William Gaitskell House sits on Paradise Street, behind a row of spear-headed iron railings. A cast-iron archway at the top of a small flight of steps frames the double front door to the building, which opens to a communal hallway. Here, a sumptuously carpeted staircase winds to the third floor, where the private entrance to this apartment is nestled.

At one end of the apartment’s hallway is an open plan kitchen and living space. American walnut floorboards run underfoot and the walls are finished in a warm cream hue, ‘Stone II’ by Farrow and Ball, and the room glows as light pours through the six-pane sash windows set in dormers on two sides. At the front of the room, a kitchen of white cabinetry is fitted with a four-ring ceramic hob and a deep stainless steel sink. The space is defined by a generous kitchen island which makes a wonderful space for preparing a meal or simply sitting atop a stool with a coffee in the afternoon sun. Beyond this there is space for a large dining table as well as bookshelves or some extra storage. On the other side of the room, below the dormer windows, the current owners have arranged a seating area as well as an office space; peering out, there are views over iconic London architecture.

To the left of the plan, doors open from the hallway to two double bedrooms, where the tranquil cream colour scheme continues. A sash window in the primary bedroom takes in views over leafy Southwark Park, and at the other side of the room there is a dressing space with generous built-in wardrobes of rich American walnut made to match the apartment’s material palette. The wardrobe doors have been fitted with intricately carved antique window panels to provide a touch of ornamentation in the otherwise pared-back space. Beyond the dressing space there is an en-suite bathroom with a bath and a separate shower; an overhead rooflight creates a bright and spacious atmosphere. More views over Southwark Park are found in the second bedroom. Here there are more built-in wardrobes and shelves, as well as an en-suite shower room. There is also a handy WC and a laundry room arranged around the hallway.

Outdoors, between the original Regency building and the recent contemporary additions to the building, there is access to a communal courtyard with a covered bike storage shed.

The apartment is surrounded by wonderful green spaces, and the banks of the Thames are only moments away. King’s Stairs Gardens is nearby; a spot on the grassy hill amid mature ash, cherry, oak and sycamore trees is a favourite for picnics, and its views along the river towards Tower Bridge, St Paul’s and the Shard are unrivalled. Southwark Park is also close; with football pitches, tennis courts, cricket nets and an outdoor gym, it is ideal for those with sporting pursuits in mind. Here, there is a new café overlooking the pond, a perfect place to stop on a weekend stroll through the trees.

A picturesque walk along the Thames Path will take you to London Bridge, where you’ll find both new and old theatre offerings at Shakespeare’s Globe and Bridge Theatre.

Bermondsey is home to an array of excellent restaurants, cafés and pubs, with notable examples including 40 Maltby Street, The Angel, The Mayflower, The Old Justice, №№ Coffee andWatchHouse Café. A set of railway arches is home to the Bermondsey Beer Mile, a stretch of breweries, taprooms and restaurants, and the much-loved Borough Market is a thirty minute walk away for further dining options and the finest produce. More artisanal culinary delights can be found at the Little Bread Pedlar, for fresh bread and pastries, and at Neal’s Yard Dairy for the best British and Irish cheeses.

The area has excellent transport links, with Bermondsey station (Jubilee line) and Rotherhithe Overground station each within a five minute walk away. Additionally, the newly built Cycle Superhighway Four runs directly along Jamaica Road, connecting Tower Bridge and Greenwich via a segregated cycle-only pathway along its entire length.