Finchley: Make a home in Finchley

Background

Finchley is situated within the London borough of Barnet in the north of the city and is a mainly residential suburb, which may mean people living there can enjoy leafy and quiet surroundings.

However, there is still plenty to keep residents occupied, as the area boasts three town centres.

At the turn of the 20th century, the towns were bustling with trams and later trolley buses and visitors may still get a sense of the history of the area when they are there. Meanwhile, in East Finchley people may wish to catch a film at one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in the UK, while the building also stands out thanks to its Art deco facade.

Property

As with many residential areas of London, property prices in Finchley can be higher than across the rest of the UK, with people looking for somewhere they can buy and enjoy suburban life within easy reach of the city.

Data compiled by the Land Registry reveals the average house price in Barnet stood at £324,288 in November last year. This is only a slight decline on the preceding year's figure of £326,110, which could suggest that people who move to Finchley do not want to leave.

Broken down, Britons looking for a good-sized detached family home in Barnet should expect to spend an average of £733,100 to buy such a property, while a semi-detached building is just short of the half a million mark, at £406,695.

A terraced property in Barnet will set people back a typical £305,408, while a maisonette or flat is above the national average at £231,418.

In light of this, people may wish to consider property to rent in Finchley, rather than buying it. To rent a studio apartment in Finchley currently costs an average of £741 a month, while a one-bedroom flat costs £932.

Meanwhile, for a two-bedroom property the rent is likely to stand at £1,235 a month, or £1,504 for three bedrooms.

Due to these prices, people may find it is far more affordable to secure a property to rent in Finchley than to take on a mortgage and buy one.

Transport

As with many parts of London, Finchley is well catered for in terms of transport, which could be welcome news to people looking for a quick and easy commute to work.

While trams and trolley buses once dominated the town centres of Finchley, today the area is well catered for by the Tube service.

Finchley is served by four underground stations; East Finchley - which is just 21 minutes from Charing Cross - Finchley Central, West Finchley and Woodside Park, all of which are on the High Barnet branch of the Northern Line.

The area is also a major bus hub, meaning residents have a number of options for getting around if they prefer to travel above ground.

Amenities

There is plenty to keep people occupied in Finchley, particularly if they are sports fans.

With Finchley Golf Club situated just north of the suburban spot, golf fans may enjoy spending their summers relaxing on the course with friends, while nearer the town centre is a large leisure complex with a fitness centre and two swimming pools.

Finchley Rugby Club is also a fixture and is currently at number ten in the London and South-East division, while residents may wish to catch the team for themselves on their home ground.

Other attractions near Finchley include the Jewish Museum, while there are also a lot of notable places to eat and drink.

Indeed, people who choose property to rent in Finchley may find they are soon enjoying the London life, without feeling lost on the city.

Written by Chris Price

Published 15th January, 2010

© 2010 Estates IT Limited