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“Barnet is London’s second largest borough and, rather uniquely, boasts the second highest tree population in London, with 32,000 trees of all shapes and sizes lining its streets.”
The borough has 200-strong collection of family-friendly parks, nature reserves and open spaces. In fact, the oldest tree in all of London grows in Totteridge; known as the ‘Totteridge Yew,’ the tree is over 2,000 years old and was considered sacred by the mysterious Druids. The council has invested a lot of money into maintaining the borough’s appeal as a nature-lover’s home, and as a result the area is hugely attractive families with young children and older couples seeking a peaceful place to retire.
Whilst areas of affluence are scattered across this borough, the diversity of culture is more evident across the south. In High Barnet, 80% of residents identify themselves as White British, in comparison to the rest of the borough where over 30% of people are from an ethnic minority. The leafy areas of Golders Green and Finchley, for example, support a historic Jewish population, reflected in the number of Kosher food outlets and synagogues in the area. Barnet’s highest scoring Locality Reality postcode is N3 1PR hitting the 9.3 mark on Chesterfield Road.
As of March 2020, the average house price here is over £653,160. The priciest areas can usually be found in the north of the borough, where properties in neighbourhoods such as Totteridge, Hadley, and High Barnet often sell for multi-million pound sums, although Hampstead Garden Suburb in the south frequently tops the list for some of the UK’s most expensive streets.
Despite this, there are some areas which are more affordable, particularly for young couples and families with a less generous budget. Areas such as Colindale, Finchley, Wood Street and Hendon are scattered with affordable properties, with prices generally decreasing the closer you get to Cockfosters.
“Barnet is a top choice for commuters due to the many Northern Line stations, making direct journeys into Central London and The City quick and easy.”
Barnet is a top choice for commuters due to the many Northern Line stations, making direct journeys into Central London and The City quick and easy. In addition to the Underground, the borough also offers National Rail services at Oakleigh Park and Mill Hill Broadway, while for drivers the North Circular and M1 run through the borough for north-bound trips.
Meanwhile, for residents who find it difficult to use public transport, Dial-a-Ride vehicle services and the Taxicard scheme allow those who are disabled to travel for free or a reduced fare.
Culinary life here can be a little uninspiring at times, but there are a myriad of excellent eateries if you know where to look. Casual French restaurant Chez Tonton and Arati Tandoori are two of the best in New Barnet, while High Barnet and Totteridge both have a number of cosy gastropubs perfect for a traditional bite and a beer in the evening.
Home to London’s first American-style shopping centre, open since 1967, residents are spoilt for choice when it comes to retail therapy. Brent Cross Shopping Centre offers over 120 shops, ranging from designer brands such as Jaeger and Hugo Boss to Anthropologie homewares and jewellery from Pandora. A good selection of popular high-street restaurants can also be found here, including Carluccio’s, Pizza Express and Wagamama. Alternative shopping spots in the borough can found at the Spires Shopping Centre or along the small high streets in areas such as Totteridge and Hadley.
Most major supermarket chains can be found in the borough, including a large Waitrose at the Spires Shopping Centre and another on the High Road in Totteridge, an Asda superstore in Southgate, and various branches of Sainsbury’s and Tesco. A smattering of good delicatessens and independent shops can also be found, with Burnt Oak Fish Market in Burnt Oak among the best in the borough.
There is a reasonable selection of fitness and sporting facilities spread throughout the borough, including a branch of PureGym, an Anytime Fitness branch, and Barnet Burnt Oak Leisure Centre. Towards the northern end of the borough, its also possible to find a number of specialist studios for activities including yoga, pilates and boxing.
As you’d expect from such a green borough, there’s also a good selection of golf clubs for those who prefer teeing off to pounding a treadmill – popular spots include Old Ford Manor Golf Club, and Arkley Golf Club.
It may not be the most buzzing of boroughs, but it is still home to a selection of appealing cultural venues, including Artsdepot, a multi-genre arts centre with two theatres, a gallery, a bar and more, as well as the more tradition Bull Theatre where you’ll find a wide range of theatre and musical performances. For those with an interest in aviation, the Royal Air Force Museum can be found at Hendon Aerodrome, and offers visitors the chance to explore the facinsating history of the RAF, as well as see over 70 aircraft.
“Home to some of the highest-performing schools in London, Barnet boasts six primary schools with an 100% KS2 rating, and a further twenty with over 90%”
Home to some of the highest-performing schools in London, Barnet boasts six primary schools with an 100% KS2 rating, and a further twenty with over 90%. The best primary schools in Barnet include Christ Church Primary School, Courtland School and the Independent Jewish Day School. Among secondary schools the results are also impressively high, with Queen Elizabeth’s School, Henrietta Barnett School and St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School all selective options with 100% A*- C GCSE results, compared to the national average of 57%.
Overall, the London Borough of Barnet is safe. Violent crime and vandalism are lower here than the UK average per 1000, although burglary and theft are slightly higher.
Bordering Hampstead Heath to the south and Trent Park to the north, Barnet has plenty of green space – there are so many parks, you’re likely to find one within a mile of every home in the borough. Leading parks in the area include Oak Hill Park and Edgewarebury Park, while Barnet is also home to seven nature reserves and the Dollis Valley Greenwalk, which leads visitors on a 10-mile nature-filled journey across the borough.
Nearly two thousand years ago, the Romans traveled through this land on their way to and from Londinium. Today, commuters into Central London do much the same, albeit in a packed Tube carriage rather than on horses. Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the small settlements throughout Barnet grew slowly as separate districts, and were only brought together as the London Borough of Barnet in 1965.
If you’re moving to Barnet, OneDome can help. We can help you find a property in Barnet, connect with local estate agents, get a mortgage, and complete your conveyancing. By moving the entire home buying and selling journey online and in one place, your phone calls and trips to the post office are dramatically reduced. You can also use the OneDome platform to communicate with all relevant parties online, which gives everyone involved complete transparency over every stage in your property journey.
For more information on how OneDome helps complete your move, get in touch with our friendly team on 020 3868 6262 today. Or, click this link to view our explainer video.
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