Enfield
The housing stock in Enfield remains pretty much defined by the remnants of Georgian developement and the separate waves of construction which here began in the mid nineteenth century.
If you want to stay in the area and move up the ladder there's a fairly clear route laid-out: Victorian terraces and cottages can be traded in for the larger detached Victorian and Edwardian houses of Ridegway, Windmill Hill, and Bush Hill Park; and these in turn can be vacated for the gracious homes of Gentleman's Row, a pristine collection of Georgian gems, and probably the most sought-after corner of period posh.
There are also lots of 1930s semis, a good supply of purpose built apartments, more recent luxury developments and the usual collection of conversion apartments. As a general rule of thumb prices get higher as you move west, away from the A10 and the former industrial neighbourhoods.
Enfield Town revived its famous market at the end of the nineteenth century and it remains today as a particularly attractive alternative to the usual high street suspects: Boots, Waitrose, Sainsburys, and M&S.
The Palace Gardens shopping centre houses most of the town's chain stores but Enfield also has a good range of more traditional and specialist shops, especially in the direction of Chase Side and Lancaster Road, which make it a little less identikit than your average suburban area.
Restaurants are perhaps more run of the mill, although Caffe Uno and Café Rouge add a touch of urban chic and keep the middle classes well-fed and reasonably content.
Those in search of cinema, theatre or galleries can choose between Edmonton (Millfield Theatre, 12 screen UCI cinema), Enfield (Gallery Fore), and Southgate (University theatre).
As far as green space goes, Enfield is very well provided for indeed. Suburban development made serious inroads in the first three decades of the last century but in the post war period Green Belt restrictions put a stop to further building.
Trent Country Park has survived from the days when Enfield Chase was traversed by hungry aristocrats and it is now preserved for modern commoners who probably prefer walking, bird watching and photography to trying to bring down a galloping stag.
The Lee Valley Regional Park is another notable green expanse - over 1000 acres of lakes, waterways, open spaces and countryside areas all linked together by paths, walkways and cycle tracks.
To the north, Forty Hall Park is has more for nature lovers, and Hilly Fields Park is equally attractive. There are also plenty of parks and green areas closer to the town centre- Bushy Hill Park, Grange Park and Chase Green.
Less robust types can spend many an idle hour tracing the footsteps of the various literary figures who once called Enfield home. John Keats was educated at John Clarke's school; Charles Lamb lived in Gentleman's Row; and Walter Pater, perhaps too decadent for sober, respectable suburbia, bunked down at Chase Green. Thomas Hardy's second wife was a local lass whom he married at St Andrew's Church; and Fredrick Marryat, the author of children's adventure tales, was educated at Stephen Freeman's Academy at Clay Hill .
Enfield's schools are generally well thought of and one or two the Catholic primary school and Grange Park secondary top the league tables and are much sought-after by anxious middle class parents.
Transport facilities include train stations at Enfield Town, Enfield Chase and Bush Hill Park.
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