Islington was once the playground of literary greats – George Orwell and Evelyn Waugh among others – but these days it’s where media types rest their heads and write witty blog posts on their MacBooks in organic cafes. This beautiful, five-storey Georgian townhouse on a leafy backstreet in Barnsbury, brings together these two worlds. It’s full of charming original features, including wrought-iron fireplaces, wooden shutters and even a coal vault. The decor plays on its rich history with almost Gothic touches – dark blue walls, a jet-black wooden four-poster bed, gunmetal roll-top bath – but this adds drama, not darkness. In any case, the light from those glorious sash windows makes it impossible for any gloom to creep in. Grab a book from the library and head outside to the delightful paved garden, where tangled wisteria and mature trees keep things incredibly private for a city pad. Like Islington's legendary writers, we think you'll find plenty to write home about.