East Finchley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Finchley |
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 .jpg)   Clockwise from top: East Finchley Underground Station, Phoenix Cinema, Cherry Tree Woods, and Holy Trinity Church |
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 East Finchley
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| Population | 15,989 (2011 Census.Ward) |
| OS grid reference | TQ265895 |
| North | |
| • Charing Cross | 5.75 mi (9.3 km) |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | N2 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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East Finchley is a lively area in northwest London, located just north of Hampstead Heath. It's a unique place that sits across two London boroughs: Barnet and Haringey. Most of East Finchley is in the Barnet borough. People often say it has one of the greenest main roads in London!
This area is about 5.4 miles (8.7 km) northwest of Charing Cross, a central point in London. It's separated from other parts of Finchley by the North Circular. To the north, you'll find North Finchley and West Finchley, and to the northwest is Finchley Central.
East Finchley was first mentioned way back in 1365 as a small group of homes. By 1860, it had grown to be the busiest part of Finchley. During World War 2, the area was heavily bombed. Even with the rebuilding, East Finchley has kept a strong sense of community. Although it's part of the wider Finchley area, East Finchley is seen as its own village.
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A Look at East Finchley's Past
A long time ago, much of the land where East Finchley now stands was a hunting ground for the Bishop of London. This was around the year 1400. The Bishop even built a road through his land, which is still known as The Bishop's Avenue today.
Another old road wound through what are now Market Place, The Walks, King Street, and Oak Lane. Because of these roads, pubs like The Old White Lion and The Bald Faced Stag opened up. These pubs are still around today, offering a place for people to rest.
The area known as "East Finchley Old Village" near Church Lane has been there since at least the 1600s. When the Great Northern Railway arrived in 1868, East Finchley really started to grow. More homes and buildings were added between the 1870s and the 1930s. By 1914, the main road, East Finchley High Road, looked much more like it does today.
How East Finchley is Governed
For many years, Finchley had its own local government. It started as a parish in 1547, then became an urban district council, and finally a municipal borough council. Since 1965, East Finchley has been part of the London Borough of Barnet.
From 1959 to 1992, the area was represented in Parliament by Margaret Thatcher. She later became the UK Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. Today, East Finchley is part of the Finchley and Golders Green parliamentary area. This area is currently represented by a Conservative Member of Parliament. On the local council, East Finchley is represented by three elected Labour Councillors.
Getting Around East Finchley
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The East Finchley Underground station is famous for its statue of an archer. This archer, created by Eric Aumonier, points his arrow towards the entrance of a long tunnel. This tunnel runs for 17.3 miles (27.8 km) all the way to Morden, at the end of the Northern line. For many years, this was the longest tunnel in the world!
The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line. This line connects East Finchley to central London, including the City (via Bank) and the West End (via Charing Cross). Trains run very often, every 2–3 minutes.
Many buses also serve the high street. The 263 route goes from Barnet Hospital to Highbury Barn. The 143 bus connects East Finchley to Archway and Brent Cross. The 102 bus comes from Edmonton Green, and the 234 serves Barnet from Highgate Wood. There's also the 603 bus between Swiss Cottage and Muswell Hill.
Homes in East Finchley
East Finchley has many different types of homes. You can find 19th-century terraced houses, large homes from the 1930s, and even very expensive mansions on The Bishop's Avenue. The three tall, eleven-storey tower blocks of Prospect Ring & Norfolk Close can be seen from far away. A new, even taller tower block in Prospect Ring was finished in 2021.
Schools in East Finchley
East Finchley has one state primary school called Martin Primary School. Other primary schools like Tetherdown, Coldfall, and Highgate Primary Schools are nearby in the London Borough of Haringey. Students on the west side of East Finchley often go to Brookland Infant and Junior Schools. There are also two faith primary schools: Holy Trinity (Church of England) and Eden Primary School (Jewish).
For secondary schools, East Finchley is home to Archer Academy (opened in 2013) and Christ's College. Both are mixed schools that don't select students based on ability or religion. There's also Bishop Douglass Catholic School, a mixed Roman Catholic secondary school. Students on the east side of the village might also attend Fortismere School, a mixed comprehensive school in the London Borough of Haringey.
Who Lives in East Finchley?
| 2011 United Kingdom Census | |
|---|---|
| Country of birth | Population |
 United Kingdom |
10,492 |
 Ireland |
420 |
 Poland |
350 |
 India |
341 |
 South Africa |
206 |
According to the 2011 UK Census, about 72% of the people living in East Finchley were White. This included people from the UK, Ireland, and other European countries. About 10% were of Asian background, and 7% were of Black background. The rest of the population included people from mixed ethnic groups, Arab, and others.
The largest religion in East Finchley is Christianity, followed by Judaism and Islam. Many people also said they had no religion or did not state their religion. The Ismaili Muslim community has a special place of worship called a Jamatkhana, which opened in 1996. It was built to fit in well with the local area.
Fun Places and Features
The independent Phoenix Cinema is on the High Road. It's a special place that shows unique films. It's actually the oldest cinema in the UK that was built specifically to be a cinema! Time Out magazine even calls it the best single-screen cinema in London. Film critic Mark Kermode has said the Phoenix Cinema was very important in making him a huge movie fan.
There's also a beautiful public library on the High Road. Behind the library, you'll find some amazing allotments, which are small plots of land people rent to grow their own food.
The very large St. Pancras and Islington Cemetery is also on the High Road. It was started in 1854 and is the oldest and biggest municipal cemetery in London.
Right opposite East Finchley tube station is Cherry Tree Wood. This park is about 4.5 hectares (11 acres) in size and has both trees and open grassy areas. Other nearby parks include Coldfall Wood to the north, and Highgate Wood, Queens Wood, and Hampstead Heath to the south. You can also find the main office of McDonald's UK near the tube station.
Local News
The Archer is East Finchley's free monthly community newspaper. It started in 1993 and is run by volunteers. Its name comes from the famous archer statue at East Finchley tube station.
Famous People from East Finchley
Many well-known people have lived in or have connections to East Finchley:
- Peter Sellers, a famous comedian and actor, lived here. His character Bluebottle from Goon Show was often called an East Finchley Boy Scout.
- Singer George Michael was born in Church Lane.
- Ronald Fisher, a very important statistician, was born in East Finchley.
- Gracie Fields, a popular singer and actress, lived on The Bishop's Avenue.
- The poet and playwright Clive Sansom was born in East Finchley in 1910.
- Jerry Springer, a well-known TV host, lived in East Finchley until he was four years old.
- Ray and Dave Davies, who started the famous rock band The Kinks, were born on Huntingdon Road. They played their first concerts in The Clissold Arms pub.
- Hugo Lloris, a famous football player, lives in East Finchley.
- Amy Winehouse, a very talented singer, lived in East Finchley.
- Will Self, a writer, grew up between East Finchley and Hampstead Garden Suburb.
- Noreena Hertz, an economist and author, was born in East Finchley.
See also
In Spanish: East Finchley para niños
