Positioned between Hatch End, Wealdstone, North Harrow and Pinner Green, Pinner is a suburb in the western part of the borough of Harrow in North West London. This once-medieval hamlet is 12 miles from Charing Cross and boasts numerous architectural styles from the 14th century church to Tudor buildings in the heart of the village and contemporary structures in Pinner's more urbanised areas.
In 2021, the average overall property price in Pinner was £678,537. Pinner is therefore generally a much more affordable area than Great Stanmore, which is located towards the north of the borough of Harrow and boasts an average price of £749,408. On the other hand, Pinner is more expensive than nearby Wealdstone, which is positioned in the centre of the borough of Harrow and recorded an average property price of £412,500 during the same period.
Recently, semi-detached properties were the most popular type of property to sell in Pinner and they fetched an average price of £720,071. Flats in Pinner sold for an average price of £364,585 while detached properties in the area fetched an average price of £964,465.
Property prices in the area have remained stable in the last couple of years, however they have increased by 7% since 2018 when the average was £635,967.
What is living in Pinner like?
The wider area of Pinner has been built around its historic village and despite significant growth over the decades, it has successfully managed to retain a strong sense of community. A number of factors contribute to this, including the annual Pinner Fair, which has been held every year since 1336 and continues to attract thousands of Pinner residents and people from the surrounding areas. Additionally, the Pinner Rotary Club hosts an annual St George's Day celebration, which boasts an array of events including the much-loved "Ye Olde Wheelbarrow Race."
Transport in the area is favourable, which makes the area popular amongst commuters. Pinner tube station is located on the Metropolitan line, which offers direct travel to Baker Street in around 30 minutes and Aldgate in approximately 45 minutes. Nearby Hatch End railway station is also highly accessible and is positioned on the London Overground Watford DC line. This means that Pinner residents can be at Euston in around 45 minutes.
With five routes running through Pinner, bus connectivity in the area is also good. These routes include the 183 between Bridge Street in Pinner and Golders Green Bus Station, the H11 from Harrow Bus Station to Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood, and the H12 from South Harrow Bus Station to Stanmore Station. Pinner also benefits from being outside the expanded ULEZ emissions zone, allowing residents to escape the charge unless they are entering the zone.
Despite the level of development that has occurred in the area over the years, residents can still enjoy easy access to a variety of parks and open spaces, including Pinner Village Gardens, Pinner Memorial Park, and Pinner Wood.
Living in Pinner pros and cons
Pro: Pinner boasts a variety of architectural styles
The area's long history is clear to see in the variety of architecture that can be found in the area. In Pinner, you can find everything from Norman and Tudor properties on Waxwell Lane and Moss Lane, to 1930s Art Deco homes on Elm Park Road and Pinner Road, and Tudor revival properties on the Grange Estate.
But that's not all, as there is also a selection of Georgian, Victorian, modern and postmodern properties on offer in Pinner, making it one of the most architecturally diverse areas in North West London.
Con: Air quality in Pinner isn't the best
Although air pollution levels only exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations 10 times in January 2021, over the course of a year residents will still be exposed to levels that are three times those recommended by WHO.
Pro: Pinner is home to a variety of sports and leisure facilities
As well as being home to the Pinner and Grammarians rugby union team, the area also boasts Pinner Cricket Club, Pinner Golf Course and Pinner United F.C, which is a popular youth football club.
Other notable leisure facilities include the Pinner Players, an amateur theatre group who have been delighting audiences since 1936. Additionally, Pinner Memorial Park became home to the Heath Robinson Museum in 2016, which celebrates the work of artist, illustrator and cartoonist William Heath Robinson.
Is Pinner a safe place to live?
Crime data in Pinner illustrates that there were 1,312 crimes reported in the area between January 2020 and December 2021. This is higher than in the nearby areas of Hatch End, Headstone North, and Pinner South which recorded 974, 932, and 734 crimes respectively.
Of those 1,312 crimes, there were 320 vehicle offences, 290 violent crimes and 252 incidents of theft. Levels of crime in Pinner have been up and down over the last two years, reaching a peak in November 2021 when 81 cases were reported. The area saw very few reports in February 2020 and May 2021 when there were just 34 cases reported.
Metropolitan police data shows that there were 16 cases of theft from a vehicle, 12 residential burglaries, and 10 cases of harassment reported in Pinner in November 2021. The areas around Moss Lane, Wynlie Gardens, and Mercer place were hotspots for burglaries during this period, while the area to the north of Pinner station was a hotspot for incidents of harassment during the same period.
This data also illustrates that while crime in Pinner (7 crimes per 1,000 residents) was slightly higher in November 2021 than across the borough of Harrow (6 crimes per 1,000 residents), it was below the 8 crimes per 1,000 residents seen across London.
Which celebrities live in Pinner?
Pinner has been a popular suburban area for many decades, which is why a significant number of famous faces have chosen to make it their home at some point throughout their lives.
Sit Elton John is arguably one of the most notable people with a connection to Pinner as he was raised in Pinner Green and attended Pinner Wood Junior School and Pinner County Grammar School. Other recognisable names who were born in the area include astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, Olympic fencer Peter Jacobs, author and poet Michael Rosen and Duran Duran vocalist Simon LeBon.
Interestingly, comedian Ronnie Barker and actor David Suchet both once owned the beautiful 17th century Elmdene property on Church Lane. Other notable Pinner residents over the years have included comedian Lucy Porter, singer Lee Latchford-Evans, Lord Nelson's daughter Horatia Nelson and radio presenter Chris Stark.
Pinner is also home to several English Heritage blue plaques, which seek to celebrate the notable figures who have lived in properties in the area. These include 75 Moss Lane which was once home to William Heath Robinson, and The Fives Court which notable furniture designer Sir Ambrose Heal called home between 1901 and 1917.
Things to consider when moving to Pinner
Pinner is positioned in zones 5 and 6, so while transport connections into the heart of the city are good, it will be important to factor in the costs associated with frequent travel from this part of London.
Families should also note that there are only a handful of schools within a mile radius of Pinner and many have been awarded the much-coveted 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted. This means that competition for places at the likes of West Lodge Primary School and Nower Hill High School is extremely high.