East Finchley Old Village

[upthegardenpath]

Your thoughts please!

Have been hearing so much about this area lately and have only walked a couple of streets, so don't really know it well at all.

Are there many shops in the actual old village and if so, where are they? I only found the lovely coffee shop of corner if King St and a nice pub close to that. I'm sure I'm missing something!

I know the High Rd a bit, but I was specifically interested in what people think of the old bit and why you love living there.

Thinking of possibly moving here in a year ir so, that's why.

Thanks.

[fatpony]

I've never heard of East Finchley having a village bit! Is this estate agent marketing efforts?

[Coffeemarkone]

'Old Village'? I used to live in Fortis Green but have never heard of that....
East Finchley is a lovely area.

[upthegardenpath]

I mean the roads that incl Church Lane, Long Lane etc where all the older houses are!
Is the only shopping on the high road or hiding also in back streets that I haven't seen?
Estate agents have a lot to answer for, yes.

[itdc]

church lane/long lane area is a bit too close to some of the council estates of east finchley. if you do some research on local news or gov crime statistics, it is relatively higher than other area in east finchley (north part of hampstead garden suburb, fortis green etc) and hence less desired.

[Belleview]

I used to live in EF and never heard of 'old village'. Sounds like EA speak. ie fabrication.

[Damnautocorrect]

Old village?!
Another local whose not heard of it.

[AnnieLewis]

Another local who can smell EA bollocks - old village?? East Finchley is ok as an area though, close to tube etc. I wouldn't worry that you're 'missing' something. Good friend of mine lives on Long Lane and likes it very much. No personal experience though

[MabelSideswipe]

I grew up in Finchley. On long lane actually. It didn't have an old village then! Definitely EA crap. Those roads are very near council estates but that wouldnt put me off personally. There are however far nicer parts of east Finchley with old houses, the roads off the high road opposite the station for instance.

[upthegardenpath]

Thanks so much everyone - good to know. Had suspected there was some EA bollocks going on, yes!
There are estates, and there are estates - hard to find an area within the north circular that hasn't got a real mix of houses. Even relatively 'posh' areas, like where I am now, have 3million quid houses o one road, you turn then you turn the corner and it's all estate.
Some estates are fine, others dire, I guess that depends where you are.
Take your point Mabel about roads opposite station, but seem to all be more pricey...sigh...

[itdc]

in terms of % of socially rented properties (estates), N2 is typically higher than all of its neighbours around north circular (NW11/N10/N6/N3) , and most of the estates are located in the roads you mentioned.

N2 is a funny place, it has some of the most expensive street in the country, on the other hand, it has some of the most deprived estates in north london

[MoonlightS0nata]

The 'county roads' are the best place to be - lots of lovely Victorian and Edwardian houses, and just off the High Street and within 10 minutes walk of the station. Parking is a nightmare though if you need it - that's the reason we moved. And I agree that there is no such thing as the Old Village, unless we were living in it and didn't realise!

[upthegardenpath]

Thanks - I love those roads too. Whether we'll ever be able to afford a house in them is another matter...
Surprised you found parking a nightmare Moonlight - my sister has just moved to Trinity Rd and the parking seems free and plentiful. Maybe we were just lucky every time we visited.
itdc - you are so right. Bishop's Avenue v. local estate.

[Hermod]

East Finchley village definitely wasn't invented by estate agents - it is a real place! It's centred around Church Lane where it crosses with Long Lane. It's much older than the area along East Finchley High Road which was developed later with the arrival of the Underground. There are lots of really lovely Victorian terrace houses and cottages, an early Victorian church and very old pub - the Windsor Castle, which is great. There are a few shops and a couple of restaurants but it doesn't have all the amenities and shops of the High Road and Church Lane itself is a rather busy one-way cut through.

[JT05]

I lived in East Finchley years ago. The Old Village streets are around the Victorian Holy Trinity Church, in Church Lane.
The first house we had was in Trinity Road and built in 1860. That end of Long Lane has the older houses along with Church Lane. Where they meet used to have a few independent shops.
We then moved to a house in a road off Fortess Green Road, round the corner from the station. It had a more city feel.
A lovely area to live in back then.