Living in Haringey

Haringey is a borough of two halves, and the difference between them is one of the starkest in London. The western side, including Highgate, Muswell Hill and Crouch End, sits on hills with large Victorian and Edwardian houses, independent high streets and some of north London's most sought-after schools. The eastern side, including Tottenham, Northumberland Park and parts of Wood Green, is flatter, denser, more diverse and more affordable, with large estates and significant deprivation.

The dividing line broadly follows the railway through Harringay and Hornsey, and it is visible in rents, housing, amenities and transport. Harringay's Green Lanes, with its long run of Turkish and Kurdish restaurants and grocers, sits between the two halves and is one of the borough's liveliest streets.

The borough has two major landmarks. Alexandra Palace, on a hilltop in the west, has a park, ice rink, concert halls and panoramic views across London. Tottenham Hotspur's stadium, in the east, has driven regeneration along Tottenham High Road. Green space also includes Finsbury Park, Highgate Wood, Queen's Wood, the Parkland Walk and the Lee Valley, including Tottenham Marshes.

Transport is strong in the east and centre but weaker on the western hills. The Victoria line serves Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale, the Piccadilly line serves Manor House, Turnpike Lane, Wood Green and Bounds Green, and the Northern line serves Highgate. Crouch End and Muswell Hill have no tube stations and rely on buses and Great Northern trains. The irony of the borough is that its cheaper eastern half usually has the better commute, so the choice most renters face is between the hillside villages and a faster, less expensive journey from Tottenham or Wood Green.