Harrow: where leafy living meets metropolitan energy

The world-famous boarding school in Harrow put the area on the map, however it’s the outstanding state schools and attractive housing stock as well as first-class amenities that make people want to move here.

Harrow: where leafy living meets metropolitan energy

Harrow is best known for its prestigious private school, whose illustrious list of Old Harrovians includes none other than Sir Winston Churchill. However there’s more to this corner of northwest London than one of the world’s most famous boarding schools – and there’s no better place to start looking than Harrow on the Hill. This picturesque urban village, with its quaint high street, period architecture, pretty cottages, and manicured lawns, has a Middle England feel. Indeed all of which seems a world away from Harrow’s bustling town centre, which seals its status as one of London’s 14 metropolitan centres.

Moreover, it’s not just Harrow School that has a first-class reputation; almost all the area’s state primary and comprehensive schools are rated “good” or better by the Ofsted. Additionally if a tube station is top of your list of must-haves, you’ll be pleased to know the wider area is home to nine stops across three lines.

Transport links

• Underground: Harrow on the Hill is on the Metropolitan Tube with trains whisking passengers to the centre of town in just 15-minutes. North Harrow, West Harrow and also Rayners Lane are also on the Metropolitan line. Harrow and Wealdstone, Kenton, and South Kenton are located on the Bakerloo line. South Harrow and Sudbury Hill are on the Piccadilly line.
• Overground: Harrow and Wealdstone, Kenton, and South Kenton stations are all on the Overground network, with train’s into town terminating at Euston station.
• National rail: Harrow-on-the-Hill provides commuter rail services on the London to Aylesbury line, transporting passengers to London Marylebone station in just 20 minutes. The average journey time between Harrow & Wealdstone station and London Euston is 24 minutes, with around 123 trains per day.

Property scene

Thirties detached and semi-detached houses dominate the property scene, with a healthy supply of attractive Victorian and Edwardian houses complimenting them – particularly in the South Hill Avenue and Mount Park Estate conservation areas. Three large developments have changed the face of the town centre: Lexicon in Gayton Road, Lyon Square in Lyon Road and Harrow Square in College Road.

Schools in Harrow

• Primary: a raft of local primary schools are rated Ofsted “Outstanding”, including:
  St Anselm’s Catholic Primary School
  Marlborough Primary School
  Belmont School
  Byron Court Primary School
  Mount Stewart Juniors School
  Newton Farm Nursery Infant and Junior School
• Secondary: there is a good selection of Ofsted rated “Outstanding” secondary schools in the area, including:
  Whitmore High School (co-ed, ages 11 to 18)
  Sacred Heart Language College (girls, ages 11 to 16)
  Wembley High Technology College (co-ed, ages 11 to 18)
  Claremont High School (co-ed, ages 11 to 18)
  Park High School (co-ed, ages 11 to 18)
  Rooks Heath College (co-ed, ages 11 to 18)
  Bentley Wood High School (girls, ages 11 to 18)

• Private:
  Harrow School (boys, ages 13 to 18), which is a boarding school that doesn’t take day pupils, isn’t just one of the top private schools in the area; it’s one of the most famous private schools in the world.
  The private primary schools are:
  Alpha Preparatory School (co-ed, ages three to 11)
  Quainton Hall School (co-ed, ages two to 13)
  Harrow Primary School (co-ed, ages five to 11)
  Roxeth Mead School (co-ed, ages three to seven)
  Orley Farm School (co-ed, ages four to 13)
  Buckingham Preparatory School (boys, ages two to 11)
  The private secondary schools are:
  The John Lyon School (boys, 11 to 18) https://www.johnlyon.org/
  Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill (co-ed, ages three to 18).  Read our article on this school here.

Things to do in Harrow

• Shopping: Home to two large, covered shopping centres – St Ann’s and also St George’s – which both house a host of chain stores.
• Open space: Harrow Hill Golf Course is a nine-hole course, in addition to Fryent Country Park, a local designated nature reserve.
• Cinema: The Vue is located in the St George’s Shopping Centre.  As well as Safari Cinema is a two-screen venue specialising in Bollywood films.
• Arts: Harrow Arts Centre hosts a varied programme of theatre, music, dance, family events and film as well as classes, and workshops.
• Leisure centre: council-run Harrow Leisure Centre houses a public swimming pool.

Rental Prices

If you’d like to find the average cost of renting a property in London, check out The Simply London Guide to London Neighbourhoods. It includes the average rental prices for the top 20 neighbourhoods in London!

Article published 22nd September 2021