Searching for the best brunch Woodberry Down has to offer? Your hunt ends at Dear Diana. Set within a bright, contemporary space in one of North London's newest developments, our venue has quickly become the favourite brunch spot for locals and visitors alike. Moreover, we've crafted an experience that goes far beyond simply serving food on plates. Whether you're a weekend warrior seeking the perfect eggs Benedict or a midweek treat-yourself enthusiast, Dear Diana delivers. Here are five compelling reasons why discerning brunch lovers consistently choose us.
Six minutes. That is the walk from Manor House station to our front door, on the flat, and it is the answer most people arriving here are actually looking for.
The longer answer, including which way to turn and how to get here from Finsbury Park, is below.
Getting Off at Manor House
Manor House sits on the Piccadilly line, at the junction where Green Lanes meets Seven Sisters Road. The station has several exits around that junction, which is the one thing that catches people out.
Once you are on street level, head east along Seven Sisters Road, away from Green Lanes. You are walking towards Woodberry Down, and the road runs straight, so there is nothing complicated to remember.
The Walk to Woodberry Grove
The route is 0.3 miles and takes about six minutes at an ordinary pace. Google rates every version of it as mostly flat, which matters if you are pushing a pram or carrying a laptop bag.
You will pass the edge of the Woodberry Down development as you go. We are at 149 Woodberry Grove, on the ground floor of the Skyline Apartments building. Full directions and a map are on our visit us page.
If you would rather plan door to door, or you need to check accessibility at the station itself, the TfL journey planner is the reliable source.
Coming From Finsbury Park Instead
Plenty of people arrive at Finsbury Park rather than Manor House, since it takes the Victoria line, the Piccadilly line and National Rail. It is a bigger station and a longer walk, and this is where we want to be straight with you.
Finsbury Park to us on foot is 21 minutes, not five. It is 0.9 miles along Seven Sisters Road, and it is a perfectly pleasant walk, but it is a walk rather than a hop.
Three better options if you are not in the mood for it:
- One stop on the Piccadilly line to Manor House, then the six minute walk. Around ten minutes door to door.
- The 259, 253, 254 or 310 bus from Stop R outside Finsbury Park station. Around eleven minutes in total.
- The scenic version, 23 minutes via Gloucester Drive and the New River Path, which is far nicer than the main road and worth it on a dry morning.
What Is Open When
We serve brunch all day rather than stopping at midday, so there is no wrong time to turn up hungry. The room changes character across the day though, and it is worth knowing which version you are walking into.
| Time | Typical pace | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning | Quiet, mostly regulars | Coffee and a slow start |
| Mid morning | Busier, steady flow | A full brunch plate |
| Early afternoon | Calmer again | Tea, chai or an hour with a laptop |
| Sunday from midday | Busiest of the week | The roast |
Current opening hours are on our visit us page, which is the page we keep updated.
Brunch Near Manor House Station: What We Serve
The short version, since you can read the whole thing on the menu page.
Our brunch menu runs all day. The Full English is £16 and comes with a veggie option. The American Diner is £17.50 and puts pancakes, bacon, sausage and eggs on one plate. Our Shakshuka is the one to order when it is cold outside, and the Salt Beef at £13 is the sandwich we are known for.
The Signature Baklava Pancake is £16, with pistachio cream and crispy filo flakes, and it is the plate most tables end up sharing.
Every coffee starts with Allpress beans, roasted in London. At the weekend the bar opens for mimosas, prosecco and espresso martinis. On Sundays a separate roast menu runs from midday.
What Else Is Around
Manor House is not an obvious destination, which is part of why the people who live here like it.
Woodberry Wetlands sits a few minutes from us, a genuine nature reserve built around the old reservoirs, with a walking loop and a surprising amount of birdlife for somewhere inside Zone 2. The New River Path runs alongside it and carries on south towards Finsbury Park, which is the other reason to come up this way on a weekend.
Finsbury Park itself is a twenty minute walk in the other direction. Between the three of them, there is a decent half day here for anyone who thinks of N4 as somewhere you change trains.
Walk In, No Booking
We take no bookings at all. Tables are first come, first served, and once you are sitting down nobody moves you on.
The honest caveat is that we are small. Late weekend mornings fill up and there can be a wait, because a neighbourhood café has a neighbourhood café's worth of tables. Arriving early or mid afternoon almost always means walking straight in.
For more on the room itself, our guide to slow mornings covers it, and why locals choose us covers the neighbourhood in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Dear Diana from Manor House station?
About six minutes on foot, 0.3 miles, and the route is flat the whole way. Head east along Seven Sisters Road towards Woodberry Down and you will reach 149 Woodberry Grove.
Can I walk from Finsbury Park to Dear Diana?
Yes, though it is 21 minutes and 0.9 miles rather than a quick stroll. One stop on the Piccadilly line to Manor House, or the 259, 253, 254 or 310 bus from Stop R, both get you here in around ten minutes instead.
Do I need to book a table?
No, and you cannot. We run walk-in only, first come first served. Late weekend mornings are the busiest window, so early or mid afternoon usually means no wait at all.
Is brunch served all day?
Yes. Our brunch menu runs all day rather than stopping at midday, so a Full English in the middle of the afternoon is a normal order here.
What is there to do near Manor House station?
Woodberry Wetlands is the main draw, a nature reserve around the old reservoirs with a walking loop. The New River Path runs alongside it, and Finsbury Park is about twenty minutes on foot in the other direction.
Where exactly is Dear Diana?
149 Woodberry Grove, Woodberry Down, London N4 2SB, on the ground floor of the Skyline Apartments building. Directions and current opening hours are on our visit us page.
