Edgware: A popular and diverse area of London steeped in history

Edgware is a popular town in London, which has seen a number of new developments over the years. 

It is known and loved for its diversity, amenities, easy transport links to Central London and lifestyle.

The area is known for having a nice, community feel to it and is served by a number of good educational facilities, including independent and mixed-ability schools and colleges.

London can sometimes have a reputation for being rough and unfriendly, but this particular part of the capital has, over the years become known for its community feel.

It also has a mix of contemporary modern properties and stunning Victorian architecture.

Edgware is perhaps one of the most unusual areas of London in that it remained as a village until the 1920s.

Although it has developed significantly over the years, the town still has a very village-like feel to it, and is home to a number of independent shops and businesses.

Some of the old churches and statues in the area are a nostalgic throwback to the past and give visitors a deeper insight into its ancient history.

History

It was formerly used as a resting place by Pilgrims travelling from London to St Albans. 

By the mid 1500s, a number of merchants, including charcoal sellers, butchers and tailors were dotted around the centre of the town.

It used to be an ancient hamlet in the county of Middlesex and was built by the Romans. The name of the town is derived "Ecgi's weir". Ecgi's was a Saxon who contributed a great deal to the area and weir relates to a fishing pool which was used during the early settlements. 

Over time, the area became slowly known as Edgware.

In the early days, it started out as a forest and rural location, which was predominantly used for mixed agriculture.

Eventually however, it slowly blossomed into a small market town in the 1700s as an increasing number of traders moved in.

Unlike many other areas of London at the time, the population in Edgware did not grow until the 1800s. 

However, the building of rail networks and the industrial boom of the 1900s helped to throw Edgware back into the spotlight again, where it has since developed as a sophisticated and wealthy suburb.

Shops and amenities

Many independent and mainstream stores are located in the Edgware High Street conservation area. This part of the town is home to some of the areas oldest surviving buildings.

Some of the half-timbered shops in the location are inside of buildings that date as far back as early as the 16th century.

There are plenty of local amenities to get your teeth into, including a gym, cinema and a number of cafés and restaurants.

Edgware is also home to the Broadwalk Centre, which contains a number of popular, high street names, including Sainsbury's, Boots, Marks & Spencer, WHSmiths and many more.

There are also a number of retail parks in and around the town, including an Asda superstore and the Colindale Retail Park.

Despite its ancient character and history, it also has a very modern feel to it, with a number of places to socialise, shop and see.

Education

The area is well served by a number of primary and secondary schools. This includes the London Academy, which specialises in teaching foreign languages in 15 locations all over the continent.

Formerly known as 'Edgware School' it opened as the London Academy in 2004 and excels in a number of topics, including Business with Enterprise and Information communication technology (ICT).

Other schools include North London Collegiate School, an independent girls' facility and Edgware Jewish Preparatory School, among others.

Properties

There are currently a number of regeneration projects in the area, and the town has benefitted in the past by developments which has resulted in modern, contemporary and luxurious properties springing up.

Starting prices for homes in Edgware are still relatively low for North-West London but are continuously rising.

For example, a studio apartment in the area can be picked up for as little as £110,000 to £120,000.
In Edgware Green, Barratt Homes is currently building 73 contemporary apartments, set in the backdrop of the Metropolitan Green Belt. Colindale is another area that is under development.

New apartments are also being released by Fairview Homes, with prices starting from around £246,000.
Other developments include Beaufort Park, Capitol Hill, as well as housing plots along Edgware Road.

These new properties are helping to transform the town, which although formerly dominated by Victorian properties, now has an interesting mixture of ancient housing and modern homes.

Notable people

As you can imagine, this popular and up and coming destination has had its fair share of famous faces over the years.

This includes Vanessa Feltz, a TV and radio presenter, John Bercow, the current Speaker of the House of Commons and Barry Norman, a television presenter and author.

Patrick Vieira, a former Arsenal footballer, actress Shirley Eaton, and Jane Marsh have also resided in the area, among many others.
With such a small area of the capital producing so many famous faces, it is little wonder that it is growing in popularity among so many people across the UK.

Transport

The main underground station in the town is Edgware Station, which runs along the Northern Line.

It also has a number of buses in the area, which offer a number of quick and easy routes into destinations such as Trafalgar, Marble Arch, Victoria, Harrow, and Wembley Park, in addition to other locations in London.

Published 11th April, 2014

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