Kitley Gardens, London, SE19

A bright southwest-facing one-bedroom, top-floor mid-century style flat with a super long lease (957 years!), generous square footage, and a bright, covered balcony. It offers exceptional value for money and is conveniently located in the Triangle, Park & Station.

It's situated on the top floor, with no neighbours above or on three sides of the flat, which is worth mentioning, as it makes this such a tranquil space, coupled with its super bright aspect and large wide windows, it gives the flat a fantastic energy, it almost feels like being in a treehouse and being at eye level with the tree tops gives a very rare view and serenity which is so rare to find in London. There’s the covered balcony on which to enjoy morning coffees and evening dinners; with the sun on it almost all day long, it's the perfect spot for birdwatching or, if you're lucky, catching a glimpse of the local albino squirrel. It also has a beautifully finished interior, and it just ticks so many boxes, including location, lease length, light, and the distribution of space.

The reception is a wide and deep room, and while separate from the reception, it does have an opening to the reception, which is nice when entertaining, as you can keep up with the conversation while cooking! The kitchen is sleek and modern; there are wood-coloured tops arranged in an L-shape, which provides a lot of prep space and plentiful storage below. There is a lush green view over the balcony & beyond, which is pretty, but you won’t need to stand there taking in the view while washing dishes, as there is a freestanding dishwasher!

The bedroom is a good-sized room with an integrated wardrobe in it, which frees up floor space for other furniture, such as a desk and dresser. It has a northeast aspect but is more east, so it gets the morning sun first thing. In the hall outside the bedroom, there are two additional storage cupboards, which are incredibly useful. The bathroom is opposite the bedroom and is another super bright room, helped by its white interior and eastern exposure, which again makes for a lovely space to be in the morning.

Location-wise, your nearest park is opposite, which is South Norwood Lakes, with its children’s playground, tennis courts and bowling green. Although you’re in a well-connected part of south London, you’ll feel like you’re in the countryside thanks to the woodland, stream and lake with fishing and sailing available.

Locals love the area, with its many transport links. It’s 0.7 miles from Crystal Palace station, and you could walk there in around 15 minutes. This is an area where there are plenty of buses, whether you’re zipping up to Crystal Palace Triangle or down to Croydon to connect with a tram to pick up some bits (more candles, anyone?) from IKEA. Norwood Junction is 1.5 miles away, and you can get a direct train to Gatwick Airport from there, making the start of your holiday hassle-free. 

When it comes to entertainment – whether that’s a low-key dinner or a trip to the cinema – you’re definitely spoilt for choice; Crystal Palace Triangle is within walking distance, where you’ll find coffee shops, gastro-pubs and independent shops. If you want to pick up furniture that will fit right into this gem of a house, there are plenty of shops selling mid-century and vintage beauties.

Another thing Crystal Palace is quite rightly proud of is its foodie scene. On a Saturday, Haynes Lane market attracts local food producers and small sustainable farmers, and on Sunday, there’s an outdoor food market in Crystal Palace Park. Don’t forget to pick up a cappuccino from the family-friendly Brown and Green café and you’re all set for a day out.