“…the borough continues to retain much of its green beauty with areas such as Enfield Chase popular with retired couples and families seeking peaceful surroundings and good schools”

Moving to Enfield

The most northerly of all London boroughs, Enfield is home to a significantly disadvantaged population who suffer from poor and insufficient social housing. Regeneration projects are attempting to improve this, and so far, have resulted in the development of a new leisure complex. Meanwhile the borough continues to retain much of its green beauty with areas such as Enfield Chase popular with retired couples and families seeking peaceful surroundings and good schools.

House prices in Enfield

As well as appealing to families, Enfield offers some of the cheapest rental and purchase rates in London, ideal for young couples looking to get their feet on the ladder without compromising on the quality of public transport. Property prices here are below the London average, resting at around £420,000 as of September 2020, and many areas throughout the borough offer Victorian and Edwardian properties for an affordable price. The best areas to live in Enfield are often considered to be Grange Park, Winchmore Hill, Oakwood, and Southgate.

“As well as appealing to families, Enfield offers some of the cheapest rental and purchase rates in London, ideal for young couples looking to get their feet on the ladder”

Transport

Commuters from Enfield benefit from a quick 30 minute journey into Liverpool Street via the Overground at Enfield Town Station, and an equally speedy journey into King’s Cross St. Pancras or Leicester Square via the Piccadilly Line. Alternatively, for driving routes, the M25 and North Circular are close by for journeys around and outside of the capital.

Lifestyle

When it comes to dining out, the culturally diverse mix of residents in Enfield means that there is a wealth of restaurants and food outlets to suit a range of budgets, from national chains such as Pizza Express to family pubs such as the pretty Crown and Horseshoes on Horseshoe Lane. Meanwhile, if you know your souvlaki from your spanakopita then head directly to Palmers Green – known colloquially as ‘Palmer’s Greek’, the area is home to the largest population of Greek-Cypriots outside of Cyprus and is a hotspot for some excellent Greek and Turkish Cypriot cafes and restaurants. One such restaurant is Nissi on Aldermans Hill, a beloved Greek spot which combines traditional dishes with friendly service. With food like this, it’s no wonder that the borough has a happiness score higher than the London average.

At the heart of Enfield, the Palace Exchange Shopping Centre is a popular retail centre for residents, particularly the large population of students based in the Enfield campus of the University of Middlesex. It offers a range of retail and food outlets to suit all basic shopping needs, including Boots, Argos, M&S and Office. For a slightly more high-end experience and a selection of exclusive brands, Pearsons Department Store sells upmarket ladies wear from the likes of Hobbs, Dune and Barbour among others. New residents needing to furnish their Enfield home will be happy to hear that the borough is also home to a large Ikea store, located in Edmonton.

Food shopping in Enfield

There’s no lack of supermarkets in Enfield, with branches of major chains including Waitrose, Asda, and Sainsbury’s scattered throughout the borough. If you’d prefer to stock up on interesting produce or international street food however, Enfield Market packs out Church Street from Wednesday to Friday with offerings including sourdough pizza and spicy Caribbean dishes among the freshly cooked selection. Locals can also enjoy both the artisan cheeses on offer and the cheese making classes at Wildes Cheese.

Health and sport in Enfield

There are a selection of gym and fitness facilities scattered around the borough, including council-run services such as Edmonton Leisure Centre and Southbury Leisure Centre, as well as branches of gym chains David Lloyd, Fit4Less and Nuffield Health.

For something a little different, the borough offers a selection of family-friendly activity parks if you fancy mixing up your usual exercise routing. Kids will love the high rope course at Go Ape, while Go Jumping trampoline park is fun for all ages.

Culture

For arty types, the Chicken Shed Theatre in Cockfosters boasts a packed schedule bursting with a range of musical theatre, dance and singing, while the Millfield Arts Centre is a top choice for live music and performances. Alternatively, Grade I listed manor house Forty Hall holds a number of workshops and garden events, particularly suited to families and young children, and both Enfield Museum and Whitewebbs Museum of Transport are popular spots with local history enthusiasts.

“When it comes to dining out, the culturally diverse mix of residents in Enfield means that there is a wealth of restaurants and food outlets to suit a range of budgets”

Schools and education

Whilst youth unemployment is high in Enfield, the borough is still home to a good selection of high-achieving schools with small catchment areas. Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, St Michael’s CofE Primary School, and Eversley Primary School feature among the best primary schools in Enfield, whilst for residents with secondary-age children, the best state secondary schools in Enfield include Highlands School, Enfield County School, and St Ignatious College. The Laytmer School is also extremely popular, and St John’s Preparatory and Senior School is the borough’s leading independent option.

Safety

Crime levels in Enfield are around the London average, and it is generally considered to be a safe place to live. Theft is the most common offence in the borough, followed by violent crime, but overall most residents report feeling secure.

Green space

Two-thirds of Enfield is made up of open spaces including parklands, farms and fields. Pymmes Park is an award-winning area, full of open green spaces and a number of sporting facilities including 3 tennis courts, football pitches, bowling greens, a basketball court and playgrounds for young children. For nature enthusiasts there is also a lake and a Grade II listed Victorian Walled Garden. Alternatively, the 30 acres of stunning gardens displayed in Capel Manor provide the perfect opportunity to test your horticultural knowledge.

History

The modest borough of Enfield has somewhat of a impressive past, having once been home to one of Henry VIII’s favourite hunting estates, Elysng Palace. Aside from the royal seal of approval, Enfield has a rich industrial history with many ‘firsts’ to its name – it’s the home of the first dishwasher, made by Hotpoint, as well as the world’s first ATM cash machine, fitted at the local Barclays branch in 1967. Beyond industrial innovation, the London Borough of Enfield was formerly home to several celebrated literary icons, including poet laureate Sir John Betjeman and poet and esteemed novelist Thomas Hardy.

How can OneDome help me move to Enfield?

As the UK’s first website capable of connecting the entire homebuying journey, OneDome does it all. We’ll help you find a home in Enfieldget a mortgage, and sort out all the legal steps needed to actually buy a property. All online and one place, meaning you and everyone involved (agents, solicitors, mortgage brokers) get total visibility over each step in the homebuying process. And when everyone gets improved visibility, you’ll find that the homebuying process goes much faster than traditional, outdated homebuying methods. For more information on what else OneDome can do to help your move to Enfield, get in touch with us on 020 3868 6262.

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