“Nestled in the far north-western corner of London between Hillingdon, Brent and Barnet, Harrow is a far cry from the electric pace of central London, and instead embraces its own quieter way of life”
Moving to Harrow
Nestled in the far north-western corner of London between Hillingdon, Brent and Barnet, Harrow is a far cry from the electric pace of central London, and instead embraces its own quieter way of life, punctuated by quick trips to one of its many supermarkets and grocers, an afternoon spent in one of its two shopping centres (St. Ann’s and St. George’s) and leisurely strolls through one of its many parks and open spaces. It’s no wonder that the area is popular with families as well as a large retired community looking for a place to settle down.
As well as being a prime choice for commuters looking to take advantage of the short journey down into the West End, Harrow is a self-sufficient economy with over 12,900 businesses registered as active in 2013 and the third largest population of millionaires of anywhere in London. Development is set to continue in the near future, with new homes being built in Harrow town centre and an active local council who seek to continually improve the area. In addition, Harrow is also a very culturally diverse borough and has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in the UK with large Indian and Sri Lankan communities.
House Prices in Harrow
Despite some deprived areas of the borough, the affluence of certain neighbourhoods has brought up the average property price to just over £500,000 as of 2017, making house prices in Harrow only slightly lower than the London average – although they are increasing swiftly as families find themselves priced out of more central boroughs and looking for somewhere greener. West Harrow, Pinner and Harrow on the Hill are particularly popular with families, while for those with a generous budget to blow, South Hill Avenue and Mount Park Road in South Harrow are among the most expensive in the borough, with a number of million-pound properties.
“Many major Underground lines, such as the Metropolitan and Bakerloo, cross through the borough and out to major National Rail stations such as Paddington and King’s Cross.”
Transport
Commuters are well provided for in the London Borough of Harrow, with good transport connections helping residents travel swiftly and easily into the heart of London. Many major Underground lines, such as the Metropolitan and Bakerloo, cross through the borough and out to major National Rail stations such as Paddington and King’s Cross. The Overground line is also in operation from Carpenders Park whilst the Jubilee Line from Stanmore does an excellent job in transporting commuters to central London in just 30 minutes.
Lifestyle
As a result of the large Indian community (the largest in London with over 25% of the local population) Harrow is one of the best places to find authentic Indian and South Asian restaurants in the capital. Top choices include Hundred Degrees and Cennai Srilalitha, while the borough is also home to popular high street restaurants such as Prezzo and Nando’s, as well as some top independent choices including French favourite The Old Etonian, and traditional Italian fare from Trattoria Sorrentina.
For retail therapy, Harrow-on-the-Hill offers two neighbouring shopping centres, St Anns and St Georges. Both of these are home to a wide range of high street favourites including H&M, Pandora Primark and M&S. A selection of independent shops can also be found here, particularly on the winding High Street and Station Road.
Groceries
All the main supermarkets can be found in Harrow, with branches of Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, Asda, Iceland and Sainsbury’s as well as small branches of Costcutters and Londis. There are also a number of good international supermarkets, such as VB & Sons on Pinner Road, and Best Foods on Northolt Road.
Health & Sport
Harrow has a good selection of gyms, with branches of most major chains including PureGym, The Gym, David Lloyd and Fitness First to be found throughout the borough, as well as a number of council-run centres such as Harrow Leisure Centre and Hatch End Swimming Pool.
For those who prefer the great outdoors, there are various golf clubs in the area – Pinner Hill Golf Club, Grims Dyke Golf Club and Stanmore Golf Club are all popular choices.
Culture
As a rather sleepy borough, Harrow doesn’t quite offer the same level of cultural activity that you might find in more central areas. However, it does have two good theatres, the Compass Theatre and the Harrow Arts Centre, as well as a large Vue Cinema on St Anne’s Road and the Safari Cinema on Station Road for the latest Bollywood releases. Harrow is also home to the Usurp Art Gallery & Studios, a contemporary artist-led gallery supported by the Arts Council England.
Meanwhile, for those with an interest in the borough, the Harrow Museum in Headstone Recreation Ground takes visitors through the 1200 years of Harrow history.
“As a result of the large Indian community (the largest in London with over 25% of the local population) Harrow is one of the best places to find authentic Indian and South Asian restaurants in the capital”
Schools and Education
Harrow is often associated with the prestigious Harrow School, located in Harrow-On-The-Hill. Founded in 1572, this independent boarding school for boys counts the likes of Winston Churchill and Benedict Cumberbatch among its alumni. Other leading independent secondary schools include Heathfield School Pinner, and North London Collegiate School, while among state secondary schools Park High School, Nower Hill High School and Sacred Heart Language College all come highly recommended. For younger children, the best primary schools in Harrow include Newton Farm School, St Anselm’s Catholic Primary School, and Mount Stewart Junior School.
Safety
Harrow is a relatively safe area to live, with crime rates similar to the England & Wales average, and significantly lower than the London average as of 2013. Burglary and Violent Crime are the most common issues, while Common Assault, Vehicle Crimes and Disorder saw much fewer instances.
Green Space
Harrow boasts an abundance of green spaces scattered throughout the borough, and five of its parks have been recognised among finest in the country after being awarded Green Flag awards in 2016. Leading parks in the borough include Canons Park, home to formal gardens, a cafe and a children’s playground, and Bentley Priory, where you’ll find a Nature Reserve, ancient woodlands and the Georgian Bentley Priory stately home all set among 165 acres.
History
For an outer London borough, Harrow has certainly seen it’s fair share of infamous visitors – Roman Emperor Julius Caesar once took water from the pond at Brockley Hill and King Charles I stopped at Harrow on the Hill for a last glimpse of London in the 1600s. These days, however, the London Borough of Harrow is mostly known for being one of the most family-orientated boroughs in London, with a high proportion of residents being young adults and children under the age of 20.