New Barnet enjoys a coveted location in north London. Hertfordshire lies to the north and central London to the south. The neighbourhood has become a property hotspot for young professionals and families who want to enjoy a slice of rural life without sacrificing their London living.
New Barnet is one of the least costly areas of the borough of Barnet. The current average house price is £508,000 compared with the borough average of £668,000. You can take a look at the latest figures here.
Want to know more about the borough of Barnet? Get all the information you need from our specialised guide.
Living in New Barnet: what to expect
New Barnet grew in the 1850s around its train station. And today, the area features rows of elegant Victorian semis and terraces.
It’s bisected by Station Road, which is lined with bay-windowed period properties and local shops, cafés and restaurants. Yet more shops, eateries and entertainment can be found in nearby High Barnet and East Barnet.
New Barnet is home to various gardens and greens, and parks can be found in the wider borough. The Hertfordshire countryside, dotted with historical towns and villages, is close by.
The greenery makes New Barnet particularly attractive to young families, who can also take advantage of the schools in and around the area. In East Barnet, St Mary’s Church of England Primary School and Brookhill Nursery School received ‘outstanding’ ratings from Ofsted. Closer to home, the Livingstone Primary & Nursery School was rated ‘good’ at its last inspection.
Where to start your property search
New Barnet has an appealing mix of Victorian and Edwardian properties. Park Road and Station Road are lined with grand detached Victorian homes, some of which have five or six bedrooms. Period features include arched doorways, gabled roofs and lengthy gardens. Some properties also boast luxurious additions such as heated swimming pools.
Victorian terraces of up to three storeys with long rear gardens as well as bay windows can also be found on streets, such as Lancaster Road and Crescent Road.
For four-bedroom double-fronted Edwardian homes with open fireplaces, high ceilings and generous gardens, try Lyonsdown Road and Hadley Road.
Bulwer Road also has a choice of character homes, some of which have been converted into apartments.
Meanwhile, modest one-bedroom flats in converted period properties can be found on Potters Road.
For more modern homes, take a look at the mid-20th-century homes on quiet, tree-lined Richmond Road and Gloucester Road.
If your budget is more limited, consider the studio flats on offer in the gated Clarence Close development.
For something more contemporary, take a look at the apartments on Station Road. Purpose-built blocks of flats that have striking architecture have sprung up between the rows of Victorian houses, many of which have open-plan living areas, private parking bays and balconies.
New housing developments are on the horizon too. A ‘Victorian Quarter’ scheme will see up to 300 homes built on a former gas works site.
Getting around New Barnet
By rail: New Barnet station is on the national rail network. Regular trains run to Welwyn Garden City and Moorgate. The latter takes just 30 minutes.
You can also head to nearby High Barnet to jump onto the northern line on the Underground – it’ll take you half an hour to reach King’s Cross St Pancras.
By car: Living in Barnet puts you within easy reach of the M25 and M1. The A1, which later becomes the A1(M), is also nearby.
The main road through the area is the A110, otherwise known as Station Road and East Barnet Road. It connects Barnet to East Barnet.
By air: London Luton Airport, which is served by operators such as easyJet and Ryanair, is just over half an hour away. Planes fly to both domestic and international destinations, including Gran Canaria, Nice, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. For more international flights, head to Stansted and Heathrow airports, which are less than 45 minutes away by car.
Things to do in New Barnet
History: Learn more about the local history at the Barnet Museum. You can admire Battle of Barnet exhibits as well as objects, photos and manuscripts showing the domestic life, religion and health of its past inhabitants.
Cultural: The Bull Theatre on High Street hosts drama, tribute acts, pantomimes and open mic nights – and streams live theatre and opera too. You can also take advantage of its regular courses and classes to improve your own theatrical skills.
The local Lord Kitchener pub has regular live music performances as well as popular quiz nights.
For the latest cinema releases, head to the Everyman Cinema.
Outdoors: Follow the pergola walk and admire the mature trees at Highlands Gardens on the edge of New Barnet.
Nearby is Greenhill Gardens, a peaceful space that was originally part of a large estate called Pricklers. You can stroll around the ornamental lake and explore the wooded areas by trailing the perimeter walk.
For fishing, head to Jacks Lake. It’s a popular spot for anglers, who come to catch carp and pike. You can also look out for fish in Pymmes Brook. Follow the accompanying trail for a scenic tour of north London.
The Barnet Playing Fields can be found in the Underhill area. Its children’s play area, outdoor gym and sports pitches adjoin the King George V Playing Fields and the Wyatts Farm Open Space, which are also open to the public.
Sports: Improve your game at Barnet Lawn Tennis Club, where there are eight courts available, five of which are floodlit. Both social and competitive tennis are on offer, and there is a busy bar area for members once the games are over.
There are also several golf clubs within easy reach of New Barnet, including Old Ford Manor Golf Club and South Herts Golf Club.
Shopping: The main shopping streets in New Barnet are Station Road and East Barnet Road, where you can find cafés, corner shops, specialist stores and larger supermarkets.
And for major high street stores, such as New Look, Waterstones and Waitrose as well as Carluccio’s and Costa Coffee, head to the Spires Shopping Centre in High Barnet.
Food and drink: Traditional pub food is served up in The Railway Tavern, one of the original Victorian pubs in the area. Pick sausage and mash for a filling, hearty dinner.
For something more exotic, try Kampung Boyz Restaurant on Station Road. It serves authentic Malaysian cuisine, such as crab cooked in coconut and chilli and roast duck in plum sauce.
Traditional Tuscan food is on offer at Ci Vediamo Li, which is Italian for ‘see you there’. Try baked monkfish or beef, red wine and black pepper stew for a true taste of Italy.
Hidden New Barnet
Wander along Park Road to number 89. It was initially an open museum with a medieval barn in the garden, which then became the Abbey of Christ the King. Today it is home to a commune of artists, who occasionally open their live-in studios to the public.
5 reasons to live in New Barnet
Easy access to Hertfordshire countryside
Plenty of Victorian and Edwardian properties
Good road and rail routes to central London and beyond
Popular among young professionals and families
Good schools
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