This neighbourhood sits in the western pocket of East Finchley. Known mostly for its relatively affordable housing options, the area has attracted many families in search of inexpensive family homes. Children in the area also benefit from the many wonderful schooling options, like The Archer Academy. Nonetheless, the area has maintained its character as a quiet family neighbourhood. The high street is lined with a wide array of delicious and diverse eateries. So when stopping by, it’s worth going for French food at Table Du Marche, pasta at La Rugoletta, or a curry at Imperial Spices. Any of these meals followed by a pint at the historic Bald Faced Stag, will give you a solid East Finchley night out. With all that the area has to offer, it’s surely worth the visit!

East Finchley dates back to the 14th century, when it was a series of small settlements near Hornsey Park. While more homes were built in the following decades, by the 17th century, the neighbourhood remained largely rural. Later on, in the 1800s, the Bishop of London started to sell off building leases, leading to the construction of villas throughout the neighbourhood. This quickly led to the construction of many cramped tenements, which led to overcrowding by the time the railway arrived in 1867. The Second World War brought extensive damage to the neighbourhood, which forced the council to rebuild many sections. Today, the neighbourhood is home to a mix of old terraced houses and post-war council flats.

This part of East Finchley is home to the United Kingdom’s headquarters of McDonald’s. Funnily enough, Barnet Council has shut down plans to open an actual McDonalds branch in the neighbourhood due to protests from local residents.

The area is also reasonably well connected, with a number of bus lines running through the area, and East Finchley tube station just a short walk away. From here, the Northern Line can take residents into the centre of London in under 15 minutes.

Barnet Council approved plans to build a new 43-unit housing development near East Finchley tube station a couple of years ago. However, these plans were seen off by residents looking to maintain their area’s leafy character meaning the development will not go ahead. Earlier in 2022, residents also banded together to put a stop to the nine-home development on Great North Road. The council received 48 objections in total, warning that overdevelopment posed ecological harm to nearby Cherry Tree Wood, a local conservation site. East Finchley is therefore unusual in London because of the ability of the community to see off unwanted development. However, there are some smaller schemes that have managed to slip through in this postcode. Crossways, at 26 Bishops Avenue, contains Seven 3-bedroom apartments and two 3-bedroom penthouses, having been completed earlier in 2022.