Positioned at the north of the borough of Camden in North West London, Highgate sits just 4.5 miles to the north of Charing Cross and on the north-eastern edge of Hampstead Heath.
In 2021, the average property price in Highgate was £1,151,771, which makes the area more affordable than the likes of Primrose Hill which boasted an average property price of £1,902,317 during the same period. On the other hand, Highgate is significantly more expensive than the most affordable part of Camden, which is High Holborn with its average property price of £557,500.
Flats were the most commonly sold type of property in Highgate, reaching £625,782 on average. Terraced properties were more than twice as expensive, selling for an average price of £1,362,786 and Highgate's semi-detached properties reached an average price of £2,221,072.
Sold prices in Highgate have fallen by 6% when compared to 2020 figures, putting them on a similar level to the peak in 2016 when the average property in the area sold for £1,148,995.
What is living in Highgate like?
Highgate is an attractive suburban area within the borough of Camden known for its leafy residential streets and village-like atmosphere. Highgate village sits at the heart of the suburb, which boasts some spectacular Georgian architecture and an array of notable landmarks including the green copper dome of St. Joseph's Church.
For many, the area is best known as the home of Highgate Cemetery, which attracts people from all across the world. A number of notable people are buried in this Victorian cemetery, including novelist George Eliot, philosopher Karl Marx, the parents, wife and several siblings of author Charles Dickens, poet Christina Rossetti, painter Lucian Freud, and musician George Michael.
Highgate is also known for its wide selection of pubs, including the Duke's Head, the Angel, and the Flask, which is Grade II listed and has stood on the same spot since at least 1663. Other notable places of interest in the area include Jacksons Lane Arts Centre, Highgate Wood which is known for being home to more than 70 species of bird, and the Grove which is a residential street famous for the number of well-known residents that have called it home over the centuries. Some of the most notable of these residents include musician Annie Lennox who lived at number six, Soviet Union spy Anthony Blunt who lived at number nine, and poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge who lived at number three.
Living in Highgate pros and cons
Pro: Lots of green space to enjoy
One of the reasons why Highgate has retained its popularity over so many years is its proximity to Hampstead Heath, which spans more than 300 acres and provides spectacular views across London. It also benefits from a lido, ponds, sports facilities and playgrounds, as well as offering plenty of green space in which to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
As well as offering easy access to Hampstead Heath, Highgate is situated close to several ancient woodlands and the beautiful Waterlow Park, which occupies some 26 acres and like Hampstead Heath, offers stunning views across the city. Waterlow Park also contains several ponds, all of which are fed by natural spring water.
Highgate also benefits from registered village greens, which offer residents even more opportunities to connect with the outside world.
Con: Inside the ULEZ Zone
As Highgate is within the ULEZ zone, owners of vehicles that do not conform to emissions standards will be required to pay the daily charge if they want to continue using those vehicles.
There are however a handful of electric vehicle charging points in the area. So although charging an electric car may not be as easy in Highgate as it is in some other areas of London, it could still be an option for those wanting to avoid the £12.50 per day ULEZ charge.
Pro: Good transport links
In addition to Highgate tube station, which is positioned on the High Barnet part of the Northern line, East Finchley and Archway tube stations are also within easy reach. Highgate is also served by several bus routes, including the 214 and 271 which run 24-hours a day.
The area's excellent location and robust transportation connections make Highgate appealing to a variety of people, including both young professionals and families.
Is Highgate a safe place to live?
Between January 2020 and December 2021, there were 2,022 offences recorded in Highgate. There were 700 reported violent crimes, 328 cases of theft, and 279 vehicle offences.
Crime reached a peak in Highgate in May 2020 when there were 112 crimes reported in a four-week period. Crime then fell in the area until November 2021, when there were 109 crimes reported. However, crime fell sharply in December 2021, with just 65 reported incidents occurring in the area.
In November 2021, the Highgate area recorded six crimes per 1,000 residents, which was lower than both the borough of Camden and the wider London area, recording nine crimes per 1,000 residents and eight crimes per 1,000 residents respectively.
Which celebrities live in Highgate?
Highgate has and continues to be both home to and the resting place of countless notable figures. As already mentioned, Highgate Cemetery is the resting place of many recognisable names, including scientist Michael Faraday, writer Douglas Adams, and artist Sir Sidney Nolan.
Highgate School has an array of famous alumni, including poets T.S. Eliot and John Betjeman, actor Geoffrey Palmer, and the man who invented the Venn diagram, John Venn. There is a blue plaque on a property at the very top of North Hill, which explains that Charles Dickens spent time there in the 1830s when he was just 20 years old. Notably, James Steerforth, a character in Dickens' novel 'David Copperfield' lives at the top of Highgate West Hill.
Renowned Middlesex cricketer and Arsenal footballer Leslie Compton owned a pub in the Highgate area following his retirement from sports. Beloved musician George Michael lived in a multi-million-pound mansion in Highgate, and musician Rod Steward spent his childhood and adolescence in the area. In more recent years, Highgate is known for being the home of musician Liam Gallagher, comedian Noel Fielding, actor Jude Law, and rock star Ray Davies.
Things to consider when moving to Highgate
Highgate has a very unique, almost historical feel which is why it has played a starring role in an array of films and television shows, including 'Dorian Gray', several 1970s 'Hammer Horror' films, and the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' films. As such, the area experiences a lot of tourism, which can mean that the streets are very busy during peak periods.
There are 22 schools within one mile of the centre of Highgate, most of which are primary schools that have been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted, including Brookfield Primary School on Chester Road and Fleet Primary School on Fleet Road. The area also benefits from a handful of 'Outstanding' schools as rated by Ofsted, including Gospel Oak Primary School on Mansfield Road and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School on Highgate Hill. The best-rated schools are very competitive, which is worth noting for families with young children who are looking to move to the area.
Highgate can offer a variety of properties, from bijou apartments to much more spacious family homes. The market does move quickly as it's such a desirable area so you'll need to be on the ball as you never can predict when your dream property will become available.