Bespoke Front Doors in London
A front door in a London period property is not simply a functional component — it is the first thing visitors and neighbours see, it signals the character of the house, and in a conservation area it affects the planning position of everything else you do to the building. AMB Joinery designs and manufactures bespoke timber front doors across London, built to match the period and style of your property and specified for security, weather performance and long service life.
We do not supply composite or uPVC front doors.
Why the Front Door Matters
In Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian London terraces and semi-detached properties, front doors are a defining architectural feature. The proportion of the opening, the number and arrangement of panels, the fanlight above the door, the side lights flanking it, and the ironmongery all contribute to the character of the elevation. In streets where most properties have retained or restored their original front doors, a poorly chosen replacement is immediately apparent.
More practically: a front door that fits badly is a security weakness and a source of persistent draughts. A door manufactured to the opening — not trimmed to fit — performs better in every respect.
Timber Species
Victorian Four-Panel Doors
The most common front door type in inner London. A vertical arrangement of two narrower upper panels and two taller lower panels, typically with an ovolo moulding around each panel. Often glazed in the upper panels — clear, etched or stained glass — and solid in the lower panels. We manufacture these in any configuration matching the originals on the street.
Victorian Two-Panel with Fanlight
Common in early and mid-Victorian properties and in some Edwardian townhouses. The door itself has two large panels; the glazed fanlight above — sometimes with a radiating pattern — brings light into the hallway. We manufacture both the door and the fanlight unit as a matched set.
Edwardian Six-Panel Doors
Late Victorian and Edwardian front doors often have a more elaborate panel arrangement — six panels in a 2-2-2 configuration, with smaller upper panels, intermediate mid-rail panels and tall lower panels. The moulding profiles tend to be more elaborate than earlier Victorian examples.
Georgian Doors
Georgian front doors are typically four or six raised-and-fielded panels with a classical entablature above. The proportions are more formal than Victorian examples. In central London Georgian streets — Bloomsbury, Marylebone, Belgravia — front doors are subject to extremely tight Listed Building Consent requirements and must match the originals very precisely.
Contemporary Bespoke
For modern properties, extensions or conversions where a period style is not required, we manufacture contemporary timber front doors: flush or simply moulded panels, concealed hardware, large glazed sections.
Timber Specification
Accoya is our standard recommendation for all London front doors. Front doors face the highest exposure of any external joinery element: south-facing doors receive intense direct sun; north-facing doors retain moisture in winter; all front doors in London experience significant pollution and temperature variation. Accoya's dimensional stability eliminates the seasonal swelling that causes doors to stick, and its Class 1 durability rating means no rot risk at the base or meeting faces. It carries a 50-year above-ground guarantee.
European Oak is specified for clients who want a natural hardwood finish — oiled, waxed or left to weather to silver. Oak front doors are heavy, durable and have a different visual quality to painted softwood. Ironmongery is specified accordingly.
Security Specification
Every AMB Joinery front door is specified for security:
- Multi-point locking — five-point systems as standard; engaging frame at the latch, top, bottom and two intermediate points
- TS007 3-star anti-pick, anti-drill, anti-snap cylinder — the specification recommended by police Secured by Design and required for many insurance policies
- Hinge bolts — two minimum on the hinge stile to prevent door removal if hinges are attacked
- Security hinges with non-removable pins
- Door viewer or smart video doorbell preparation included at no additional cost
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Glazing
Where the front door includes glazed panels — upper lights, side lights, fanlight — we specify:
- Toughened safety glass as standard for all opening heights accessible from outside
- Laminated safety glass where forced-entry resistance is a priority
- Decorative glass — original-style etched, patterned or coloured glass is available from specialist suppliers; we can match existing surviving glass in adjacent windows or lights
Planning and Conservation Areas
Front doors visible from the street are subject to more planning scrutiny than any other external element.
Listed buildings require Listed Building Consent for any change to the front door — material, colour, glazing pattern, ironmongery. The consent process requires detailed drawings and in many cases a meeting with the conservation officer before application. We assist with this.
Conservation areas with Article 4 Directions require a planning application for front door replacements in most London boroughs. The planning authority will typically require like-for-like replacement: same material (timber), same panel arrangement, same finish colour (many conservation areas specify black, white or heritage colours). We have extensive experience managing this process and can advise on the planning position for your specific street.
We will confirm the full planning position during the survey, before any manufacturing begins.
FENSA Certification
Front door replacement qualifies for FENSA certification in the same way as window replacement — the certificate confirms compliance with building regulations (principally Part L thermal performance) and is required when you sell the property. All our front door installations are FENSA-registered. See our FENSA compliance page for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you match the existing front doors on my street?
Yes. We measure and photograph the existing doors on adjacent properties and replicate the panel configuration, moulding profile, glazing arrangement and ironmongery style. This is the most common brief we receive for conservation area work, and it is one we have executed across every London borough.
How long does a bespoke Accoya front door last?
Accoya carries a 50-year above-ground durability guarantee. With standard maintenance — repainting every 7–10 years — an Accoya front door will outlast most other elements of the building's fabric.
What colour can I paint my front door?
In most residential properties, any colour — your choice. In conservation areas, the local authority may specify permitted colours; black, white, dark green and dark blue are the most common acceptable palettes. In listed buildings, colour may need to be agreed with the conservation officer. We will advise on the specific requirements for your property.
Do I need planning permission to replace my front door?
In most non-conservation-area residential properties, replacing a front door is permitted development and requires no application. In conservation areas with Article 4 Directions, a planning application is usually required. In listed buildings, Listed Building Consent is always required. We establish the planning position at survey stage.
Get a Free Survey
Request a free survey and we will visit your property, assess the existing door and opening, establish the planning position and provide a detailed written quote with profile drawings. For external doors more broadly, see our external doors page. We work across all London boroughs and respond to enquiries within 24 hours.
