From gritty city lofts to plush urban conversions, live/work living attracts a certain type of buyer, and generally it works best classic industrial conversions.
Here are our six London live/work lofts for sale right now that embody the essence of industrial living.
1. Former Piano Factory Apartment
In the heart of Kentish Town, a late Victorian manufacturing hub—once the epicentre of London’s piano-making industry—has been thoughtfully transformed into a one-of-a-kind industrial residence.
This ground-floor apartment, under the same ownership for the last 37 years, is accessed via its own private entrance. It’s a masterclass in adaptive reuse, combining raw architectural heritage with modern, contemporary styling.
The space is defined by its soaring 14ft ceilings and an extraordinary expanse of original south-facing Crittall windows over 7ft in height. Sunlight cascades across the painted concrete floors, animating the volume of the vast, open-plan interior with a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.
Originally home to the owner’s high-end photography studio, the apartment now presents as a versatile one-bedroom mezzanine layout.
£1,175,000 – click here for the image gallery, floor plans and description
2. Victorian Charm in the Heart of Nunhead
“The Warehouse” is a detached Victorian gem of a home, beautifully refurbished and a rarity for the area, nestled on a quiet road in the heart of revitalised Nunhead.
Contrasting white and dark brickwork paired with natural grey floor tiles, creates a peaceful and creative atmosphere. A free-flowing and open-plan space, it retains an intimate feel allowing you to divide the home fairly and flexibly to suit your lifestyle.
The reception room is bright and inviting, with French doors opening onto a southwest-facing terrace. This sun-drenched area is perfect for evening meals and sitting with friends, whatever the weather.
£1,250,000 – click here for the image gallery, floor plans and description
3. Former Shoe Factory Loft
It is rare to come across an industrial conversion with such curated and historical heritage features. Cargo zinc-plated, floor-to-ceiling loading doors (the only pair left in the building) are mounted across one wall, and 120-year-old reclaimed floorboards were rescued from a church in Lancashire, cut and laid across the top floor. Even one of the tables has been built over the base of a vintage sewing machine.
The thought and process that has been put into this loft is immediately evident when you enter. Once an early 00s start-up office, apparently there was clipped MDF flooring everywhere and a boxed-in depressing hallway!
The owner went about commissioning a local architect Asif Khan to complete a spiral staircase made of Douglas Fir to open up and flood natural light into the bottom floor. The spindles you see are made of restored Victorian wrought iron, and the (Moravian) star chandeliers were sourced specially by the owner, as a nod to their Pennsylvanian heritage.
£1,000,000 – click here for the image gallery, floor plans and description
4. Canalside Warehouse Conversion
An uncompromising renovation of an expansive industrial space and a unique layout that lends itself to multi-generational living, home office options and 1666 Sq. Ft. This canalside space on the ground floor of an iconic East London conversion is favoured by the creative community.
Limehouse Cut, or as it’s otherwise known, the Spratt’s complex is a formidable looking collection of Victorian warehouses which initially served as production and HQ for, “The Spratts Patent Pet Food Company”. The handsome industrial architecture managed to avoid war damage and demolition during its lifetime with a residential renaissance starting in the mid 1980s. It’s arguably the first or at the very least, one of London’s early warehouse conversion developments that focussed on creativity and the concept of living and working at home.
At nearly 1700 Sq. Ft, there’s a lot of space to play with. It’s worth noting that with a few interior adjustments, it would be possible to add three bedrooms in addition to the internal room currently being used as a suite.
£1,150,000 – click here for the image gallery, floor plans and description
5. Former Piano Workshop
The ancient, cobbled streets of Peary Place in Bethnal Green are a fitting scene for this elegantly preserved and dramatically proportioned freehold property. Stylish interiors and industrial heritage is drawn together over three levels, creating an environment that’s open to interpretation, whether it’s simply a home or an exciting place to live and work.
Outside, the handsome looks of the building are unmistakably Victorian which, historically, has served as a piano workshop as well as having connections with a local dairy.
Inside, and once past the warehouse-style front door, this unique home opens up through three layers of open plan levels starting with the expansive ground hosting the bathroom and the reception kitchen which is vast and undoubtedly the beating heart of the home. Its open plan nature lends itself to a wonderfully sociable environment.
£1,200,000 – click here for the image gallery, floor plans and description
6. Large Lateral Apartment
Butlers & Colonial Wharf, an historic former tea storage warehouse in the heart of the industrial heritage zone of Shad Thames. Set deep into the gated scheme, one of the newer buildings hosts a huge, ground floor 1877 sq ft lateral home that’s been used for live work but enjoys residential status.
Situated in a gated courtyard, this is one of the best kept secrets in Shad Thames. Located in the new build section, this property was created when the original warehouse was redeveloped and complements the overall industrial aesthetic superbly.
Entering on the ground floor, you enter a huge open-plan space with tall ceilings and hardwood floors throughout. The principal reception room is a capacious working space spanning nearly 1000 sq.ft, featuring an open-plan kitchen, and a separate bathroom. This is the main workspace, where the current owner operates a photography studio.
Two further reception rooms and an additional bathroom complete the property, with completely flexible living and working environments. The whole property offers a multitude of different approaches to how you can shape your life in the property, with two separate entrances on either side of the building, one of which provides on-street access.
£1,500,000 – click here for the image gallery, floor plans and description
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