Guy’s Guide to Mill Hill

A Mill Hill Local
By Guy Daly

Living here in Mill Hill and bringing up my family here for 10 years now, I can truly say I’m local. The pairing of its village charm with the great outdoors gives Mill Hill its family appeal. Plus, the new developments springing up close to Mill Hill East tube station make it popular with young couples and professionals. Close enough to the city and the M1 yet far enough for that country feel.

Mill Hill is expanding due to its popularity over the past 10 years (since I moved here!) From more expensive areas of North London such as Highgate and West Hampstead/Hampstead, families are coming here to get more space, be close to some of the capital’s best schools, and for the semi-rural aspect.

The old village of Mill Hill which sits along a narrow ridge (and not surprisingly, in a road called The Ridgeway) looks north-east over open countryside. Then at the bottom of the hill between the A1 and the M1, Mill Hill Broadway is bustling with a café lifestyle, restaurants, and boutique shops among surrounding roads of neat 1930s semi-detached houses and new developments.

Mill Hill East has developed over the past few years thanks to the vision of Millbrook Park. This site boasts more than 2,000 new homes along with shops, community facilities, and a new primary school very close to Mill Hill East tube station on the Northern line.

Mill Hill Residential Characteristics

Mill Hill has a real mix of properties. Among the old, you’ll find Georgian houses and weatherboard cottages in and around The Ridgeway and Milespit Hill; large detached 1920s mansions around Uphill Road; and semi-detached 20s Victorian and Edwardian houses and terraces around The Broadway, Mill Hill Park, and the aptly named ‘Poets Corner’ (Shakespeare Road, Milton Road, Byron Road, etc.).#

Among the new developments, you’ll find Ridgeway Views and Millbrook Park townhouses and flats close to Mill Hill East tube station; the unique retirement village Marshall Estate run by the Retail Trust; and St Joseph Gate, formerly Joseph’s College and home to a community of monks since 1873.

Best Roads in Mill Hill

Uphill Road, Nan Clark’s Lane, Milespit Hill, The Reddings, Goodwyn Avenue and The Ridgeway are some of the more expensive and scenic roads.

Nan Clark’s Lane (don’t listen to the ghost stories!) leads onto the most beautiful fields and woods with several horses and some of the most incredible houses you’ll ever see.

Residential Property Prices in Mill Hill

To give you an idea, properties in NW7 had an overall average price of £797,974 over the last year.

4 bedroom detached house £750,000 – £2.4 million

3 or 4 semi-detached house £550,000 – £1.2 million

3 or 4 bedroom apartments £500,000 – £1.1 million

2 bedroom apartment £350,000 – £600,000

1 bedroom apartment £250,000 – £400,000

The majority of sales in NW7 during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £800,149.

Flats sold for an average of £457,915 with detached properties fetching £1,512,105.

Overall, sold prices in NW7 over the last year were 11% up on the previous year and 3% up on the 2017 peak of £772,308.

(Information taken from Rightmove & Zoopla, April 2022)

GUY’S GUIDE: TRANSPORT IN MILL HILL NW7

Mill Hill Transport

Catch the London Underground from Mill Hill East on the Northern Line in Zone 4. I’m a fan of the Thameslink which connects to West Hampstead in 7 minutes. What’s more, it’ll get you to St Pancras International or Luton Airport in 20 minutes.

Mill Hill bus station connects a myriad of buses travelling into the city and surrounding suburbs.

The A1 and M1 are on the doorstep and the drive to Luton International Airport is only a 30 minutes.

My Favourite Mill Hill Cafes & Restaurants

Mill Hill Broadway bustles with its great mix of cafés, and restaurants. Here are some of my favourite places to grab a bite:

Ananas – Good shakshuka.

Bank Food & Drink – Outstanding restaurant. Had a family event here. Great for lunch and dinner. The food is tasty (try the ‘Burrata’) and the service is excellent.

Bluebelles of Portobello – Good for brunch.

Gail’s – Always love their cinnamon bun.

Kink Café – Great coffee! Recently opened opposite Mill Hill Park. Have a coffee and some home bakery before or after you’ve taken the dog for a walk!

Mani and Nick’s – It’s new. I’ve not been there yet but all my friends give it good reviews.

Metro Italia – Italian family restaurant next to the golf driving range on Champions Way. Delizioso!

Mill & Brew – Good café for breakfast.

Mill Hill Park Cafe – Hot chocolate is good and they do lunch for kids.

My Favourite Pubs

The Rising Sun – Very tasty Italian food.

The Adam and Eve – A traditional pub with a private function room. Good for a beer and a party. Quite popular with locals and dog friendly.

The Orange Tree – A village pub in nearby Totteridge with beautiful surroundings. Popular with residents of Mill Hill and Totteridge, and well known for its Sunday roast dinner.

The Three Hammers – Friendly and good selection of beer. Always cheap and cheerful.

All have beer gardens and I’ve spent too much time in all of them!

Head over to West End Lane

The Broadway is a busy shopping street with a good mix of high street names and independent shops. More local shops abound in Daws Lane and around Holders Hill Circus.

You’ll find a large Waitrose in Mill Hill East tube station and a Marks and Spencer on The Broadway. Not forgetting, Brent Cross Shopping Centre is a 10-minute bus or car drive away.

My Favorite Green Spaces

For a beautiful stretch of countryside, visit Arrandene Open Space in Wise Lane. Very popular for morning walkers, and oh, the summer wildflowers!

Bring the kids for a walk around the quaint Belmont Farm on The Ridgeway. It’s a great place for the little ones to meet farm animals and learn about farming. Well worth a visit!

Hidden down Burtonhole Lane is Finchley Nurseries Garden Centre. This gem of a place with its own cafe has been family run since 1929.

Tucked away next to Nan Clarks Lane is Folly Brook, a nature reserve where you can enjoy a lovely walk and perhaps even spot a visiting Heron on the lake.

Mill Hill Park in Daws Lane is a brilliant park because it has something for everybody. The sports ground includes three tennis courts, a basketball court, bowling green, gym, and playgrounds. With 35 acres of open space plus a cafe, who could ask for anything more?

Located in the new Millbrook Park area, Panoramic Park is small but has a panoramic view of London which is quite nice.

Good Fun for Sports Enthusiasts

Mill Hill is on London’s edge with spectacular views over the city from ‘the ridge’ along The Ridgeway. There’s plenty of recreational opportunities including walking, cycling, horse riding and golf.

The nearest council-owned swimming pool is at the Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre off Page Street. If you’re a golfer, you’ll want to play a round at three places nearby: Hendon, Mill Hill, and Finchley golf clubs. In Lullington Garth, Frith Manor Equestrian Centre offers livery and riding lessons.

On Champions Way, Allianz Park is home to StoneX Stadium –– many athletic events take place here but most importantly, it’s home to the Saracens Premiership Rugby team.

Mill Hill Schools

Where do I start? Mill Hill is a magnet for young parents looking for good schools both state and private:

Mill Hill’s Family of Schools occupy beautiful period buildings along the Ridgeway that once belonged to wealthy London merchants and extensive sports fields. Co-ed private education is offered at Mill Hill School (ages 13-18), Belmont (ages 7-13), and Grimsdale (ages 3-7). Also part of the group of schools is The Mount, Mill Hill International (ages 3-17 in Milespit Hill, an international day and boarding school. (Mill Hill School also has a heated indoor swimming pool open to the public at weekends and holidays).

Amongst others receiving either good or outstanding classification are:

Courtland School (ages 4-11) in Courtland Avenue

Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School (ages 3-11) in Daws Lane

Mathilda Marks-Kennedy (MMK) Jewish Primary School (ages 3-11) in Hale Lane

St Pauls C of E Primary School (ages 4-11) in The Ridgeway

Amongst the newer schools in the past few years which also have good inspection ratings are:

Millbrook Park CE Primary School (ages 3-11) in School House Lane

The Orion Primary School (ages 2-11) in Grahame Park Way

Comprehensive Schools

Here are two state comprehensive schools which both get above-average results:

Copthall School (girls, ages 11-18) in Pursley Road

Mill Hill County High School (ages 11-19) in Worcester Crescent