The green leafy streets of this neighbourhood are lined with Victorian style houses, making you feel as though you’re far from Central London. Families love the neighbourhood for this peaceful suburban feel and the area’s convenient Thameslink station that brings commuters easily into Central London. While the area might not attract many young professionals, local families and kids find more than enough to do on the weekends. Whether it’s hanging out at the Cricklewood Millenium Green, or catching up over a Sunday Roast at the high street pubs like Lambo Bar, the area has plenty to offer. Between all of this, as well as the highly rated schools in the area, it’s no wonder that families are drawn to the area.

This neighbourhood began as a settlement catering to those traveling north from London. However, when the railways arrived to the neighbourhood in the 19th century, homes began to spring up throughout the area. Alongside the high street, Cricklewood Lane, these residents opened independent shops and retail businesses. Around this time, multiple industrial centres opened in the area - including a telephone company and aircraft manufacturing facility. By the 1960s though, these industries had declined - leaving the neighbourhood’s industrial working population to be slowly replaced by families looking for a calmer alternative to Central London.

Former London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, currently lives in the neighbourhood with his family. He is known to have a very lush garden at his home where he plants a variety of fruits and vegetables.

The area’s serene suburban feel means that it can feel a bit detached from London. While the neighbourhood can be reached by Thameslink and some bus routes, it does not feel as well connected as other parts of North London that have Underground and Overground lines.

Brent Council is currently undertaking a major regeneration project within the area. The plan, covering nearly 400 acres, is know as the Brent Cross Cricklewood development. The scheme will extend the shopping centre while creating 7,500 new homes to the south of the North Circular, rebuilding three schools and creating new parks. Connectivity will also be improved by the construction of a new train station on the Midland Mainline. In 2022, a new milestone was reached in this multi-billion pounds regeneration scheme with the launch of the first homes. Early work started in 2020, and the first phase of construction is still under way. Brent Cross West station, which is being built, is due to be completed soon. This phase includes the delivery of 1,000 homes for sale and rent, and up to 1 million square feet of offices, sport facilities, retail, restaurants and a new primary school. The township, which is only part of the Cricklewood scheme and called Brent Cross Town (BCT), has a target of becoming net zero by 2030.