Living in Harrow

Thinking of moving to Harrow? Our Harrow area guide explores this diverse London borough, home to the world-famous Harrow School where Winston Churchill studied, and known for its excellent transport links and reputation as one of London’s safest areas.

Where is Harrow?

Harrow is a London borough located in northwest London, around 12 miles from central London. The borough encompasses several distinct areas including the historic hilltop village of Harrow-on-the-Hill, leafy Pinner, affluent Stanmore, and the diverse town centre of Wealdstone.

Positioned between the green belt and central London, Harrow offers easy access to both the countryside and the capital. The borough is well-connected to nearby areas, including Watford to the north, Hillingdon to the west and Brent to the east, making it an ideal base for exploring the wider region.

With its elevated position on Harrow Hill, the area offers spectacular views across London while maintaining its own distinct character and identity as one of the capital’s most culturally diverse boroughs.

Is Harrow a nice place to live?

Harrow consistently ranks as one of London’s most desirable places to live, combining excellent schools, strong transport links, and a reputation for safety with remarkable cultural diversity.

The area offers a good mix of urban amenities and green space – Harrow has the second highest proportion of land being domestic gardens: 34.7% of all 326 districts in England.

The borough caters to different lifestyles across its various neighbourhoods, from the historic charm of Harrow-on-the-Hill to the bustling diversity of Wealdstone, while maintaining excellent connectivity to central London with journey times of just 12-20 minutes to key destinations.

What is Harrow famous for?

Harrow is world-renowned for Harrow School, the prestigious independent school founded in 1572 that has educated some of history’s most influential figures. Seven British prime ministers including Winston Churchill, Stanley Baldwin and Robert Peel, and the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru all attended the school, along with contemporary figures like actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Winston Churchill connection runs particularly deep – Churchill visited annually for “Churchill Songs,” establishing a tradition that continues today. The school now offers Churchill Places bursaries to increase accessibility.

Beyond education, Harrow played a crucial role in Britain’s photographic industry. The American Eastman Kodak company built a large industrial premises in 1890 in Wealdstone, which by 1965 employed 5,500 people across 100 buildings, operating for 125 years until 2015.

Things to do in Harrow

Harrow offers an impressive range of attractions and activities. The historic Headstone Manor, a 14th-century half-timbered structure guarded by a moat, provides fascinating insights into local history with displays covering everything from Roman pottery to Victorian commuters.

Bentley Priory, a John Soane-designed building, served as RAF Fighter Command headquarters during the Battle of Britain and now houses exhibits including a recreation of the wartime filter room and Spitfire-themed stained glass.

For art lovers, Pinner Memorial Park houses the Heath Robinson Museum with over 1,000 original works. The area also boasts excellent shopping at St George’s Shopping Centre, numerous golf courses, and easy access to nearby attractions like the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Nature enthusiasts can explore Stanmore Country Park and Stanmore Common, home to Caesar’s Ponds which date back to Roman times.

What is the transport like in Harrow?

Harrow boasts excellent transport connections that make it one of London’s most accessible outer boroughs, with journey times of 12 minutes to Euston and 20 minutes to Marylebone by train.

The borough is served by multiple London Underground lines. The Bakerloo line runs from Harrow & Wealdstone to central London via the West End, providing direct access to Oxford Circus and Waterloo. The Metropolitan line also serves the area, connecting to Baker Street and the City. Harrow & Wealdstone station is a major transport hub, offering Bakerloo line services, London Overground, and National Rail services on the West Coast main line.

The area also benefits from extensive bus networks and good road connections via the M1, M25 and A40.

Schools in Harrow

Harrow is renowned for its educational excellence, which stretches far beyond the world-famous Harrow School. The borough has numerous primary and secondary schools rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

For higher education, Harrow College (part of HRUC – Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges) offers further education and higher education courses, while the University of Westminster has a campus in Harrow specialising in subjects such as media, arts and design.

Is Harrow safe?

Harrow has an exceptional safety record according to official crime statistics. Based on ONS data, the borough consistently ranks among the safest places to live in both London and the UK. According to Metropolitan Police statistics, Harrow ranks as the third safest area the force serves, following Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames.

What are the average property prices in Harrow?

House prices in Harrow have an overall average of £578,447 over the last year. The majority of properties sold in Harrow during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £656,034. Flats sold for an average of £359,023, with terraced properties fetching £570,160.

Overall, the historical sold prices in Harrow over the last year were 5% down on the previous year and similar to the 2022 peak of £583,911. This positions Harrow as offering good value compared to many London boroughs while maintaining strong transport links and amenities.

FAQs

• How far is Harrow from central London?
  Harrow is around 12 miles from central London, with journey times of 12 minutes to Euston and 20 minutes to Marylebone by train.
• Is Harrow good for families?
  Yes. Harrow has outstanding schools, diverse communities and the second highest proportion of garden space in England.
• Is Harrow affordable?
  While property prices reflect its London location, Harrow offers competitive pricing compared to many areas with similar transport links and amenities.
• Is Harrow good for commuters?
  Excellent – multiple tube lines, National Rail services and journey times of 12-20 minutes to central London make it ideal for commuters.