This area sits on the border of the boroughs of Barnet and Haringey, and is just north of the vast, green Hampstead Heath. The neighbourhood attracts families looking for a more quiet and spacious alternative to central London, and while there are large portions of the locality lined with post-war council estates, there areal so stretches of wealthy mansions such as those on Bishop’s Avenue, or as locals call it-Billionaire’s Row. It’s for this reason that many refer to the area as the “Beverly Hills of London.” However, the neighbourhood has plenty to offer for the more down to earth Londoner as well. Walking through the streets of East Finchley, it’s hard not to be drawn in by the multiple restaurants, eclectic shops, and local pubs. Between all of this and its proximity to zone 1 via the Northern line, it’s no wonder that East Finchley’s offerings continue to attract new faces to the area.

The neighbourhood of East Finchley was once made up of small settlements that were known as the East End. By the 17th century, the East End consisted mostly of small cottages, inns and farmland, however, by the 1800s, the Bishop of London’s sale of building leases kickstarted the development of grand villas in the area. The area eventually became home to less wealthy families as well once the railway arrived in the 1860s. This growth led to many of the mansions being subdivided into flats, and the area developing a reputation for unsanitary conditions and drunkenness. Later on, once a good portion of the neighbourhood had been damaged during the Blitz, the council introduced blocks of flats to house the residents forced out their homes. Today, East Finchley’s ability to offer a suburban feel without compromising its ease of connection to central London has made it one of the more desirable family neighbourhoods in London.

Beloved pop icon, George Michael, was born in East Finchley. Before he passed away in 2016, he had a successful music career as a part of the group Wham!

Former US talk show host, Jerry Springer, was also born in East Finchley. Due to the Nazi bombing raids that were occurring in the area at the time, he was actually born in the tube station. Although East Finchley Cemetery sits within the Borough of Barnet, the site is bizarrely owned and managed by Westminster City Council.

Despite the area’s relatively low crime rate, there have been reports of burglaries and parking ticket scams over the past few months. Additionally, over the past year, there was a significant number of crimes reported that were related to anti-social behaviour.

Finchley’s desirability continues to attract the interest of developers. In particular, there are two luxury developments currently under construction which are typical of this postcode. Both sit on the fashionable Bishops avenue, with the Riverstone development expected to be completed in 2025, and the slightly smaller 28 The Bishops Avenue project expected to complete in 2023. The Riverstone development will provide accommodation for residents over the age of 65 with a plethora of Amenities for all residents in the complex. The luxury scheme will include a hair and nail salon, spa with sauna and steam rooms, swimming pool and vitality pool, library, club room, restaurant and bar, cinema, exercise studio and ballroom. Meanwhile, the 28 The Bishops Avenue scheme will consist of seven luxury flats with private gardens, concierge, underground parking and a private residents’ gymnasium.