the expansive views can sometimes be daunting, making him feel overwhelmed. “London’s the land of opportunity, but sometimes – as a guy from a village in the middle of nowhere – I look over London and I think ‘wow, that’s big, that’s scary’.”
Jack also mentioned feeling safer in Highgate Hill compared to surrounding areas like Finsbury Park, where he was mugged twice in one week. “I’d say it’s much safer than other nearby areas such as Crouch End where I’ve heard there have been robberies.” He feels particularly secure in the area, especially during the evenings when he’s closing up the cafe.
However, Jack added a caveat to his statement, acknowledging that as a man who practises two forms of martial arts, he is in “a privileged position.” He said: “I’d say women here feel safer than they do in areas such as Wood Green or Turnpike Lane, but still not as safe as they should.”
But there are aspects of the area that Jack isn’t too fond of. The nearby hospital creates noise and increases traffic in the area. Moreover, the hospital can contribute to a culture of impatience which he sometimes experiences when serving customers. He explained that people who are in a rush can sometimes be impatient.
The rising house prices in the area also frustrate Jack, as he used to live nearby but was forced to move when rents increased. Jack also noted the lack of shops in the area, although he’s unsure whether this is a positive or negative aspect. He said: “There’s a lack of shops, but some people might not want a JD Sports, or TK Maxx in their area, and are happy to travel for it.”
John Rynne said everybody is welcome in his pub – except troublemakers
(Image: MyLondon)
John Rynne, 53, has been the owner of Brendan the Navigator pub on Highgate Hill for three years. His favourite thing about the area is its “diversity.”
He said: “There’s a huge diversity of people, we get a lot of Irish people, as well as those from older neighbourhoods near Archway, as well as people from more affluent areas such as Highgate. We also get a lot of American and French tourists visiting too. We’re very much a community pub and everyone’s welcome apart from troublemakers.”
The pub is a huge part of the local community, and with St Joseph’s Church just across the road it hosts a lot of baptism and communion parties. He added: “We have a lot of musical events as well such as album launches, book launches, you know, and then there are the societies such as walking groups as people come in after going around Dartmouth Park.”
In fact, John loves the area so much that he wouldn’t change anything about it. He said: “It’s got its own life and evolves in its own way and I wouldn’t like to be interfering with that, it’s a warm community. You’re always going to have crime and will always have opportunistic criminals, such as motorbike phone thieves, but it’s definitely not the worst area. I’d say it’s noticeably better than other areas. It doesn’t feel like there’s a large criminal network here.”
And John too is a massive fan of the view. He said it “gives you a vantage point and shows you the inner city and also out of the city. You feel above and away from the whole drama a little bit, which is why it’s so popular.”
Kemal Tas, 40, planned to move his children to the area
(Image: MyLondon)
Kemal Tas, 40, the proud owner of Hi Hill cafe, is an ardent supporter of the local community. He stated: “The area is clean, and people are very polite and support my business. Although the hospital increases footfall in the area, it keeps my business afloat – around 70 per cent of my customers come from the hospital, I’d be in a lot of trouble without it.”
Tas noted that he seldom encounters problems and feels safe when closing up his cafe at night. In fact, he finds the area so secure compared to other parts of London that he’s considering relocating his two kids, aged 11 and five, from Tottenham.
Despite his fondness for the area, he expressed disappointment at the lack of support for those with mental health issues and the homeless population, saying: “I can see people in the street who are clearly suffering and it makes me feel upset. If someone knocks on my door and asks for a cup of tea I will always do my bit to help and give it to them.”
Tas emphasised the need for more compassion in the community, adding, “Anybody can find themselves in that situation, and I think more people should help.” He also raved about the panoramic views from the city hill, declaring it “calming and therapeutic” when the city is aglow at night.
Furthermore, MyLondon chatted with James Barber, 34, who lived in the area for six years before moving to Haringey. For Barber, the highlight of the area is, once again, the view. “I love London and I love seeing the whole city in front of me,” he exclaimed, while praising the local cafes and sense of community engagement.
James shared his thoughts on the local vibe: “I think there’s a good sense of community because people like walking around on the streets and they want to visit the cemetery and they want to go to the cafes, and they’d like to be out and about.”
The 34-year-old also loves how safe he feels in the area. He mentioned: “If I was going to walk around the area at night then I’d feel completely safe. That might not be for everyone, but personally I feel very safe, much safer than I do in surrounding areas.”
Nevertheless, James did have some reservations, particularly regarding the local attitude. He pointed out: “It’s too intensely middle-class and people there live in a bubble. And actually there is a little bit of a comparison with looking at the view and thinking you’re looking down on everyone else.”
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