Find the best place to call home in North West London
Houses for Sale & to Rent brings you an overview of the region to help you find the perfect home
Brent, Camden and Harrow are the three main areas of North West London and most of the properties sold in these areas during the previous 12-month period were flats, which fetched an average £647,984. Semi-detached properties in North West London fetched an average of £890,545, with terraced properties averaging £1,012,484. Property prices in this area of London increased by 10% from 2017 figures, when the average home was fetching £773,731.
The likes of Wembley, Cricklewood, Sudbury and Kenton are situated in the borough of Brent. Flats sold for an average £448,301, semi-detached properties typically fetched £734,748, with terraced homes selling for an average £862,792. The least expensive part of Brent was Stonebridge Park with the average property selling for £270,000, whereas the average price in the most expensive area of Brondesbury Park sold for £1,060,189.
Home to West Hampstead, Primrose Hill, Highgate, Bloomsbury and Holborn, Camden is the priciest borough in North West London. The average flat in the area sold for £851,959, with terraces selling for £2,171,292, and semi-detached properties fetching £3,017,142. Gospel Oak was the least expensive part of the borough, with the average property selling for £663,442. Hampstead was the most expensive area, with average properties fetching £1,573,107.
Harrow is West London's most affordable borough overall, with the average flat fetching £388,673. Terraces averaged £540,008 and semi-detached properties, which made up the most sales in the area, fetched an average £615,705. The likes of Great Stanmore, Hatch End, Queensbury, and Northwick Park are situated in the borough of Harrow, alongside Rayners Lane, Pinner Green, and Belmont.
What is living in North West London like?
Brent is arguably most famous for being the home of Wembley Stadium, which has the largest capacity of all stadiums in the UK. Notably, in terms of country of birth, Brent is the most diverse locality in the whole of the UK. 4% of the population were born in Ireland and the borough also has the UK's largest Brazilian community. The London Underground serves Brent extremely well and the borough is home to 21 tube stations, each of which are on the Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Metropolitan, or Jubilee lines. Three non-league football clubs call Brent home and there are upwards of 10 parks and open spaces scattered across the borough.
The borough of Harrow forms part of Outer London and its location offers easy access to central London. Both the Jubilee and Bakerloo tube lines terminate in the borough, and the southern edge of Harrow is served by the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines. Journey times to Euston are just 12 minutes and commuters can be in Marylebone in 20 minutes. Harrow is a wonderfully diverse borough and just over 63% of the population belong to BME communities. Two football teams call Harrow home; Wealdstone and Barnet, and the borough is also home to five cricket clubs that take part in the Middlesex County Cricket League.
Camden forms part of Inner London and is home to both bustling districts including Kentish Town and Camden Town, as well as leafy suburbs such as Hampstead Heath. Camden has plenty to offer, including the famous market, the Roundhouse venue, the British Library, London Zoo, and the British Museum. It is nestled between Brent, Barnet, Islington, Haringey, and the City of Westminster, and benefits from excellent transport links as the borough is home to Euston, King's Cross and St Pancras International railway stations. Plus, Hampstead Heath offers famous views over London.
Living in North West London Pros and Cons
Pro: Excellent transportation links
With three major railway stations in the area, travel from London to most parts of England and North Wales is straightforward. Additionally, St Pancras International is also the terminus of the Eurostar, making travel to Europe simple. For travel within London itself, all three major boroughs are well-served by both the London Underground and the London Overground. The area also benefits from excellent bus links.
Con: House and rental prices are high
Between 2018 and 2019, the average private rent for a property in Brent was £1,500. Rental prices were slightly lower in Harrow at £1,300 per month, however, they were markedly higher in Camden at £2,000 per month.
The median salary in Harrow for the same period was £35,033. To comfortably afford a £1,300 rental property, a household's income would need to be above £39,000. In Brent, the median salary was £30,437 which is markedly under the £45,000 annual income to afford a £1,500 rental. In Camden, the median salary was recorded as £41,246 which, again, is below the £60,000 annual income required to afford a £2,000 rental.
Pro: Excellent schools
North West London is home to a variety of excellent schools, both independent and state. Many schools across Brent, Camden and Harrow have been given either 'excellent' or 'good' ratings by Ofsted, making this part of the city a solid choice for families with school-age children.
Con: Potential to be affected by ULEZ
Camden and parts of Brent are affected by the ULEZ scheme, which has been introduced to reduce air pollution in the most congested parts of the city. If you own a vehicle that doesn't meet the emissions standards of the ULEZ scheme, you will be required to pay a £12.50 charge per day to drive inside the zone. For those who are unaffected, the ULEZ scheme may be an advantage, particularly for people who are keen to move to Camden as long-term exposure to pollutants is currently three times that recommended by WHO guidelines.
Is North West London a safe place to live?
Between March 2020 and March 2021, statistics show that Brent recorded a slightly higher than average crime rate of 28.61. Between November 2019 and October 2020, violence against the person, theft, and vehicle offences were the three most commonly reported crimes in the area.
Camden recorded a similar crime rate of 26.21 during the same March 2020 to March 2021 period. Between November 2019 and October 2020, the borough of Camden recorded just over 59,000 offences. Theft was the most commonly reported crime, with violence against the person, vehicle offences and burglary close behind.
Conversely, crime in Harrow is considered to be very low at 20.16. In the 2019/20 period, 31,591 crimes were recorded and similarly to Brent and Camden, violence against the person, vehicle offences and theft were the most commonly reported incidents.
Although crime rates vary by borough and by area, North West London is generally considered a relatively safe part of the city to live in.
Which celebrities live in North West London?
North West London has and continues to be one of the most popular parts of the city for famous faces to set up home. Kentish Town in Camden is home to quite a few actors, including Robert Sheehan and Charles Dance. One of Camden's most famous residents was Amy Winehouse and her statue can be seen in Stables Market.
Hampstead is renowned for its literary, musical and artistic associations and famous faces who have called this area home include Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, and Sting. Highgate is yet another popular area, with notable residents including Jude Law, Noel Fielding, Liam Gallagher, and Robert Powell.
A remarkable number of celebrities were born and raised in Harrow, including singer James Blunt, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and musician Sir Elton John. Singer Kate Nash is believed to still live in the area.
The list of notable Brent residents is almost endless, including comedians, actors, and even a member of the Rolling Stones. In recent years, the likes of Lily Allen, Daniel Craig and Rita Ora have opted to make the area their home. Best-selling author Zadie Smith was brought up in Willesden and still lives in the area, and actress Tamsin Greig grew up in Kilburn from the age of three.
Things to consider when moving to North West London
North West London contains some of the most sought after postcodes in the capital, which is why the area is seeing incredibly rapid growth rates. With an eclectic and vibrant culture, it can be said that Camden, Harrow and Brent all have something to offer a variety of different people and lifestyles.
As many North West London residents travel by car, which is somewhat unusual across London, the roads in the area are far from congestion-free. This is something to be mindful of if you plan to drive, however, it should be less of a concern if you will instead be relying on the extensive public transportation network. Additionally, parking can be both tricky and costly.
Outside of Camden, attractions in North West London are few and far between which might be an issue if you are used to getting out and doing things in your free time. But if you're someone who would like to spend an afternoon sunning yourself in a nearby park, North West London has plenty of beautiful options including Hampstead Heath which many would say is, frankly, unbeatable.
Ultimately, if you're looking for a place to call home that has the beauty of a quiet leafy suburb and impressive connectivity to the hustle and bustle of the inner city, you might be hard pressed to find a better location than North West London. Take the time to really explore the potential locations on your list and keep a close eye on property prices to ensure that your favourite areas are within your budget. Don't forget to factor in fun money to maximise the value of living in this extremely well-connected part of the city.
