I’ve visited the North West London hotspot to get the lowdown on what it is like, find out below in my Colindale Area Guide.
Introduction – Colindale
Colindale, nestled in the London Borough of Barnet, is a suburban area with a dynamic character.
Once a sleepy neighbourhood, it’s now undergoing exciting regeneration, making it a hotspot for young professionals and families alike.
Traditionally it was known for two things.
Firstly the wonderful RAF Museum situated on Grahame Park Way, which I’ll touch on later.
Secondly it was known for the Met Police training centre, confusing known as Hendon, which is actually in Colindale.
But now after decades of investment and regeneration, there is a lot more on show.
Colindale Area Guide – Transport Links
In terms of an overall grading of the transport links in Colindale I would describe them as good but not great.
As per a number of areas in London it relies heavily on it’s tube station, Colindale.
This is on the Northern Line, so you can easily get to central London in around 20 minutes.
The station is in Zone 4, so you’ll obviously need to pay a slightly higher fare than if you were travelling from a Zone 1 or 2 station.
In terms of road links there are two main arteries.
Firstly the A5, Edgware Road. This north-south road runs along Colindale’s western edge and connects it to Central London via Hendon and the West End.
Be prepared for congestion during peak hours, especially around the Burnt Oak roundabout.
Forming the eastern boundary of Colindale, the M1 provides a swift route north towards Luton and Sheffield or south towards Central London.
Access is available via Junction 1 (Watford) and Junction 4 (Edgware).
As you would also expect there are a wide range of bus routes in the Colindale area. Two of the main stops are Colindale Avenue and Colindale Station.
Colindale Avenue is on on the 322, 260 and 186 bus routes.
The 322 bus goes to Brent Cross Shopping Centre, the 260 bus goes to Stanmore and the 186 bus goes to Harrow.
Colindale Station provides access to the 142 bus, which goes to Finchley Road tube station.
Colindale Area Guide – Demographics
Colindale’s population presents a vibrant tapestry of ethnicities, incomes, and religious affiliations, reflecting its dynamic character and ongoing transformation.
Here’s a breakdown of some key demographic markers:
Ethnicity
Colindale boasts a rich mix of ethnicities, with no single group forming a dominant majority.
According to the 2011 census, the largest groups were White British (42.8%), Other White (14.2%), Indian (11.3%), and Chinese (10.4%).
Notably, Colindale holds the highest Chinese population in Barnet, earning it the nickname “mini-Chinatown.”
Religion
Colindale reflects London’s religious diversity, with a variety of faiths represented.
Notably, the area has a significant Muslim population, with several mosques serving the community.
Additionally, churches, synagogues, and Hindu temples cater to other religious groups.
Wealth
The average wage in Colindale is approximately £39,500 per year according to 2021 estimates.
This is roughly equal to the London average, meaning Colindale offers earning potential comparable to the wider City.
Around 57% of residents in Colindale own their homes, while the remaining 43% rent. This is slightly lower than the London average home ownership rate of 62%.
Is Colindale Safe?
The crime rate in Colindale per 1000 persons is 106.7, this is just higher than the London average of 95.
This is taken from crime figures provided by the Met Police and comparing that against most recent census data.
What I would say however when conducting research I noticed that crime is clearly trending down.
This highlights the good work the police and local authority are carrying out in the area.
In terms of the most common types of crime, they are Anti Social Behaviour and Violence. This is consistent with other residential areas across the capital.
Colindale Area Guide – House Prices
Properties in Colindale had an overall average price of £458,000 over the last year.
This represents a pretty reasonable figure when comparing to some of the other areas I have visited.
A huge amount of the regeneration work has been in building flats which sell for an average price of £387,000.
Semi-detached properties average £603,000 which although is a lot of money, again compared around London this isn’t too bad.
In terms of a trend, sold prices in Colindale over the last year were 1% down on the previous year.
Is Colindale a nice place to live?
Having spent two days in Colindale I lean towards answering that question positively.
Walking around it is really quite impressive in terms of the scale of regeneration.
A really good example of this progress are the new properties built on the former police training ground.
The on site accommodation was so tired and ugly that it was used as a backdrop for the final scene in Marvel blockbuster, Avengers Age Of Ultron.
In that scene the heros are battling it out in a fictitious country known for it’s poverty and deprivation.
They weren’t actually in Sokovia however, they were actually fighting in Colindale!
If a movie producer visited now, all they would see is flashy looking apartments and coffee shops.
That’s not to say it is perfect. Developers and the local authority seem to be cramming thousands of properties into relatively small areas.
This will put pressure on public transport networks and general infrastructure.
You could also argue that some of the regeneration is leaving the area soulless. It is just smart apartment block after smart apartment block.
I could be being picky but flaws and variation in properties can give character to parts of London.
Another positive however is that crime rates seem to be coming down and house prices are very reasonable.
You also have free access to the wonderful RAF Museum which is always worth a visit.
So all in all with solid transport links, well managed crime and millions being spent on improvements I can recommend Colindale as a nice place to live or visit.
