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This week, we look at 3 of Finchley's oldest roads, and you'll find out why (and where) we were front page news.

🚧 Finchley's Oldest Roads

Most of us hurry down Ballards Lane or pop around Church End without a second thought.

But these familiar routes are much older than they look - in fact, a few of Finchley’s streets can trace their origins back nearly 700 years.

Next time you’re out and about, consider this walk through local time travel, featuring 3 especially historic tracks that have shaped the area.

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1: Nether Street.

Documented as “old” by 1365, Nether Street is one of Finchley’s ancient arteries.

It once provided access to fields and homes and was sometimes labelled “Lower Street.”

​It linked to Ballards Lane at both ends, confirming its vital role - and in 1622, the name lingered as “le lower street”.

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2: Ballards Lane.

First named in 1421, Ballards Lane (likely after the Ballard family) has gone by more than one name - sometimes called “the Upper Road” and even “Barrow Lane” in the 15th century.

At one point, it finished where Victoria Park stands now.

A raised way was added in 1756, improving the connection to the Great North Road at North End.

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3: Hendon Lane (Finchley Hill).

Running from Hendon to Church End, Hendon Lane was named Finchley Hill back in 1659. It’s likely the same path as the medieval Alcockes Lane, helping people travel between communities for generations.

Imagine a time when this lane was just a country road threading through farmland.

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So while Finchley’s high street hustle is very much 21st century, the ground beneath your feet has a history as deep as any London borough.

Next time you stroll by, picture the centuries of footsteps that went before yours — and feel a bit more connected to the place we all call home.🚧🚧🚧

Events

ARTS

Wednesday 3rd December to Sunday 4th January

​The Tiger Who Came to Tea | Wed, Dec. 3 | 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm | artsdepot | Tickets from £15 | Judith Kerr's classic tale of teatime mayhem returns to artsdepot - expect oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos.

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Saturday 6th December

​The Young'uns at Christmas | Sat, Dec. 6 | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | artsdepot | Tickets from £19 | Three-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners The Young'uns head to artsdepot to perform a festive set full of harmony, heart and humour

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COMMUNITY

Thursday 4th December

​LinkedIn Local Barnet | Thu, Dec. 04 | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | The Prince of Wales, 2 Church Hill Rd, EN4 8TB | £12 | LinkedIn Local Barnet is all about transforming your digital connections into meaningful real-world relationships. Run by a passionate team of local entrepreneurs who co-host these community-focused, non-profit events.

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Saturday 6th December

​Big Christmas Party | Sat, Dec. 06 | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Green Man Community Centre, N2 9BA | Free | We’re gearing up for the most festive, joy-filled afternoon at the Green Man — free food, crafts, games, prizes, Santa’s Grotto and loads more.

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OLDER PEOPLE

Thursday 4th December

​Living Well In Barnet Event | Thu, Dec. 04 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | Free | John Keble Church, The Hale Deans Lane, Edgware, HA8 9NT | Free | Neuroscientist Professor Catherine Loveday will be sharing the science behind food and memory, plus there'll be talks and information stands on everything from care to housing needs.

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SHOPPING

Tuesday 9th December

​Guildhall Christmas Market | Tue, Dec. 09 | 5:15 pm to 9:00 pm | Entrance via Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, EC2V 7HH | £7 | The Guildhall Christmas Market on behalf of the British Red Cross is back for 2025. Do your Christmas shopping in a beautiful, historic setting and help us to be here for humanity.

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MUSIC

Tuesday 9th December

​Show Up Singers Winter Showcase | Tue, Dec. 9 | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | St Andrew’s Church, Southgate | £15 | A special winter concert of festive songs from the musicals featuring a performance from the children of St George’s primary school. All in aid of Farleigh Hospice.

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Friday 12th December

​Friday Late Music with Sarina Mantle | Fri, Dec. 12 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | OmVed Gardens, N6 5JF | £15 ( Concessions £7.80) | Sarina is an interdisciplinary artist, sound practitioner, and author of Women + Patterns + Plants. Expect an evening of experimental soundscapes, live music, and visual art that invites you to slow down, tune in, and experience the natural world in new ways.

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KIDS

Saturday 6th December

​Handmade Christmas Card Making Workshop | Sat, Dec. 6 | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Clitterhouse Farm Outbuildings Clitterhouse Playing Fields, Claremont Rd, London NW2 1AP | £10 | Get into the holiday spirit by creating your own unique cards to give to your loved ones, friends and family this season. Whether you're a crafting pro or a beginner, this workshop is perfect for everyone.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Friday 5th December

​Barn Conversations: Planet Soil Screening & Q&A | Fri, Dec. 5 | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | OmVed Gardens, N6 5JF | £7.20 ( Concession £5.20 ) | Join us to celebrate World Soil Day with a special screening of Planet Soil, a captivating documentary that reveals the hidden world beneath our feet. After the screening, stay for an engaging discussion on the vital role soil plays in sustaining life on Earth.

Events - Book Ahead

Monday 15th December

Christmas Concert and Singalong | Mon, Dec. 15 | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | The Ann Owens Centre - Age UK Barnet Oak Lane N2 8LT | TBA | Celebrate the festive season with us at Age UK Barnet. There'll be musical performances, a singalong, mince pies and nibbles, a glass or two of hot spiced apple juice, a tombola, a puzzle stall and a chance to buy Christmas cards designed by Age UK Barnet's art group. Just email Teresa or call 07502989403.

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Wednesday 17th December

The Joy of Singing Christmas Concert | Wed, Dec. 17 | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church, North Square, NW11 7AG | £15 | You are warmly invited to join the community choir’s popular Christmas Concert in aid of The North London Hospice. Tickets at the door. Joy of Singing will present an Evening of Festive Song, including a wide variety of other pieces.

Local Lowdown

Headlining

• Finchley made the (inside) front page news of the Daily Telegraph (above) about the Bus Lane removal. Roadworks are underway to put everything back to how it was before. A triumph for the community voice.

Shuffling

• Gypsy Gate on Muswell Hill Road, near Highgate Station, will close from today, Monday 24 November. It will stay closed for about nine months due to structural work in Highgate Wood. No need to panic - just pop through New Gate (one minute down Muswell Hill Road) or Archway Gate (three minutes along Archway Road) for easy access.

Fountaining

• Splash and sparkle. Brent Cross Town’s new Neighbourhood Square burst into life recently as the mayor flipped the switch on a rainbow-lit fountain. Crowds cheered, fireworks flared, and the evening shimmered with colour. The new square aims to be a lively hub where residents can stroll, sit, and connect.

Switching

• Star power returns. Harry Potter’s Rupert Grint and presenter Alex Zane flipped the festive switch in Highgate Village last week. Brass band cheer, glowing lights, and a bit of magic.

Re-routing

• Mays Lane makeover complete. Barnet Council’s largest road safety scheme now covers 6.75 km. It includes new crossings, a 20 mph zone, and a mini-roundabout to reduce speeding. The old width restriction is gone. This change helps buses, fire engines, and school traffic move more smoothly. It also cuts down on idling fumes.

The Loneliest Tube Station

Mill Hill East seems a bit out of place on the Tube map. It’s a lonely spur that branches off right after Finchley Central. However, it was intended to be the beginning of something much larger.

In the 1930s, planners created the Northern Heights scheme. It aimed to extend the line from Mill Hill East through Mill Hill (The Hale) to Edgware and into Hertfordshire.

Three new stations were proposed beyond Edgware: Brockley Hill, Elstree South, and Bushey Heath. They aimed to serve new commuter suburbs.

Work actually began, and you can still spot clues today.

At Edgware, the tracks end in a tunnel where the extension was planned. Around Cannons Corner, you can see bridge remnants and the start of what would have been Brockley Hill station.

War, post-war austerity, and Green Belt rules ended the dream.

Mill Hill East remains the last piece of a line that never reached the suburbs it was meant to serve.

Editors' Note - From Tessa

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Hit a local escape room over the weekend. The Davis family headed to Game Over London - an escape room NEAR (but not IN - in case you're looking for it) Brent Cross Shopping Centre.

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We got a lot of sympathy hints from the Escape Room team, but we did manage to complete it in time.

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Recommended for a family day out.

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.

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

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Tessa Davis Sasha Frieze