This quiet and hilly neighbourhood area of Dollis Hill is situated in the northwestern London Borough of Brent. It is filled with wide roads of stately semis from the 1920s, as well as a few red-brick Edwardians. Gladstone Park dominates a large portion of this neighbourhood, making it so residents do not need to go far to find a place to spread a picnic blanket or stroll through manicured gardens. The neighbourhood is mainly residential, but has a few restaurants, including Sabores, a very popular Brazilian eatery. There are excellent transport links into the city and elsewhere in London, so residents do not have to travel far for work or more entertainment options.

The name of Dollis Hill is speculated to be of 16th century origin and connected with the Dalley family. Surprisingly, it is conjectured that nearby Dollis Brook has a different etymology and the spellings of the two have been altered to be the same over the years, due to their geographical proximity. In 1901, Gladstone Park was created as a public space honouring the former Prime Minister. Besides this public park, the area was mostly rural and full of meadows until a suburban housing boom before and after the First World War, which created many of the houses residents still live in today.

Did you know that the London Underground celebrated its centenary at the Neasden station in 1963 with a series of events including a parade of trains? Additionally, most would be surprised to learn that the code-breaking computer used at Bletchley Park was built at the Post Office Research Station in the Dollis Hill area.

A downside of the area is that it can be perceived as a bit quiet or boring as there are no bars directly in the neighbourhood. If one is seeking a pub to grab a beer or a bar for cocktails, then it’s best to walk over to Willesden Green.

The Dollis Hill area has been identified as a strategic industrial and business area in the Brent Local Plan. The council believes that with the right investments and developments, the neighbourhood and its surrounding areas have the potential to provide 10,000 new jobs by 2026. The recently confirmed Brent Cross Town placemaking project is expected to go a long way to fulfil this vision. Argent developers, who oversaw much of King’s Cross’s recent transformation, are behind the project which will be located in Willesden, just south of Dollis Hill. The new neighbourhood will boast 6,700 homes, workspace for 25,000 people, a new high street, 50 acres of parks, as well as schools and community facilities.

In late 2022, a proposal for the development of more than 1,800 homes and a college, to be built across Dollis Hill and Wembley, was announced by housebuilder the Hill Group and developer Pinnacle Investments, who will approach Brent Council with their application in early 2023.