Living in Harrow

Your guide to moving to Harrow

Why Harrow is a good place to live

Harrow is a diverse and multicultural area, with a rich history and a vibrant community.

Away from bustling South Harrow, with all of its great eateries and cafes, sits Harrow on the Hill, a calm and leafy affluent part of town with a villagey feel, where you'll find the renowned Harrow School.

Harrow as a whole is teeming with period properties and is one of the capital's more affluent areas.

There are restaurants featuring practically every cuisine you can imagine here, while for shoppers, the winding High Street of Harrow on the Hill has independent stores, while St George's has some high street faves.

Parents are spoilt for choice when it comes to education in Harrow. Aside from its most famous school, the town also offers a wide range of Outstanding state schools to choose from.

What's Harrow famous for?

Harrow is probably most famous for its iconic Harrow School, a prestigious private school founded in 1572, whose alumni include Lord Byron, Winston Churchill and more recently, movie director Richard Curtis, actor Benedict Cumberbatch and singer James Blunt.

Harrow is also famous for its beautiful old buildings and fabulous architecture. One such example, the rather uncheery sounding Grim's Dyke, was bought by Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan fame in 1890.

Sadly Gilbert died at the residence after saving a woman who was swimming in the ponds there. The exertion of rescuing her l brought on a heart attack.

In Stanmore, there are two manmade ponds dating back to Roman times. Colloquially known as Caesar's Ponds, legend has it that Boudicca and her rebel army camped here.

The area's famous medieval church, St Mary's in Harrow on the Hill, is built upon an old place of pagan worship. The church was created in an attempt to convert non-believers to the Christian cause.

Things to do in Harrow

Tour Harrow School: this stunning collection of buildings has appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Crown and ITV's Endeavour, as well as Ed Sheeran's music videos and countless magazine shoots for the likes of Tatler, Ralph Lauren and Burberry.

The school organises regular public tours throughout the year and it's well worth a visit.

Harrow arguably has the most museums of any borough outside of the center of London.

Check out humorist and illustrator William Heath Robinson's work at the Heath Robinson museum, The London Motorcycle Museum, the RAF Museum and Harrow Museum, which delves into the borough's past.

For shopping, Harrow-on-the-Hill's High Street has some lovely independents and a villagey feel, while St George's shopping centre has H&M, TK Maxx and Boots among others.

And for foodies, Harrow caters to every possible taste and cuisine. Check out Bonoo for Indian tapas, the Eighty-Six Restaurant and Bar for modern European and Grove on the Hill for a delicious Italian.

For a great coffee and cake, lunch or brunch, head to Bru Coffee & More, Battels, Rara's Corner or The Doll's House on the Hill.

And if takeaway's your thang, you are literally spoiled for choice with too many options to mention.