This neighbourhood is located in the northwestern London Borough of Brent. It is mainly residential and is filled with twenties and thirties semis, as well as apartment block buildings. Residents of this neighbourhood enjoy the Willesden Market, which is open every Wednesday and Saturday and has local produce, food stalls, and clothing vendors. There is also a local bagel shop, and a few other restaurants, including Indian and Chinese takeaway eateries. Residents can find more dining options and bars a few minutes’ walk away up on Dollis Hill High Road or a few minutes’ drive to Wembley Park. All of this makes the area a great neighbourhood for those who want a little peace and quiet but don’t want to sacrifice amenities.

It is believed that this settlement dates back to 939 AD. The area developed into a series of small hamlets situated around village greens, all of which were separated by open fields and farms. The land remained largely unchanged from the early Middle Ages until well into the 19th century. Meadows and pastures covered the badly drained lands bordering the Brent, and extensive woodland throughout the area was steadily reduced until its final disappearance in the 19th century, with an onslaught of residential housing and factories. The First World War completed the transformation of Willesden from a largely middle-class residential suburb to a predominantly working-class area that was part of the industrial belt of London. After the war was over, industry continued to flourish here, cementing its place in London’s history and tapestry.

During the 1800s, this neighbourhood was celebrated as a place of rural tranquility by artists like George Morland, Paul Sandby, and Julius Caesar Ibbetson. Beyond these connections, the area is also famous for St. Mary’s Church, which has a spring flowing underneath from where visitors can sample the Holy Water.

One of the downsides of living in this neighbourhood is that the housing prices have dramatically increased in the last year. The average selling price has increased to 27.26% in the last year. However, the average rental price is still below London’s average rent per week.

This neighbourhood is slated for major development and refurbishment in the coming years. Harlesden, just to the south of the neighbourhood, is set to be transformed by a million-pound regeneration project after Brent Council successfully secured funds for a Harlesden Gateway High Streets Heritage Action Zone in 2021. The funding will help deliver public realm improvements to the high street, as well as enhancements and refurbishments to existing buildings and shopfronts. Brent Council has also begun works to develop new council homes f0r Church End, with an aim to deliver 99 new homes and an improved Market Square for the local community. It is expected that works will end in 2025.

A bit further south, Old Oak Common has been designated a new super-hub set to be the best-connected and largest new railway station ever built in the UK. Development prospects around the station, which is expected to become one of the country’s busiest following the completion of HS2-related works for the station, are anticipated to have high returns and an area immediately to the southwest of the proposed station has already been identified for commercial development. Residents of this neighbourhood area can expect to see more improvements in this area in the next few years.