Hotel in Hornsey, London

Hornsey bridges the metropolitan madness of Turnpike Lane and the laid-back leafiness of Crouch End and Muswell Hill in north London, and is mainly a residential area.

Hornsey High Street has a few good bars (gastro-pub the Three Compasses, 62 High Street, 020 8340 2729; world music tapas bar Viva Viva, 18 High Street, 020 8341 0999, www.viva-viva.co.uk) and one excellent Indian take-away, the Tiffin Tin (28 High Street, 020 8340 4744, thetiffintin.com), but in recent years the area’s really become an extension of Crouch End.

Long-time resident Simon Pegg set and filmed his smash hit zombie-horror-comedy Shaun of the Dead here for its unique atmosphere of actors at rest-and-play.

N8 is home to many aspiring stars of the future, and there’s buzzing nightlife centred around the venerable King’s Head (2 Crouch End Hill, 020 8340 1028, www.downstairsatthekingshead.com) which also offers outstanding live music and comedy.

Banners (21 Park Road, 020 8348 2930) and Pick More Daisies (12 Crouch End Hill, 020 8340 2288) are just two of many restaurants offering quintessentially tasty, healthy and artsy food, and there’s lots of stylish cafes and delis to choose from.

Muswell Hill is geographically higher – it’s a hell of a climb up the hill – but gives you more of the same, plus lots of quirky artisan shops, a yummy mummy vibe and an excellent art deco Odeon cinema (Broadway, 0871 22 44 007, www.odeon.co.uk).

Head to Alexandra Palace Park for great views and greenery with a brilliant fireworks display every bonfire night, or into Wood Green for high street shopping, more cinemas and an intensely metropolitan vibe.

Hornsey Station is on the overground network, five minutes from < strong>Finsbury Park, or you can take a bus from Turnpike Lane Underground (Piccadilly Line).

Hornsey: Tube (underground)

Hornsey: Rail (overground)