This leafy and spacious neighbourhood area sits on the northern border of London, just within the boundaries of the M25. Brimming with greenery and settled right next to the gigantic Trent Park, this neighbourhood is ideal for those who want to escape the noise and crowds of Central London without losing the luxury of an easy commute. This quiet neighbourhood is populated, for the most part, by Tudor-style modern buildings, with red-brick walls that create a pleasing contrast with the surrounding greenery. In the northern section of this area, there are a number of Victorian cottages for buyers who are seeking something with a more rustic feel. Living in such a green neighbourhood does not come at the cost of convenience, however. There are a range of shops, supermarkets, cafes, and restaurants settled along Cockfosters Road, where visitors and residents can enjoy fresh bowls of Vietnamese phô, fresh loaves of bread, and sandwiches to-go from the deli. The London Orbital Outer Path (LOOP) also runs through this area, providing a scenic walk on this neighbourhood’s doorstep.

This area has not changed as drastically as the rest of London over time. Many of the land remains preserved from the time when Enfield was a series of small settlements surrounded by a vast extent of grazing land. Artefacts found in the area suggest that there were a number of small Roman settlements in the area, which were used as outposts for people travelling up from ancient Londinium (London) towards York. Back then, Enfield was a day’s walk from London! The land was then later used for grazing sheep, which is where the area now gets its current name from. First recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Enefelde, the name literally means ‘land where lambs are reared’.

The three lakes in this neighbourhood are actually man-made. They were created in the 1880s by Charles Jack, a local estate owner. Two of the lakes are now part of the Hadley Wood Golf Club.

Enfield is not ideal for those looking for somewhere trendy with plenty of things to do day and night. It is generally perceived as an area for families. Still, some residents noted that the collection of shops, pubs, and restaurants along Cockfosters Road was increasingly growing, and there are always more and more things popping up. Transport links into central London are also excellent, making it fairly convenient for those craving the energy of Central London.

The local council have expressed a desire to continue to preserve the green spaces that are integral to this neighbourhood area in an effort to protect the existing green belt boundary which is one of the largest areas of rural landscape in London. The council will only allow building on brownfield sites (areas where building has previously occurred) in order to help alleviate existing development pressure on the local community by creating new affordable housing for residents. Nonetheless, there are a number of projects currently underway in this neighbourhood, the largest of which are the four new apartment buildings under construction on Cockforsters Road. A similar scheme is set to be completed on Cockfosters Road in 2024 adjacent to the picturesque Trent Park.