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You may not know much about Queen’s Park, but we bet you know about Hampstead. The heath, the character, the cemetery (Brits, weirdly, love their cemeteries). Why are we banging on about Hampstead? Because it’s right next door. But Queen’s Park is cheaper, and has a lot to offer in itself.
Why Queen’s Park?
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Park your arse here Queen’s Park, NW6
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“Salusbury Road is the hub of Queen’s Park and there are now restaurants and boutiques similar to what you would find in Primrose Hill or Hampstead,” Marc von Grundherr, director at Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings, tells us. “Plus the Queen’s Park Farmers’ Market on Sunday mornings draws people from across northwest London to stock up on local produce.” There are also the annual festivals: Queen’s Park Day, coming up on September 15, showcases local bands and singers, and a book festival brings together writing groups and local authors. “You can get a similar lifestyle to the more expensive areas but with far lower housing costs,” adds von Grundherr. “Plus it is very close to town, but feels rural.”
Fresh greens: Queen’s Park Farmers’ Market on Sundays the start of the summer, but as we approach September demand has dramatically overtaken supply,” reveals Archie Orr-Ewing, senior lettings manager at Marsh & Parsons. “The next month should be the busiest of the year and tenants will experience a lot of competition for the best flats and houses.” If you do find a place, check what borough it falls under. Queen’s Park is covered by both Brent – which charges one of the highest council taxes – and Westminster, which has one of the lowest.
The connections Queen’s Park has Overground, Underground and National Rail stations, meaning you can get just about anywhere. The Bakerloo line is great for getting into central London, while the Overground joins you to the east. Buses will take you to Shepherd’s Bush,
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The flats are mainly taken up by young professionals, while the Edwardian and Victorian houses are homes to families, particularly in the conservation area surrounding Queen’s Park itself. One thing’s for sure, though, demand is on the up. “We had a lot of available property at
Wembley and Finchley, while two night buses run from Aldwych and New Cross.