Exploring North West London – A guide to its best neighbourhoods and lifestyle

North West London has some of London’s best parkland and is so green, you would be forgiven for forgetting that you’re still in one of the biggest cities in the world. Having been home over the centuries to some of the biggest cultural and literary icons of the century, it has historic attractions like Keats House, the once home of Romantic poet, John Keats, Freud Museum, the final home of the founder of psychoanalysis and the tomb of Karl Marx amongst others. It also contains within its geography, famous London landmarks like the Lord’s Cricket Ground and the London Zoo.

The region is brilliant for families with some of London’s best schools such as Hampstead School in West Hampstead, The Archer Academy in Barnet, Highgate School in Highgate, North Bridge House in Hampstead and many more. Popular universities include University College London and Middlesex University. You will also find that north-west London is home to some great restaurants, pubs, local theatres and some wonderful parks, including Hampstead Heath and Regent’s Park which carry NW postcodes.

North West London is a vast area that includes significant portions of the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, and Camden, with smaller parts of the City of Westminster and the bBoroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Islington, and Kensington & Chelsea. It is diverse, some parts old and some parts up-and-coming.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through five areas in North West London that are excellent choices, ripe for the picking whether that be renting, selling or buying.

Hampstead

Hampstead, one of London’s most coveted neighbourhoods, is rich with traditional architecture, listed buildings, leafy streets and independent schools. It is one of the most sought-after areas of residential real estate in the country, straddling a nice balance between city comfort and village aesthetics. Hampstead has within its boundaries, the Hampstead Heath, a common land park that spans 790 acres with 25 ponds that contains some of London’s best outdoor swimming spots.

With more millionaires living here than any other parts of the country, Hampstead has a certain kind of prestige and exclusivity associated with it. It isn’t uncommon at all to spot the rich and the famous, and to live here is to nestle amongst period properties, a feel of old England and greenery.

Coincidentally, we at Benham and Reeves have our head office in Hampstead on Heath Street and have over 65 years of experience buying, selling and letting homes in the area. The office offers a variety of property services in the area for a wide range of properties, from luxury apartments to family homes.

Highgate

Highgate in many ways like Hampstead is a picturesque village-like suburb of London, full of history and character. It is quite affluent and its proximity to Hampstead gives you almost equal access to Hampstead Heath and its ponds which are just a stroll away. In addition, it also boasts of the Highgate Wood, a 70-acre area of ancient woodland. There’s also of course Kenwood House, the historic stately home built in 1616, housing priceless artwork like Vermeer, Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Turner. Along with all the grandeur that Highgate comes with, is also a strong community and calm neighbourhoods.

If we had to use a single word to describe the place, it would be, ‘charming’. Our office in Highgate is on Highgate High Street. Feel free to walk in for enquiries or just a spot of tea and conversation.

Dartmouth Park

Dartmouth Park is located just South of Highgate. This again is an area rich in period architecture, leafy streets and has thriving local businesses and a close-knit community. Its cobbled streets take one through an area that’s bustling with thriving local businesses and a close-knit community. With more than enough eateries and gastro pubs, the area is very self-sufficient. Like other parts of North West London, the transport facilities are excellent with the Northern Line Tube network connecting the area to the rest of London.

Visit our Highgate offices for information about property services in Dartmouth Park.

Hendon

Hendon, is green with rolling parks, home to a number of schools rated ‘Outstanding’, proud home of Middlesex University, has a number of local libraries and community centres and boasts a strong community spirit. It has a plethora of restaurants, Irish pubs, gyms, and other amenities. Hendon is a great place to live in and is very well connected to the rest of London as well as outside London. Shopping is easy with a host of supermarkets, local shops and the long-standing Brent Cross Shopping Centre.

We are seeing a strong demand for rentals in the area and are also seeing new homes just completing at Silkstream, a project by the Berkeley Group. Any enquiries for Hendon, can be made at our Colindale office.

Colindale

Colindale, one of the London’s largest regeneration zones backed by the Mayor, is perfect for first time buyers stepping onto the property market or even second time buyers looking to upsize. With a lot of new developments being constructed in the area and a good diversity of people from around the world living here, Colindale is an excellent investment opportunity. It’s superbly connected to Central London and is quite self-sufficient with a range of amenities like supermarkets, food courts, gyms, restaurants and pubs. The area is also the proud home of the Colindale Community Garden, a great place to socialise and get some physical activity.

In Colindale, we are the only lettings agent based on site at the landmark Beaufort Park development, a flagship project by the Berkeley Group. We have had a presence in the area since 2008, and having helped countless families with their real estate needs, we are perfectly positioned to aid in renting, selling or buying property here.

To summarise, North West London is diverse and affluent, with many communities calling it home. The area is well connected by road and is served by the Piccadilly, Central, Metropolitan and Bakerloo lines on the Underground, as well as several Overground stations in the region, which offer trains to Southwest London, East London, Luton and more. Whether as an investment opportunity or a residential prospect, the area is rife with possibilities.

If you are looking to buy, sell or let a property anywhere in London, please do get in touch.