Area Guide: Finchley, North London

11 Nov Area Guide: Finchley, North London

Finchley is an area in North West London, located between Edgware and East Barnet. It is comprised of four main areas, these being North Finchley, East Finchley, West Finchley and Finchley Central, covering the N2, N3 and N12 London postcodes.

Whilst the earliest records of the Finchley area date back to the 13^th century, the name ‘Finchley’ derives from the Anglo-Saxon period, “Finch” meaning either a finch bird or a name, and “ley” relating to a clearing in a wooded area. Some of the first recordings of this area date back to the medieval period, when it was mainly used to provide parts of London with food (pig meat) and fuel. The area was initially part of the county of Middlesex and divided over areas that are now known as Hampstead Garden Suburb and Whetstone.

Today, Finchley is a thriving area of North West London, home to a great range of amenities; multiple transport links and beautiful parks. There are many schools situated in the Finchley area, in addition to a variety of different shops, bars, pubs and eateries. Whether a visitor or resident, Finchley has much to offer, being both accessible and accommodating to people from all over the city and beyond.

Working in Finchley

There are a great deal of businesses and offices in Finchley, across the area and all its postcodes, including services offices, retail outlets, restaurants, leisure facilities and premises and all besides. People from all walks of life and from all different industries are employed across Finchley, making for a wonderfully diverse mix of people, cultures and businesses alike.

Eating in Finchley

Finchley is home to a wide range of different restaurants and cafés, offering various cuisines spread across this North West London area and a perfect option for all those working in offices and meeting spaces across the area during the week. Some of the main restaurants located within this area are listed below, including their TripAdvisor rating and the type of cuisine they serve.

The Catcher in the Rye (TripAdvisor 3.5, mainly comfort food) – A restaurant serving a range of different dishes, including comfort foods such as pies, burgers, sausage and mash in addition to Thai vegetable curries and steak. They serve food for both lunch and dinner, are dog friendly, and also host live music nights with different acts on each week.

Zizzi (TripAdvisor 4.0, Italian food) – A popular chain restaurant offering those in Finchley a variety of different Italian dishes. The restaurant is open for brunch, lunch and dinner and is located on Regents Park Road.

Tintico (TripAdvisor 4.0, coffee/ breakfast/ brunch foods) – An independent café located in Finchley Central, Tintico offers breakfast and brunch, is vegetarian friendly and also has vegan options. The café also offers takeaways, and specialises in coffee, which is enjoyed by both locals as well as people coming from far to sample their superb offerings.

Izakaya Japan (TripAdvisor 4.0, Sushi/Japanese food) – A Japanese restaurant offering a tasty range of different sushi dishes that are available to both take out and for sitting in. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and is a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner 2016 to 2017.

Uncle Tony’s Taverna (TripAdvisor 5.0, Mediterranean and Greek food) – Located near the Finchley Central tube station, Uncle Tony’s Taverna is a popular eatery bringing “traditional Greek cooking to the high street”. The restaurant is decorated beautifully, and offers lunch and dinner with vegan options available. Uncle Tony’s Taverna also accepts take-out orders.

Mangos Indian & Bangladeshi Cuisine (TripAdvisor 5.0, Indian food) – Located in North Finchley, Mangos Indian & Bangladeshi Cuisine is an Indian restaurant offering a variety of different dishes from Tandoori Selections to Biryani Dishes, The Classics, Balti Dishes and more. The restaurant caters to vegetarians, vegans, and those who are gluten intolerant. It also accepts takeout orders and has a delivery service.

These eateries are just some of the many available within this area. There are also many more independent restaurants within Finchley, in addition to well-known chains, found along the high street.

Nightlife in Finchley

Finchley also boasts a host of different bars and pubs catering for both residents and visitors. There is also a Hollywood Bowl in North Finchley in the leisure complex, along with restaurants, Finchley Lido and a well-established cinema of the Vue chain, where people can go to play bowling, drink and eat at the bar/diner, or play games in their arcade.

Transport Links to Finchley

Finchley has four underground stations running on the Northern Line; these being East Finchley, Finchley Central, West Finchley and Woodside Park. This particular line is one of the five underground tube lines that runs a 24-hour service Fridays and Saturdays, making Finchley a particularly attractive location for anyone who works late or weekends and provides those in Finchley access to the centre of London and all of its popular night clubs and bars.

Living in Finchley

For residents, or those looking to move to Finchley that have children, the area has an abundance of academic institutions and schools; from nursery schools right up to sixth form colleges. The area also has fantastic transport links, being home to four stations on the northern line that run throughout the city’s centre, which can be useful for those travelling to and from work at all times.

According to Foxtons, the average price for properties in Finchley is £684,124, being 15.2% above the average property price for London. However, the average rental price for Finchley is 38.9% lower than the London Average, being only £469 per week.