Situated in the heart of Enfield, this neighbourhood area is an ideal location for those who enjoy the buzz of a town centre whilst retaining the opportunity to get out of London and explore the outlying rural areas at a moment’s notice. The red-brick architecture of the buildings in this area with older Tudor-style refurbs creates a crisp contrast with the traditionally designed street lamps and phone booths. This gives this area a bold yet elegant appearance. This area offers a range of leisure opportunities including the newly redeveloped Palace Gardens Shopping Centre, multiple supermarkets, restaurants, pubs, cafes, as well as a densely forested park.

This neighbourhood became a busy industrial hub in the early 19th century when it became connected to the rest of London and the northern regions of England via steam train, attracting local factory workers and commuters alike. Industry reached its peak during the First and Second World Wars, where local furniture factories constructed weaponry such as the Mosquito Bomber, which was almost entirely built out of wood. This remains visible today in Enfield’s motto: “By Industry Ever Stronger”. Most factories have since been closed down and refurbished for modern purposes. Even so, a few industries still remain like niche electrical manufacturing, which continues to employ many residents.

Did you know the first ATM cash machine in the world was opened in this neighbourhood in 1967? It was opened by local resident and TV star Reg Varney from ‘On the Buses’.

One of the downsides of this neighbourhood area is that although crime is fairly low when compared to the rest of London, almost all of Enfield’s crime is concentrated on or near the main high street in the centre of this neighbourhood. However, calls to local businesses stated that this is not an issue for the majority of residents and visitors as long as they exercise a sensible amount of care at night.

The town centre of Enfield and its surrounding area continues to be developed to increase commerce whilst retaining the essence of Enfield’s history as a market town. One of the key elements of this is the creation of an events space near the Enfield Town train station, which will cater to more family-friendly events. This will increase the overall footfall along Enfield’s main high street and thus strengthen the local economy through independent businesses. Additionally, the Enfield Cycle Initiative aims to make the area more cyclist-friendly, enhancing the roads and paths for cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians alike. In terms of private investment, the area sees a steady flow of small developments such as the nine flats under construction at 72 The Ridgeway. On a slightly larger scale 78 flats are set to be completed in 2024 at 100 Church Street.