Freewheelin' Living

Depending on your past experiences with city apartments, brightness might not be a quality you associate with urban homes. However, this Crouch End address is wonderfully light and airy.

The open-concept living area, for example, is treated to the double whammy of a skylight in the vaulted ceiling and a bay window. The bountiful amount of natural illumination is accentuated by the cleansingly white walls and a well-placed mirror. The minimalist kitchen and parquet flooring work very well in this space, too.

Elsewhere, the bedrooms and bathrooms are a lot more colourful, and the master even has a small balcony complete with some seating. If somebody has already laid claim to that space, simply treat yourself to a long soak in the elegant freestanding tub.

There's plenty to see in this corner of North London, too. Alexandra Palace and its surrounding parkland take half an hour to reach on foot and reward those who have made the ascent with wonderful views of the UK's capital. The surrounding neighbourhood of Crouch End has a plethora of quirky cafes, small cinemas and globe-trotting restaurants.

Home truths:
*The host will be able to provide parking permits for the duration of your stay
*The host also requests that no shoes be worn inside the home
*The two-level apartment sits on the first floor of a building with no lift, so it might not be suitable for guests with reduced mobility
*While the home can sleep up to eight people, the maximum occupancy is six guests
*This home has a small outdoor balcony area but no garden
*It's not a central London spot but it is only a five minute walk from Hornsey Station so it's still very easy to get around