10 Good Reasons To Live in High Barnet – IKS Locksmiths

As family run property security locksmiths in High Barnet North London our business is based on the Queens Road Industrial Estate near QE Boys School. We have also been living in Barnet for nearly 14 years, having moved from nearby Finchley. When we first moved to Barnet we found it very welcoming and feel fortunate that we have settled in the area. Barnet has so much to offer for families and anyone looking for a friendly area to live in North London.

If you are considering where to move in North London we can highly recommend living in High Barnet for a number of reasons. 

Why Barnet is The Best North London Area for Families 

1) A Very Friendly North London Area with a Village Feel

Having lived in a number of North London areas and moved from Finchley the first thing we noticed was how friendly the neighbours in Barnet were. More people introduced themselves to us in the first few days of moving to the area than we had got to know over years in Finchley. There is a real sense of community and since having children we have been lucky to get to know many people in the area.

2) An Excellent Selection of Education Settings

Top of our list of priorities when choosing a new home was education. There are some really good schools in Barnet .

Preschools

There are so many good preschool options from settings attached to popular primary schools to Montessori and full-time options available for those who need longer hours.

Primary Schools

There are a number of excellent primary schools in High Barnet including Foulds on Byng Road, Christchurch on Byng Road and St Catherines on Vale Drive. 

Secondary Schools

Secondary schools within walking distance are Queen Elizabeth Boys School, Queen Elizabeths Girls School, The Ark Academy and The Totteridge Academy. We have been happy with Foulds School and The Totteridge Academy. TTA set out to be the most improved school in London and has turned its reputation around and become a popular choice for High Barnet locals.                                                                                             

Students at TTA have the opportunity to be involved in the Grow project which aims to “teach young people and their families about where their food comes from and the importance of looking after themselves and their planet”. The Grow Farm is a unique asset to the Barnet community and people of all ages.

3) A Wide Range of Activities

There are so many things to do in the area, for adults and children of all ages.

There are a wide range of acticities for babies and toddlers. High Barnet has an excellent selection of toddler groups as well as other clubs and activities. 

The Chipping Barnet Library runs rhyme time and other children’s sessions. Sign and Sign and Monkey Music classes are held in Wesley Hall next to the library. The Court House Park on Wood Street and nearby Oak Hill Park are great for some outdoor fun.

Children can have fun keeping fit with Jumping Jacks Gymnastics, learning to swim at QE boys, fencing at Fighting Fit Fencing, Tennis at Ravenscroft Lawn Tennis Club, Karate lessons, boxing at Box Sport London, ballet lessons at Flamingos Dance.

There are so many creative activities in the area. The Painted Pot is popular with all ages. Learn how to play an instrument at the Sound Garden, make pottery at Lydias Garden Studio or enjoy art lessons and trips with Rest.Art.

4) Local Green Spaces and Golf Clubs

We are fortunate to benefit from so many beautiful places to walk and have really appreciated it over the last 2 years. Hadley Common is a short walk from Barnet High Street and there is also easy access to the Dollis Valley Greenwalk. Walks through the fields to the Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm in Arkley, where various events are held, are a hit with children. There are also many opportunities to combine a walk with a pub lunch.

High Barnet boasts a number of golf clubs. The Shire London (designed by Seve Ballesteros) and Old Ford Manor Golf Club are both within walking distance. Anyone can enjoy the fantastic views from the bar and restaurant.

5) Barnet Market 

Barnet Market is an important community institution dating back to 1199. It has changed and moved locations over the years. The Market has been increasingly embraced by Barnet residents over the last few years as an outdoor shopping area providing excellent value for money and a sense of community.

For the last few years, the market has been held behind the Spires Shopping Centre on a Wednesday and a Saturday. The selection has become much more interesting in the last year with a variety of stalls. 

There are plans for further expansion of the Wednesday and Saturday food market with new local management and additional exciting stalls.

The Sunday Steet Food market is a recent welcome addition with seating and local beer by Urban Alchemy. Food stalls include,

There are also many other events held in The Spires like the Teenage Market, Vintage Car Show and other seasonal events. Not to forget Barnet Christmas Fair (5th December 12-5pm this year) when the High Street closes for the day and the Medieval Festival (in September) which is held in Byng Road Playing Fields. Barnet is steeped in History and tradition. For details on guided historic walks in Barnet and other local Barnet news, updates and activities follow Love Barnet.

6) Cafes and Restaurants in Barnet

Another Barnet institution is Dory’s Cafe where fresh home cooked food has been served since 1955. We are regulars and enjoy a warm welcome and delicious food in this cosy cafe.

It’s good to see so many new restaurants and cafes opening in Barnet despite the challenges faced by businesses over the last few years. As well as well established popular eateries like Melange, Yokoso Japanese, Odos Mediterranean Kitchen, L’Antica Pizzeria and Ozzies Burrito Shack there are a number of busy restaurants and cafes new to Barnet.

Not to mention popular pubs under new management like The Sebright Arms on Alston Road and Ye Olde Mitre Inne which is a Grade ll listed building established in 1633. It is said to be the oldest remaining coaching inn in Barnet. Also check out The Black Horse, The Arkley and The Monken Holt to name a few.

7) An Interesting Variety of Shops

The Spires Shopping Centre is a local hub and is popular as a safe meeting place for young people. We are also lucky to have some great independent local shops in High Barnet like Room 89 on Union Street, SP Moments in the Spires and Wanders shoe shop on the High Street.

Kronos and Rhea which opened in the midst of the pandemic is well loved by regulars. It is a Zero Waste shop selling high-quality food and household cleaning products, at good prices, helping customers to reduce single use plastic waste. Their freshly made pure nut butters are the best! 

There are also a number of new interesting shops due to open including G Mantella Jewellers, a Persian bakery and a fashion outlet called Minimu MaximuM next to Huddle Cafe. 

Barnet’s local independent shops are so friendly and this really adds to the shopping experience and makes it a pleasure to shop local.

8) House Prices in Barnet

We know many people who have moved to Barnet from areas like Muswell Hill and West Hampstead because you get so much more for your money. House prices in High Barnet are still high but much lower than some other popular North London areas that may have kudos but lack the relaxed friendly vibe that High Barnet has. Property in Barnet is in demand so you need to act quickly.

 9) Good Transport Links

High Barnet is the last stop on the Northern Line. We benefit from easy access to London by tube as well as quick access to the M25 and M1 and to Luton and Stanstead Airports.

Barnet residents can appreciate the best of both worlds with easy access to all Central London has to offer as well as being near some beautiful countryside in neighbouring Enfield and Hertfordshire.

10) Barnet is One of The Top 10 Safest Areas in London

The 2020 crime rate in Barnet was 68 incidents per 1,000 residents,  29% lower than the London rate. Barnet is one of the top 10 safest areas in London and in the top 20 safest in the UK.

Burglary and vehicle crime in the Borough of Barnet were higher than the London average. However, all other types of crime were below the London average. Burglary and vehicle theft can be prevented when the right security precautions are taken. 

You can read here for more detailed crime figures for Barnet by area. It makes quite an interesting read and the information is helpful in pinpointing crime hotspots to avoid in the borough of Barnet and areas which are safer. You can see from the figures that High Barnet and Hadley have a crime rate of 63 and are ranked 25th out of 41 Barnet areas where 1 is the most dangerous and 43 is the least dangerous. Areas like Mill Hill, Golders Green, Hendon and Hadley Wood have higher crime rates than High Barnet and Hadley. For further information read our burglary report for Barnet.

Finding a Property in Barnet

High Barnet has so much to offer for families and individuals. If you are searching for a property in North London it is definitely worth contacting local estate agents in High Barnet (such as Hamilton Chase and Martyn Gerard) to find out what the area has to offer.

Read our Top 5 Home Movers Security Tips here. When looking for security in Barnet it is important to choose a security specialist approved by the Master Locksmiths Association as there are numerous rogue locksmiths operating in the North London area. We are a local fast emergency response locksmith approved by the MLA. If you require professional security advice for a property in High Barnet or the surrounding area contact us.

Main image courtesy of Botannika