This leafy London village located in the northern reaches of the city presents an excellent suburban neighbourhood no matter the budget. Featuring a mixture of post-war and modern housing, this area offers low-cost flat rentals as well as high-end detached houses for sale, all of which are enclosed by thickets of woodland and open fields. The practicalities of London-living are offered along Mays’ Lane in the centre, which contains large supermarkets, community centres, and modest selections of other shops. This neighbourhood is an outstanding location for those with an appreciation for the outdoors but who work in the city centre, as it is served by the High Barnet Underground Station in the east. These frequent high- speed trains to central London make for an easy commute in and out of this quiet little neighbourhood.

The area originally began as a settlement around a fork in the road running north out of London all the way to York. The area was originally spelled ‘Baernet’ in Old English, which is thought to mean a place that has been cleared by burning woodland. Little is known about the exact date and purpose of this area’s formation before the 12th century, until it was granted a Charter to the Lord of the Manor on the 23rd of August 1199 by King John, allowing the town to hold a market once per week. It is thought that the market supplied food, drink, and accommodation to several local farmers, as well as travelling traders and merchants. The area later developed into a few coaching inns and stable yards, some of which still stand today.

High Barnet Station was first opened in 1872. It did not link into the Underground system, however, until the Northern Line was extended in 1940. Dollis Valley Estate, built in the late 1960s, is the single biggest development to be undertaken in the neighbourhood’s history!

The downside to this neighbourhood area is that it is extremely lacking in terms of late-night entertainment. The two local pubs - The Lord Nelson and The Black Horse - both close at midnight. Other nearby forms of entertainment require a bus or train journey to access. This, however, can also be perceived as a positive quality, making the neighbourhood ideal for families and those who enjoy the peace and quiet.

Barnet Council is currently leading major regeneration works on the Dollis Valley Estate. The aim is to create a ‘smart’ green suburb that is integrated within the Underhill neighbourhood. The works will introduce a new network of residential streets as well as a number of two and three-story houses with private and communal gardens - situating itself at the cutting edge of sustainable development, by introducing more housing without sacrificing green space. Similarly, the private Brook Valley Gardens project aims to provide 600 new homes over multiple phases of construction. However, the next phase is not expected to begin until 2028 with some locals concerned about over development in this rural locale.