Auction House London’s Area Guide to Harrow
Auction House London has a number of interesting properties listed for auction throughout the City and surrounding areas. Our property auction experts are knowledgeable about the different areas of London such as Harrow, and are sharing a series of London area guides to help investors make more informed decisions.
This latest addition to the Auction House London series takes us to the town of Harrow within the larger London Borough of Harrow in Northwest London. Harrow has a long history as a settlement – originally known as Greenhill – and the modern area features plenty of excellent transport links, amenities, open spaces and nightlife. Residential options are quite varied too, offering plenty of interesting opportunities for investors looking for properties.
Where is Harrow?
Harrow is located in the northwest end of Greater London, around 9.5 miles northwest of Charing Cross. The town is bordered by Stanmore and Wembley to the east, and Pinner to the west. Further north is Watford, with Ealing to the south.
There are a lot of bus routes in the area, with Harrow town centre host to a busy bus station right next to the Harrow-on-the-Hill London Underground station, which is served by the Metropolitan line and National Rail services. Other tube services can be accessed in neighbouring towns, such as the Bakerloo line and London Overground at Harrow and Wealdstone station, and the Piccadilly line at the South Harrow and Rayners Lane stations.
The history of Harrow
The town started as a small hamlet of farms around Harrow Hill, which gave it the original name of Greenhill. The top of the hill was then developed and remained the centre of the town until the 19th century, when urban development began in earnest around the surrounding areas. The name Harrow comes from the Old English word ‘hearg’, which roughly translates into modern English as ‘heathen temple’.
The Metropolitan Railway connection was then built in 1880, with Harrow-on-the-Hill station subsequently leading to a boom in residential developments around the turn of the century. It was also in 1899 that Harrow became the scene of Britain’s first fatal car accident, which reportedly occurred at the top of Grove Hill near the centre of the town.
The 20th century saw more and more urban development, especially after the Second World War, and would undergo a massive regeneration during the 1980s, including significant pedestrianisation.
What does the architecture and property look like in Harrow?
Harrow’s architecture is predominantly from the latter half of the 20th century, and it includes many family-sized houses along with some blocks of flats and apartment buildings. A new wave of redevelopment has been ongoing throughout the 21st century so far, with a block of luxury apartments completed in 2016 among other exciting projects.
The variety of existing and new build properties around Harrow provide plenty of opportunities for investors, as well as some interesting plots of land that are up for grabs. There is this ground floor one bedroom flat on Harrow Road in nearby Kensal Rise, which is especially interesting as it comes with the chance to buy a second similar flat in the same building.
Available land plots in Harrow include this 349 square metre plot by Nicola Close towards the northern end of town, which includes already-drawn plans for the erection of a couple of three-bedroom houses.
What are the amenities like in Harrow?
Harrow town centre has an abundance of amenities, including many shops, pubs and places to eat. There are supermarkets and mini-markets, as well as chains and convenience stores, and plenty of independent businesses too. A new public square featuring a ‘pop-up test eatery’ was completed in 2020, while the town’s two big shopping centres include many high street-style shops and restaurants as well as a cinema and a gym.
Open spaces in Harrow
The famous hill to the rear of the train station is a popular hangout for all ages during good weather, plus there are numerous parks and recreation grounds throughout the town. An impressive six of the parks in or around Harrow have also received Green Flag status from the Civic Trust, which include Canons Park, Harrow Recreation Ground, Kenton Recreation Ground, Pinner Memorial Park, Roxeth Recreation Ground, and Headstone Manor Park.
What are the schools like in Harrow?
There are quite a few educational facilities in Harrow, with the famous Harrow School at the top of the list. The boarding school for boys boasts quite the alumni, which includes multiple British Prime Ministers and a variety of monarchs from around the world. Harrow also houses a large University of Westminster campus, and is also the location of the Harrow and Whitmore high schools, as well as the St Dominic’s Sixth Form and Salvatorian colleges.
Auction House London prides itself on having local knowledge about diverse areas of the capital. If you have questions about Harrow or any other London area or suburb, please contact our team of property auction professionals. If you’re looking to buy property in London at an auction, browse through the lots listed in our forthcoming auction. Or, if you have a property you want to sell in London or the surrounding areas, why not see how much it could be worth in an auction with a free valuation by Auction House London.