Wiverton Road, Sydenham, SE26

I bought this apartment in 2020 as a first-time buyer and it has been a fantastic first home for me.

The first things that really captivated me was the tranquil nature of the tree-lined residential, one-way street and the spacious historic character of the flat itself.

The main living area is a great entertaining space, with large plantation shutter windows and sun streaming in from the afternoon up to late evening in summer months. It's a lovely space for reading, having a cuppa, working, enjoying listening to music and hosting guests.

When I renovated the bathroom, I wanted to keep the design in line with the history of the flat, so decided to give it a period and Victorian feel.

The apartment is full of natural light giving it a warm and lovely feeling and provides cross-ventilation with large gorgeous sash doubled glazed windows and the front and rear of the property. This is such a blessing, especially through the lockdown and in peak summers when the cross-flow of air really keeps the flat cool and fresh feeling. Large trees and garden views from the windows makes the apartment feel like a sanctuary, quiet and idyllic.

It is beautiful waking up to the view of the rising sun from the bedroom. You can actually see the sun rise whilst lying in bed! It feels so peaceful that sometimes I forget that I am living in the bustling neighbourhoods of Penge and Sydenham in South East London! The solar orientation of the rooms mean that the bedroom and kitchen get sunshine in the morning up to noon and the living room in the afternoon until the evening.

It was really important for me that the apartment is a generously-sized one-bed flat so it can be managed easily when living alone or adaptively function as a make-shift 2-bedroom unit when visited by family and friends. This is ensured by a separate kitchen and dining area, which leaves the living room with a diwan-style sofa bed to double up and temporarily function as a spacious second bedroom with privacy. Having convenient access to a large loft from inside means all suitcases and deep storage items can be neatly stored without cluttering the apartment especially with family and friends visiting.

The street has a very friendly feel. I don't know everyone on the street, but we do exchange smiles and say hello to neighbours and it's all very respectful.

The apartment straddles between the Penge and Sydenham neighbourhoods, meaning there are two lovely local high streets that are accessible within a 10 minute walk. It is an amazing place with plenty of restaurants, local bars and quirky shops. I am pretty spoilt with food options – you can find pizzas, pasta, Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Kebabs and Tandoori eateries along the Penge and Sydenham local high street. A wide range of options for all taste buds! It is also easy to head to the Crystal Palace Triangle for even more choice.

The local dog-friendly Alexandra Recreation Ground is about 5 min-walk. I love strolling around the main park and enjoy the beautiful tulips bluebells and daffodils in spring, and the glorious scents of the heritage roses in summer. It includes a fenced play area for under 10's, a bowling club, football courts amongst other facilities. The beautiful Crystal Palace Park also a 14min walk away.

It was really key for me to be well-connected to central London. Penge East station is about 5 minute walk and is connected to key destinations such as Brixton (10 minutes), London Victoria (16 minutes), Elephant and Castle (16 minutes), London Blackfriars (18 minutes), Farringdon (25 minutes) and London Kings Cross/St. Pancras International (31 minutes). Sydenham Station on the other side has direct trains to London Bridge (20mins) and the overground connecting to East and North London.

I will really miss the apartment and this neighbourhood as it's been so wonderful.

Lease 115 years
Service Charge £573.74 (insurance only currently)
Ground rent £150 pa
Council Tax - Bromley Band C £1815.52 pa