Known locally as Pinner Green or Pinner Hill, this delightful area of north-west London is a classically suburban, leafy enclave with a number of useful amenities and a charming local high street. A predominantly-residential neighbourhood, it is a popular choice for commuters and families due to its quiet nature but outstanding transport links, with Northwood Underground station and Hatch End rail station within walking distance of most of the neighbourhood. Pinner High street, which is to the south east of the area, hosts not only a variety of shops and cafes, but is perfect for a walk around the local area with a church, mock-Tudor architecture and variety of restaurants and gift shops. Aside from this, there is a lot of green space in Pinner Green, (as demonstrated by the conservation area which protects Pinner Hills natural beauty), which in addition to being in close proximity to Ruislip Common, means locals truly have the best of both worlds when it comes to the rural-urban environment.

The area of Pinner Hill and Pinner Green has a recognised history, which is evident from its designation as a conservation area in the borough’s local plan. There is, however, no early evidence of an early settlement in Pinner Hill, rather it is the area of Pinner itself that which is first mentioned from the 13th century onwards. Throughout the medieval period, the land in the area was a mixture of woodland and common pasture, before later being used for farming. In terms of significant historical turning points, the area remained considerably undeveloped – especially in the context of wider suburbia, which was building housing at a break-neck speed. Nonetheless, by 1976, the Pinner Hill housing estate was built with over 80 houses. All the while, the area’s designation as a conservation site has ensured the outstanding natural beauty has been protected well into the 21st century.

This charming west London neighbourhood is home to more than natural beauty and great transport connections. In fact, (now hold onto your hats) the legendary British pop icon Sir Elton John actually hails from Pinner – he even attended local primary School Pinner Wood! John, who grew up in Pinner before moving on to take the music industry by storm, has a dazzling musical record to his name: he is the third most successful artist in the history of the American charts (after Elvis and The Beatles), has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time: Candle in the Wind released 1997. He hasn’t forgotten his roots, however: 2012 was the 75th anniversary of Pinner County Grammar School, which John attended – and the CBE himself returned for a much- enjoyed reunion that year!

Sir Elton John famously attended Pinner County Grammar School, but he’s not the area’s only musical alumni. Simon Le Bon (of the 80’s pop band Duran Duran) and Ron Goodwin (who wrote music for a number of famous films) also attended the school.

On a more historic note, the nearby Eastcote House, which although is sadly now demolished, was an important historical centre of the area. It is rumoured that Oliver Cromwell, the controversial republican revolutionary, once stayed here, billeting his troops during the civil war.

Whilst generally a quite peaceful neighbourhood, a recent shock came to the area. In 2017, a chalk mine was discovered underneath Pinner Wood School, which has rendered the school in its current site too risky to continue teaching there. A geological survey found that the mine, which is estimated to have originated from around 1800, poses an ‘unacceptable risk’ to the school, and the school may never be able to open again. Despite this, the neighbourhood generally continues to be a safe, calm and peaceful area to live in.

The conservation area of Pinner is well-protected from develpoments that may affect its quaint village aesthetic. As a result it has been difficult for developers to attain planning permission for any large-scale building projects. The closest is that of Troy Homes, who are currently developing a new residential building on Uxbridge Road. The project is set to bring 26 one- and two-bedroom apartments with parking facilities to the area. While this may seem like a relatively big addition, it’s nothing compared to the borough of Harrow as a whole, which is set to see some widescale regeneration over the coming years. Thanks to its outer London location but fantastic TfL transport, Harrow will receive a total rejeuvenation with the £690m ‘Building a Better Harrow’ scheme in conjunction with Wates Residential, set to bring 1,500 new affordable homes, a civic centre, numerous new commercial spaces, as well as plenty of new and improved green space over the coming ten years. The focus of these developments will be at Poet’s Corner, Byron Park, and Peel House car park.