Finchley Area Guide
Welcome to Finchley, one of the most picturesque areas of NW London and a favourite for everyone from families in search of top-performing schools, to commuters wanting a peaceful home life with excellent connections to central London only eight miles away.
In Finchley you’ll find a relaxed atmosphere, fantastic shopping and eating out, plenty of attractive green space and, as you would expect, a thriving property market with many superb properties arriving on the market every month.
Central London can be easily reached along the Northern Line, and the M1 and North Circular are not far away, allowing for stress-free connections across the capital and further afield.
Indeed although this area is increasingly sought-after, property prices are as yet still providing what we consider very good value. The average price of a flat in Finchley is around £425,000, while for a detached family home you would be looking at around £1.5 million. Generally speaking, central Finchley, with the postcode N3 tends to be the most expensive, while areas around good primary schools understandably see a lot of interest.
Like most other parts of London there is an incredibly diverse range of property styles in Finchley, including Mock-Tudor houses from the 1930s, towering blocks of flats that dominate the skyline and are much in-demand particularly among first-time buyers and couples, and stunning period mansions such as those found along The Bishop’s Avenue.
Learn more, and find your perfect home in Finchley with Roundtree:
Finchley Shops and Amenities
Along Ballards Lane and the High Road you’ll find a wide selection of locally-owned boutiques, as well as high street brands. Most locals will do their weekly food shops in this area, with several supermarkets nearby such as Waitrose and Aldi. There is no shortage of car parks in the area either if you’re planning to drive in. The huge Brent Cross Shopping Centre, with over 100 well-known brands under its roof, is also very close by.
The Phoenix on High Road is one of the country’s oldest purpose-built cinemas, serving up a mix of contemporary hits alongside screenings of classic films. You can also catch a range of enjoyable cultural events at the Artsdepot, which has a diverse schedule of theatre, dance, comedy and kids’ shows.
If you love your golf then you won’t be disappointed in Finchley, with several well-regarded clubs in the area including the notoriously challenging course at Finchley Golf Club. Get limber with a session at Fierce Grace, just one of many yoga studios in Finchley, or at the well-equipped Finchley Lido.
Family fun can be had at Belmont Farm in Mill Hill, where kids can meet the animals and gain some hands-on experience at caring for them. There’s soft play for younger children, and the Hollywood Bowl is as perfect for a rainy weekend afternoon as it is for kids’ birthday parties.
Schools in Finchley
Finchley has some of the best schools in the capital, which explains why so many families choose to move here. Below is just a short selection of Finchley schools.
Nurseries
Moss Hall Nursery School, N3 1NR
Primary Schools
Akiva School, N3 2SY - OFSTED rating Good
Alma Primary School, N12 8PE - OFSTED rating Good
Chalgrove Primary School, N3 3PL - OFSTED rating Good
Frith Manor Primary School, N12 7BN - OFSTED rating Good
Manorside Primary School, N3 2AB - OFSTED rating Outstanding
Moss Hall Junior School, N3 1NR - OFSTED rating Good
Pardes House Primary School, N3 1SA - OFSTED rating Good
St Mary’s CofE Primary School, N3 1BT - OFSTED rating Outstanding
Tudor Primary School, N3 2AG - OFSTED rating Good
Secondary Schools
Bishop Douglass Catholic School, N2 0SQ - OFSTED rating Good
Christ’s College Finchley, N2 0SE - OFSTED rating Good
Finchley Catholic High School, N12 8TA - OFSTED rating Good
Wren Academy, N12 9HB - OFSTED rating Outstanding
Food & Drink in Finchley
Some days it seems like you can’t walk five minutes in Finchley without stumbling across a good place to eat. For many people this is foodie heaven, and whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, looking for a quick bite on the go, or just a reliable takeaway place, there is no end of choice.
Finchley Central has many excellent eateries, from kosher delis to Korean BBQ restaurants, well-regarded fish ‘n’ chip shops to artisan bakeries and toddler-friendly cafes. Recommendations from Roundtree Real Estate staff include the quaint Emporium Tea Rooms which are popular for afternoon tea as well as children’s parties, and Genzo on High Road, which is generally considered one of the best Mediterranean restaurants for miles around.
Perfect for mums with young kids that like a wander, and in fact anyone that appreciates excellent coffee, The Slate Cafe on Ballards Lane will be just the place.
In the evenings, the Tally Ho on High Road is always a lively venue with reasonably priced food and drink. The Old White Lion is a nice traditional pub with a good selection of real ale, while The Bald Faced Stag, also found on High Road, is a trendy gastropub with a popular beer garden. We also love The Bohemia, a North Finchley brewpub that only opened its door recently and is one of the hottest nightspots around, especially if you like a quality pint.
House Prices in Finchley
Finchley is a very desirable part of London to live. While average house prices of around £630,000 are above the London norm, average rents in Finchley are only around £540 which is substantially lower than average for the capital. Since 2013 property prices in Finchley have risen close to 24%, indicating not only that this is an up-and-coming area, but also that it makes good sense for an investment.
We see more flats for sale in Finchley than houses, and the average price for them is currently around £500,000, while for houses the average price is approximately £1.2 million. Homes with 2-4 bedrooms are most commonly seen on the market but we frequently have five- or six-bed properties on our books, as well as the occasional studio.
The proximity of Middlesex University of course means that there is strong interest in student accommodation, and we have a lot of suitable shared student houses for rent in Finchley also.
Interested in buying or renting a home in Finchley? Get in touch with one of our friendly team and we’ll be happy to discuss your requirements.