Nestled between Great Stanmore, Canons Park, Belmont and Harrow Weald in the north west London borough of Harrow, Stanmore is an affluent suburb located 11 miles from Charing Cross.
In 2021 the average property in Stanmore sold for £685,504, which is significantly higher than Wealdstone's average of £412,500 and only marginally below the £749,408 seen in Great Stanmore. Flats were the most commonly sold type of property in Stanmore in 2021 and they reached an average price of £493,637. Stanmore's semi-detached properties fetched an average price of £654,092, with the area's detached properties bringing up the average by selling for an average price of £1,154,555.
Properties in Stanmore were 11% higher than in 2020 and 7% more expensive than the £642,015 average seen during the property peak in 2015.
What is living in Stanmore like?
Stanmore remained a rural community until the late 1800s when the Stanmore branch railway line opened. Today, Stanmore is home to a variety of restaurants, pubs and shops, including high street names and independent local businesses.
Stanmore Hill stands at more than 150 metres, making it one of the highest points in the whole of London. It also boasts several areas of open space, including Stanmore Park, Stanmore Common, Stanmore Country Park, and Bentley Priory Nature Reserve.
The Nature Reserve has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to more than 50 hectares of ancient woodland, wetlands, scrubland, streams, grassland and an artificial lake. Stanmore Common boasts almost 50 hectares of open space providing habitats to muntjac deer, shrews and field voles. Stanmore Country Park stretches across more than 30 hectares and provides homes for an array of wildlife including red foxes, crows, kestrels, tawny owls and sparrowhawks.
Stanmore is a popular area for commuters because there are excellent transport links to the heart of London. Stanmore station is the northernmost terminus of the Jubilee line and numerous bus routes serve the area, including the 186 between Brent Cross and Northwick Park Hospital, the 340 from Edgware to Harrow and the N98 night service which runs between Stanmore and Holborn.
Living in Stanmore pros and cons
Pro: Stanmore is home to some spectacular architecture
Bentley Priory is an early 19th century stately home and an excellent example of Georgian architecture. It has been used in a plethora of ways over the years including as Queen Adelaide's residence, a hotel and a girls' school. It has since been awarded Grade II listing and is now home to the Bentley Priory Museum, which details the role the estate played in the Battle of Britain.
Stanmore Hall was constructed in the 1840s to resemble a gothic castle. It has since been awarded Grade II listed status, and after a period of neglect when extensive fire damage occurred it was purchased by a developer and converted into luxury apartments.
Stanmore is also home to a Gothic Revival style church, which was completed in 1850. Queen Adelaide made her last public appearance when the foundation stone was put in place and she subsequently provided the font that is still used today. It is positioned close to the ruins of the medieval church consecrated in the early 1630s.
Con: Stanmore has a limited selection of schooling options in the immediate area
As there are fewer than 10 schools within a mile radius of Stanmore, families with school-age children may find it tricky to secure a place at their preferred option. Bentley Wood High School on Clamp Hill has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by Ofsted, making it an extremely competitive secondary school. Other notable schools in the area include Stanmore College, St John's CofE School, and Aylward Primary School, all of which have been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted.
Pro: Stanmore is outside the ULEZ Zone
Stanmore is located well outside the expanded ULEZ Zone so residents can make the most of the area's good road connectivity without needing to budget for the £12.50 per day charge to drive vehicles that don't conform to emissions standards. The charge will only apply to vehicles entering the zone, which starts in the Wembley Park, Brent Cross, and Finchley areas.
Con: Stanmore records high levels of air pollution
Data collected in January 2022 highlights that air pollution exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines every day throughout the month. Over the course of a year this equates to exposure to levels of pollution that are almost six times higher than WHO recommendations.
Is Stanmore a safe place to live?
In Stanmore Park there were 1,134 criminal offences recorded between January 2020 and December 2021. This makes crime in the area marginally higher than in nearby Belmont, which recorded 1,054 crimes during the same period but slightly lower than in Canons and Wealdstone which recorded 1,585 and 1,632 criminal offences respectively.
When breaking down this data we can see that Stanmore Park recorded 353 violent crimes, 249 vehicle offences and 153 incidents of theft. Crime in Stanmore Park was relatively low during April and June 2020 as there were just 24 and 28 cases reported respectively. Conversely crime in the area peaked in October 2020, April 2021 and October 2021, when there were 62, 66, and 65 crimes reported. Crime levels remained the same throughout November and December 2021, when 50 cases were recorded during each month.
In November 2021 there were 9 reports of harassment, 6 reports of violent crime and 5 incidents categorised by the Metropolitan Police as miscellaneous violence. There were several harassment hot spots including the area around Stanmore College on Elm Park and on Bridges Road. The area around Stanmore College was also a hot spot for violent crimes.
As there were just four crimes per 1,000 residents recorded in Stanmore Park during November 2021, crime in the area is lower than in the borough of Harrow which saw six crimes per 1,000 residents, and across the wider London area which recorded eight crimes per 1,000 residents.
Which celebrities live in Stanmore?
As we have already seen, Stanmore was home to Queen Adelaide in her later years, however an array of other notable people who have made waves in various industries have also resided in the area.
Musician Billy Idol was born in Stanmore, as was actress Linda Hayden, author Anthony Horowitz and footballer Theo Walcott. Additionally actor Roger Moore lived in Stanmore, as did comedian Matt Lucas, model and television personality Nikki Grahame and prime minister Clement Attlee.
Things to consider when moving to Stanmore
Stanmore is a quiet suburban area which offers all the amenities and facilities young professionals and families need. Is it the most exciting area in London? No. But it can offer an excellent quality of life, easy access to green spaces and more than enough bars, restaurants and eateries.
Property prices in the area are on the higher end for the borough of Harrow, however it is still possible to find an array of flats and semi-detached properties at prices that aren't completely out of reach.
Despite being at the very end of a tube line, commuters will be relieved to learn that it's on the Jubilee line, which has undergone some recent modernisation and now delivers a reliable service both throughout the week and during the weekends. So don't let its location put you off, this charming suburb with so much to offer everyone who enjoys spending time outdoors.