East Finchley is an area in north London, in the London Borough of Barnet, and situated 5.4 miles (8.7 km) north-west of Charing Cross. Geographically it is somewhat separate from the rest of Finchley, with North Finchley and West Finchley to the north, and Finchley Central to the west.
The land on which most of East Finchley now stands was once part of the Bishop of London's hunting ground, named Finchley Common, first recorded around 1400. The Bishop of London built a road through his land which weaved through what is now Market Place, The Walks, King Street and Oak Lane up to the north. As a result, pubs such as The White Lion, The Bald Faced Stag and The Five Bells (on East End Road), all of which survive today, sprang up to provide rest for the people using the road.
Beloved by locals as a breath of fresh air, East Finchley is a leafy, residential, community-spirited enclave only half an hour’s tube journey from central London
Property in East Finchley is mostly found in detached or semi-detached inter-War houses on quiet and leafy residential streets. The relative uniformity of the exteriors masks a diverse population, with the balance tipped towards affluent families and young professionals. There is also a significant proportion of retirement accommodation.
The famous ‘Bishops Avenue’ is considered to be one of the wealthiest streets in the world, comparable to a select few ultra-exclusive roads in such other affluent places around the world as Beverly Hills, Monaco and Hong Kong. The road is a favourite with the international 'über-rich' and is often referred to by its nickname of "Billionaires' Row". The 66-house street and the parallel Winnington Road display a variety of architectural styles.
An independent Mediterranean deli and a beautiful local florist, as well as a local fish mongers mean that there is still a huge array of produce available from single stores, as well as the well-known supermarkets.
The well-loved Phoenix cinema is the oldest purpose-built cinema in the UK and underwent a recent refurbishment. It continues to show arthouse classics and world cinema releases.
East Finchley is in zone 3, one stop on from Highgate on the High Barnet branch of the Northern Line. There are plentiful buses in the area including the N20 night bus, which runs from Trafalgar Square to Barnet via East Finchley.
Finchley’s Fun Fact - The Guardian revealed in 2014 that in total 16 of the properties on Bishops Avenue (an estimated worth of £350 million) are derelict and have not been lived in for several decades. According to one resident, perhaps only three of the houses are occupied on a full-time basis.
