Northfields, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northfields |
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 Northfield Avenue |
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 Northfields
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| OS grid reference | TQ153802 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | W13, W5 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Northfields is a lively area in west London, located in the borough of Ealing. It's famous for Northfield Avenue, a busy street packed with unique shops and tasty restaurants. This area is a great place to live, with many people owning their homes and having good jobs and education.
For a long time, Northfields was mostly countryside, covered in apple orchards. In the 1600s, a road called Northfields Road was built to connect different parts of Ealing. Even with the road, it stayed a quiet, rural spot until the late 1800s.
Today, getting around Northfields is easy! You can use the Piccadilly line from Northfields tube station, which has a cool design by architect Charles Holden. There are also several London Buses routes (like the E2 and E3) that connect Northfields to other nearby places such as Greenford, Ealing, Brentford, Hanwell, Acton, and Chiswick. If you're out late, the N11 night bus can take you all the way to Central London.
Northfields is also home to three primary schools: Little Ealing Primary School, Fielding Primary School, and Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School. Every year, the local businesses on Northfield Avenue throw a fun street festival, which started in 2007.
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A Look Back: Northfields' History
The area around Northfields was mostly farms and orchards for many centuries. One of the oldest buildings, The Plough Inn, a pub, has been around since at least 1722!
Maps from the late 1800s show just a few houses along Little Ealing Lane, with the rest of the land covered in apple trees. But things changed quickly when the District Railway arrived in 1883. When the Northfields Halt opened in 1908, it made it much easier for people to travel, and more homes and buildings started to appear.
Famous People Who Lived Here
Northfields has been home to some interesting characters over the years!
Charles Blondin, the Tightrope Walker
Charles Blondin was a super famous acrobat and tightrope walker. He was best known for walking across Niagara Falls on a tightrope! After his amazing career, Blondin retired to Northfields in 1886 and lived here until he passed away in 1897. His house was on the site where Niagara House stands today, right across from The Plough pub. You can still see his legacy in the area, with Blondin Avenue, Blondin Park, and Niagara Avenue all named after him.
John Quincy Adams, a Future US President
Believe it or not, an American president once lived in Northfields! Between 1815 and 1817, John Quincy Adams lived with his family at Little Boston House on Windmill Road. He later became the 6th President of the United States.
Dusty Springfield, the Pop Star
The legendary pop singer Dusty Springfield went to school here in the 1950s. She was a pupil at St Anne's Convent School on Little Ealing Lane.
Tomasz Schafernaker, the Weather Presenter
You might recognize Tomasz Schafernaker from BBC Weather. He also lives in the Northfields area!
Cool Buildings in Northfields
Northfields has some unique and historic buildings.
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One of the most special buildings is a former cinema on Northfield Avenue. It was built in 1932 in a cool Spanish style. This building is so important that it's a Grade 2* listed building, which means it's protected for its historical and architectural value. It stopped being a cinema in 1987 and was later turned into the Ealing Christian Centre in 1994.
Other buildings in Northfields that are also Grade 2 listed (meaning they are historically important) include:
- Rochester House
- Place House (now Ealing Fields High School)
- The Forester public house, designed by architect Nowell Parr
- Northfields tube station
- 53 Northfield Road (known as Orchard Lofts)
