I’ll admit it, I was the middle-class guy who only picked Harlesden because other areas we wanted were too expensive. Areas where you don’t need to ask yourself basic questions like – is it safe? It’s also nice if these areas also pass that ‘so where do you live?’ test in a work or social situation. Areas that don’t make people give you that look of concern. The kind of wide-eyed look that wonders if they’ll ever see you again.
Well, we just couldn’t afford those areas. You know, areas like the way too expensive Shepherd’s Bush, Kensal Rise, Kensal Green and the can’t quite get a mortgage for Kilburn, Acton, Willesden Green and Willesden Junction. All out of reach.
That’s why we ended up in Harlesden. For us, Harlesden was that girl at the party no one had dared ask to dance, because we were wary of her psycho ex-boyfriend. But now I’m here, I wouldn’t trade it for most of those areas. Ok, I said most right?
So it’s now 6 years since my wife and I moved to Harlesden. And I feel so damn lucky. We’re on the border of Zone 2/3, can get a bus, overground, underground to pretty much anywhere. And we’re a 5 min walk from Roundwood park. But more importantly, as an African immigrant living in London, it is easy for me to call Harlesden ‘home’. The high street has barbers that cut black hair (at least 10 of em), baskets of plantain, fresh fish a’ plenty and personality that knows no bounds.
http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area-guides/greater-london/spotlight-harlesden-property-area-guide
So what are the downsides?
- If you’re not used to living in an immigrant community, you’re going to find Harlesden daunting. Somalis, Nigerians, Jamaicans, Antiguans, Polish, Brazilians. Nothing to be ashamed of if that’s too much of a heady mix. I woudn’t want to live in a highly congested areas of ‘Sloane rangers’ or ‘hipsters’, so even if I could afford Chelsea/Fulham/Clapham or Hackney/Hoxton/Shoreditch, there’s no chance I’d want to live there. It’s our hard-earned cash we’re spending on a mortgage/rent so we should be picky about where we live
- Many feel there’s still nowhere to meet a friend for a coffee in the daytime or pint in the evening. No equivalent of Queen’s Park’s Alice House or Kensal Rise’s The Chamberlayne or Kensal Green’s Paradise by Way. That just might be changing! There’s the new gastropub, Harlesden Picture Palace or Le Junction. If these aren’t for you, then for now Harlesden is where you live, not where you catch up with friends. That’s why the ease of getting to lots of other more established areas is so handy
- Crime – like anywhere else I’ve lived in London. Never had any trouble myself but I’m still not happy when my wife catches the last underground and walks from Harlesden after 11pm. A perception thing I guess
So Harlesden remains an up-and-comer. But for how long?
No change from when we got here 6 years ago – except for the 50% jump in house prices. And the influx of Kensal Rise yummy mummies snapping up houses near the park.
So the real question seems to be not if Harlesden will up and come but how quickly. As long as I can still get my haircut, buy my plaintain and haggle on my fish. That’s fine with me.
How many years do you think it will take for Harlesden to be seen as a ‘good area’ like Willesden Green or Kensal Green?
This is Harlesden 