No fewer than four organic hairdressers tend the tresses of the inhabitants of this sophisticated bit of North London. Above Stroud Green (in all senses) and to the left of Harringay, Crouchand prides itself on being edgier than nearby Muswell Hill. But it’s only safety-razor edgy — we wouldn’t want to frighten the children.

Countless shops flog kiddie kit, of which Mini Kin on Tottenham Lane is the most twee. This “kinder salon” is where Josh and Chloe have their “hair, skin and body therapy”. Precious.

The pavement outside World Café at the end of Crouch Hill is like a buggy rally — pedestrians are forced into the road to get past. Dirty looks bounce off the have-it-all mothers and had-enough nannies lingering over their free-range eggs Florentine. Don’t pity young fathers saddled with papooses — baby is just the best way of cutting through crowds. Twitchy non-parents (and tired parents) seek sanctuary in the adults-only Haringey Arms.

Kiddie cult aside, Crouchand is charmant. Ask anyone on Hornsey High Street where they are and they’ll say Crouchand. You can’t blame them — especially as some agents smudge the boundary with Hornsey to boost prices.

Rent a studio for about £140 a week. A room in a shared house will be at least £60 a week (excluding bills). The cheapest one-bedroom flat in a semi-detached Victorian conversion on Ferme Park Road is £159,950. A similar two-bedroom flat will set you back about £250,000. Edison Road is très Crouchand. Creative residents have painted their Edwardian terrace bright colours, making this street very desirable. Expect to pay at least £450,000 for a four-bedroom mid-terrace house with a tiny garden.

For something with a more contemporary feel, head for The Exchange, a loft-style conversion at the centre of Crouch End. The 41 flats in the first phase of this development sold in less than three hours when they went on the market in September. The 11 flats in the second phase are now on the market for between £245,000 and £750,000 — about £10,000 to £20,000 more than the first batch.

Life here revolves around the four main roads off The Broadway, which are packed with cute cafés and bite-sized bistros. Blessed with boutiques, only the most jaded shopper could fail to find something here.

The clutch of women’s clothing stores on Park Road ranges from fun (Rhoda sells Paul Frank) to funky (Scarecrow is very Kelly Osbourne) and beyond. Enshallah sells Turkish slippers and other oriental bits. Don’t expect to find a sale rail in either of the sleek Sefton stores. Change of Heart had an Anna Sui coat (only £280!) and other designer seconds at silly prices. But leave your hat and your boyfriend outside: Arnie, the shop’s bull terrier mascot, hates men and millinery.

Two organic butchers and a bunch of independent greengrocers make up for the lack of a decent supermarket. There is a Tesco Metro in Stroud Green but it isn’t as well stocked as Asda, which is a 15-minute drive away. Sainsbury’s may open a superstore at the old waterworks. Skateboarders from nearby schools imperil council workers in the car park opposite the fantastic 1930s town hall. The public space outside is littered with winos. Luckily, Priory Park, which lies at the centre of a network of residential roads between Muswell Hill and Crouch End, is near by. With a playground and paddling pool, this is where tout Crouchand goes on Sundays. More leaf-relief can be found at Alexandra Park a bit further away.

Getting here isn’t easy — there’s no Tube. And little call for one. Locals fear creeping Starbuck-isation. Catch the 91 bus from King’s Cross or the W7 from Finsbury Park Tube. Those living in the big houses off Coolhurst Road use Highgate Tube. Crouch Hill station looks easy on the map but it’s on a steep hill.

Improving Crouch End may do more harm than good as the curious and crass would make their way to Crouchand and ruin its charm. So get in while the going is bon.

DAMIAN BARR

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