The neighbourhood, nestled in the northern corner of Willesden Green, is a favourite among families and young professionals alike. With its leafy suburban character, and easy access from the Willesden Green tube stop, it’s a convenient but peaceful escape from Central London. This serenity can be seen through the tree lined streets but also through the multiple Victorian style terraced houses with their small and manicured gardens. Turning onto a side street, the housing varies a bit, revealing larger Tudor style and post-war single family homes - many of which have private yards.

There’s more to Willesden Green than this quiet vibe though. Residents love making their way through the neighbourhood’s high street, Walm Lane. Stopping by the street on a weekend day, you might find families enjoying an Italian dinner at Sanzio, or grabbing brunch at Nest Cafe. As for the younger residents, they don’t mind the family oriented feel of the area, and are still able to find plenty to do into the night. Twenty somethings flock to local favourite, The Queensbury, each Wednesday for pub quizzes and later on Sundays for their jazz nights. With all that the neighbourhood has to offer, it’s no wonder that the area is quickly attracting more and more Londoners.

Willesden Green began as a series of farms. However, by the 1800s, the Metropolitan Railway had arrived and drastically altered the neighbourhood. One of the many farming families, the Barhams, began sending milk into Central London using the express train. This led to a period of heightened development in the neighbourhood.

By the end of the 19th century, the neighbourhood had become the fastest growing area in Greater London - averaging the construction of four houses per day. Later on, during WWII, many working class Londoners, and those who had recently immigrated, moved to the area in order to find jobs in nearby factories. Today, the neighbourhood remains an area rich in ethnic diversity.

Multiple well known novels are set in Willesden Green. Two of the many award winning books include Zadie Smith’s White Teeth and Mark Haddon’s Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Unfortunately, many North Londoners view the neighbourhood simply as the place to move if you can’t afford Queen’s Park and Kensal Green. Still, those who live there, view it as more than a runner-up. Locals love the tight-knit community in Willesden Green and find more than enough to do there.

In recent years, Brent Council led a major regeneration project in the neighbourhood. This brought upgraded public spaces, improvements to sidewalks and street signs, as well as grants for local businesses. While there are no major projects going on in the area at the moment, the neighbourhood continues to see the impact of this investment. Housing prices in the area have been steadily going up as Londoners discover the beauty of the neighbourhood as well as its easy access to the centre of the city.

As an example of the steadily increasing interest in the area, a housing scheme at Willesden Green Garage, in St Paul’s Avenue, is expected to be completed in Spring 2023. ‘St Paul’s Mansions’, as the development is now known, is a partnership between Meadow Partners and HG Construction that will provide 76 flats (a slight alteration from the original 70 proposed) in a building up to seven storeys high, as well as 18 car parking spaces and a children’s play area.