🗞️ Do you have the fastest internet in London?


Welcome

This week we've got three beautiful spots to stretch your legs, and the vintage buses you can catch a ride on this month.

🥾☕ 3 North London Walking Trails

Explore North London on foot with these three self-guided walks, each packed with history, green spaces, and hidden gems - perfect for a weekend stroll or a scenic jog.

1: Hampstead Circular Walk NW3

This six-mile Hampstead Heath walk is a stunner, with unbeatable panoramic views from the top of Parliament Hill. A perfect mix of nature and history, the route winds through the Heath’s wild beauty, past the famous bathing ponds and onto Kenwood House.

Make a day of it—stretch your stroll to Highgate Cemetery and hunt for the graves of Karl Marx and George Eliot. And, of course, no walk is complete without a cosy pit stop. There are plenty of cafés en route, but we’re big fans of The Nook’s rich hot chocolate or the iconic Coffee Cup.

2: Parkland Walk N10 et al

A hidden gem in the city, this former railway line-turned-green haven stretches for four kilometres, weaving through woodlands, wildlife, and unexpected urban views. Once linking Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace (back in 1873), today it’s a leafy escape packed with history and character.

Wander past towering trees, discover quirky street art, and keep an eye out for local wildlife - foxes and songbirds often make an appearance. Along the way, you’ll spot remnants of old platforms and tunnels, ghostly traces of its railway past.

Whether you’re after a peaceful stroll, a scenic jog, or just a moment to soak in the surroundings, this unique trail blends nature and city energy in the best way possible.

3: Regent's Canal NW1 et al

One of London’s most underrated walks, this 13km route from Paddington Basin to Limehouse Basin follows the Regent’s Canal, blending history, city life, and waterside charm.

Wander through quirky neighbourhoods, past industrial landmarks, and alongside colourful houseboats. Stop for coffee at a canalside café in Maida Vale, soak up the views in Islington, and watch East London’s docklands unfold at Limehouse.

With hidden gems and scenic spots at every turn, this walk is the perfect mix of calm and city buzz - plus, plenty of excuses for a pit stop, whether it’s a coffee, lunch, or a cheeky pint.

Have fun! 🥾☕

Events

KIDS

Saturday 29th March

Children's Activities - Mother's Day Paper Craft | Sat, Mar. 29 | 10:00 am | Forty Hill, EN2 9HA | £5 per child | This Mother’s Day, let creativity shine with a fun and engaging workshop designed just for children. A perfect opportunity for little ones to create something truly special for Mum. Children will craft a beautiful, handmade gift to celebrate the important women in their lives.

Monday 7th April

Create A Play | Tue, Apr. 01 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | Friary House, Friary Road, N20 0NR | TBA | Join in this Easter for a chance to improve your confidence, communication, and team work skills, all while having fun and being creative. Sessions run from the 7-10th of April, for children and young people aged 10-18 with autism and learning disabilities. | Email Ben.

OLDER PEOPLE

Wednesday 26th March

TALK: Love and relationships by Professor Catherine Loveday | Wed, Mar. 26 | 6:45 pm to 8:00 pm | Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, N2 8LT | FREE | Catherine talks about the connection between memory and love and how we can use this to improve our relationships.

ARTS

Sunday 23rd March

North Middlesex Golf Club Craft Fair | Sun, Mar. 23 | 11:30 am to 4:00 pm | Manor House Frien Barnet Lane, N20 0NL | Free entry | Particularly Crafty Presents the North Middlesex Golf Club's Craft Fair with proceeds of the raffle at this event going towards North London Hospice. The Fair has been moving around North London and has once again come about selling all different homemade items.

COMMUNITY

Saturday 22nd March

Our Yard Workshops | Sat, Mar. 22 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | Clitterhouse Farm, Claremont Road, NW2 1AP | Free | Take part in a series of free, family-friendly workshops hosted by Our Yard. Get creative by making wildflower seed bombs, crafting bird feeders and help us sow a beautiful wildflower meadow.

Saturday 29th March

The New Russel Park Playground Opening | Sat, Mar. 29 | 2:00 pm | Russels Hub, N22 6PU | Free | Join the community for the opening of this new play area, designed, funded and delivered by the Noel Park Community.

MUSIC

Saturday 22nd March

Spring Choirs | Sat, Mar. 22 | 7:30 pm | St John The Baptist Church, Wood Street, EN5 4BW | £15 | Local choir Choirs R Us presents an evening of pop, soul, jazz and more on 22 March at St. John the Baptist in High Barnet.

Saturday 29th March

The Casimir Connection | Sat, Mar. 29 | 7:00 pm | London St Mary's Church, 2 Elsworthy Rd, NW3 3DJ | £16.50 | An evening with The Casimir Connection is one never to forget; beautiful, expressive music with exciting creative improvisation. Each piece tells a story or captures a mood or feeling.

THEATRE

Thursday 20th March

In Other Words | Thu, Mar. 20 | 7:30 pm | artsdepot, N12 0GA | £18 | Connected by the music of Frank Sinatra, this intimate, humorous and deeply moving love story explores the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and the transformative power of music to help us remember the past, connect with the present and hope for the future.

SUSTAINABILITY

Thursday 27th March

Webinar: The Wonder of Soil Science | Thu, Mar. 27 | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Online | Free | Join the Finchley Pollinator Project and horticulturist Deena J Kestenbaum to learn about soil science which is a fascinating subject that unlocks the secrets of life beneath our feet.

Events - Book Ahead

Saturday 26th April

Girl Guides Workshops - RAF Museum | Sat, Apr. 26 | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | RAF Museum London, NW9 5LL | £3 | A hands-on presentation about the links between Girl Guides and the RAF from 1919 to present, including stories of inspirational women a chance to explore and handle objects from our collection. The opportunity to try on real RAF uniforms and take some great photos.

Sunday 27th April

Flare Path | Sun, Apr. 27 | 7:30 pm | Incognito Theatre, 106A Holly Park Road, N11 3HB. | £11 | First performed in 1942, "Flare Path" is a deeply moving portrait of people at war and was inspired by the playwright’s own experiences in the RAF.

Saturday 14th June

Park Rock | Sat, Jun. 14 | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Copthall Playing Fields Barnet, NW4 1PS | £22.40 | Park Rock Barnet brings the UK's best tribute acts to Copthall Playing Fields. For an all ages day of pop, rock, and fun.

Local Lowdown

Retroing

  • Ride into the past. Jump aboard a free vintage London bus on Saturday 28th March. The iconic RT-type buses and more vintage buses will run the No 19 bus route. No need to book - just flag one down and enjoy a blast from the past, complete with a classic bus ticket if you’re lucky.

Rerouting

  • Detour drama. Barnet Road's closure for urgent sewer repairs means there's a detour until March 28th. This affects the main road between Arkley and Borehamwood. Bus routes 107, 384, and 614 Uno are rerouted, so check your maps and plan ahead.

Surfing

  • Speed test anyone? City Hall's new interactive map reveals internet speeds across London by postcode. Discover the fastest spots and the dreaded "not-spots" where buffering is a way of life. Check to see how fast the internet is in your area.

Self-caring

  • Flu fighters. Time is ticking. If you're over 65, pregnant, a carer, or living with health conditions, grab your free flu jab. The NHS program is due to end on March 31st. Don’t miss your shot at staying healthy this season. Find out where here.

Housing

  • Home sweet home, Brent Cross Town celebrates its first residents moving in. Conductor House now boasts 120 new homes, including social housing with private gardens or balconies and a communal garden for everyone. Almost 300 residences have already been completed in this bustling new neighborhood.

The Finchleyite: Omved Gardens

Omved Gardens in Highgate has launched the UK’s first Food Ecology Centre, a pioneering space blending urban farming, biodiversity, and community engagement. Set within a rewilded oasis, the centre reconnects people with food and nature through hands-on workshop, regenerative farming, and sustainable food systems.

Founded by a dedicated team, there are organic gardens, greenhouses, and communal learning spaces, visitors explore composting, seed saving, and climate-friendly growing. But it’s more than just food - it’s about rethinking how we produce, consume, and share it.

Through education, collaborations with local growers and chefs, and sustainability projects, Omved Gardens is planting the seeds of a greener future. This centre stands as a bold statement: the way we eat can nourish both people and the planet. Also seeking volunteers. And check out the Seed Saving Network.

Currently only open during exhibitions, events and community outreach programmes. Current exhibition – Into the Seeds of Time. Insta.

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Want your friends to feel more connected and more in the know?

Fabulous rewards are coming your way when you share Finchley Now. Spotify playlist, fridge magnets and the coveted Finchley Now mugs.

Next reward progress:
You've referred 0 people
0 of 3
You're just 3 referrals away from unlocking the Birthday shoutout in Finchley Now!
Because we love community, + we love you. Celebrate with us!
Share your unique link with your friends to refer them:

[RH_REFLINK GOES HERE]

Editors' Note - From Tessa

Went to watch the Bridget Jones Movie with my mum on Saturday night.

We went to the Hampstead Everyman (quite pricey, but very comfy seats, and lovely staff).

The movie was filmed in Hampstead. So walking out of the cinema across the same roads from the movie was a special treat.

If you've watched the others, you have to watch this one too.

Also, let us know about local events or local news. We curate our content to keep it a 5-minute read, so can't include everything we're sent.

You can now get a guaranteed (paid) listing for local events or local lowdown/news items.

​And email us with any projects or ideas you'd like us to write about.

Tessa Davis
Sasha Frieze

Finchley Now

Join 2500+ Finchley curious subscribers so you hear about local news and events before anyone else. Straight to your inbox, a 5 min newsletter 1x/week for free.

Read more from Finchley Now

Welcome This week we've got delicious local vegan options and another showcase from Finchley's most myterious artist. Plus two great community projects from the Tiny Forest and Archer Academy. 🌱 Our Local Vegan Vibe More Finchley residents are trying plant-based eating. So, we wanted to explore vegan options for our community. We couldn't find any in Finchley itself, but here are 3 that are close by (and a 4th that you won't want to miss) One of the 8 beautiful courses at Plates London 1:...

Welcome This week we've got some hyper-local sunset watching locations, insights into the history of Hampstead Garden Suburb - and where to get pizza for 33p. Let's party like it's 1965. 🌅Finchley-Friendly Sunsets Image source: Rob Riddle Flickr London is apparently the sixth most photogenic sunset spot, according to Titan Travel. And with spring finally sprung around these parts, it’s a great time of year for Finchleyites to look up at the sky in wonder and enjoy the beauty. Primrose Hill...

lush flowers and shrubs in a garden centre

Welcome The sun is (briefly) out and this week we've got some great local garden centres, the monthly opening of Barnet Physic Well and news that Barnet is the most family-friendly borough. 👩🌾 6 Must-visit Finchley(ish) Nurseries Image: Annie Spratt The sun has got its hat on today and that’s totally got us all thinking window boxes, spring flowers and a bit of gardening. Check out our list of six local garden centres, many with cute cafés for you to enjoy the sun. Finchley Nurseries NW7 A...