Living in North London
Jobs in North London | Pictures of North London
Often by-passed by people heading into London and often overlooked by Londoners
themselves, North London has a wealth of character, a thriving multicultural
environment and a cosmopolitan air that sets it apart from the rest of the
capital.
With much of the district currently being redeveloped and spruced-up, North
London's appeal is increasing almost as fast as its population which is expected
to swell by a further 160,000 people by 2016. So if that many people are moving
here, surely it must be a good place to live and work, isn't it?
Getting around North London
North London 's growing population is adding strains to an already
congestion road network. And with the districts population forecasted to rise by
up to 15 per cent by 2016, this will inevitably be exacerbated. The roads going
to and from the M25 have major bottlenecks to the north and at the Tottenham
Hale gyratory to the south. Consequently, public transport is the easiest – and
quickest ways of getting around.
Some routes around North London have dedicated bus lanes that enable them to
avoid some of the congestion but, in the main the London 's Underground provides
one of the quickest ways to travel within the district. The North London region
contains 27 stations on the Piccadilly, Northern, Victoria and Central lines.
There are 40 mainline stations in North London on the Great Northern WAGN and
the West Anglia lines.
Eating, drinking and shopping in North London
North London may not be teeming with high-end designer boutiques like
its West End counterpart but, there are a number of notable areas of the
district that offer shoppers enough of an incentive to spend their hard-earned
cash closer to home.
Camden Passage Market (N1) is famed for its unrivalled, eclectic and extensive
range of markets, shops and market stalls specialising in everything from
antiques and art deco to oriental furnishings and vintage clothing. With over
350 retailers, you are bound to find something a little unusual and unique. And
the choice of specialist and quirky shops in extended further in Upper Street .
Whilst Finsbury Park is great for bargain hunters, where a number of fashion
wholesalers sell direct to the public at knock-down prices on Saturday mornings.
Elsewhere, Blackstock Road which runs between Islington and Hackney is home to
an array of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. But if you are looking for
something more familiar, the N1 Shopping Centre, which runs from Upper Street
through to Liverpool Road in Islington, is home to a number of leading high
street stores – with a bias towards clothes - including FCUK, Borders, Gap and
Benetton. And when you need a breather there are a number of eateries within the
centre such as Wagamama and the obligatory Starbucks. Whereas the Nag's Head in
Holloway also has a half-decent selection of the major chain stores such as
Argos .
Arguably the most cosmopolitan area of North London is the bustling thoroughfare
that is Green Lanes in Haringey. Stretching from Turnpike Lane tube station to
Newington Green, Green Lanes is believed to be the longest road in London and it
offers a vibrant mix of eateries and restaurants serving a range of
international cuisine – notably Greek and Turkish – as well as a diverse range
of independent shops selling everything from electrical goods and exotic fruits
to clothes and housewares. Elsewhere in Haringey is Wood Green, which is one of
the main shopping areas in the district, and is home to Shopping City and a
two-floor market hall.
Other noteworthy places that are likely to burn a hole in your pocket are
Highgate, known for its antiques, galleries and specialist shops; Tottenham High
Road which is home to the usual large chain stores; and Muswell Hill and Crouch
End have a multitude of boutiques and gift shops.
Other than the Blackstock Road , Upper Street and Green Lanes areas mentioned
above, Crouch End, Finsbury Park and Finchley are unquestionably the areas that
provide the best of North London 's restaurants, cafes, bars and gastropubs
regardless of taste and budget.
But the weekend isn't about eating, drinking and shopping. So if you are looking
for a way to keep yourself occupied at the weekend, North London may not boast
the same volume of attractions as other parts of the capital but, it does have
Hamstead Heath and Highgate Cemetery which is the burial place of Karl Marx. And
for sports fans, both Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur dominate the football
scene in this part of London .
Main residential areas
The six boroughs that make up North London are currently home to more
than 1.4 million people. This is a larger population than many UK and European
cities and the district is one of the most multi-cultural areas in Britain and
an even greater diversity in residential areas.
Islington consists of one and two bedroom flats from the council and housing
associations, and there is a high degree of overcrowding. It is an inner-city
district in London , spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields,
encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street . The name is now also often
applied to the areas of the borough close to Upper Street such as Barnsbury and
Canonbury, developed in the Georgian era .
Highbury have purpose built flats in attractive suburbs and satellite towns.
Many are still rented, although some have purchased their homes.
Muswell Hill is predominantly characterized by its terraced housing with some
converted flats. And Tottenham is reputed to be the most ethnically-diverse area
in Europe, with up to 300 languages being spoken by its residents. Whereas
significant new housing developments are taking place in Brent Cross,
Cricklewood, Haringey Heartlands and Tottenham Hale.
