Barnet

What is Barnet Like? 

There’s so much within Barnet that it defies pigeon-holing. The vibrant city incorporates modern developments, historic buildings, and vast expanses of beautiful countryside and nature reserves. 

This makes Barnet perfect for anyone who wants to take a step back from central London (which remains just 30 minutes away via Underground) without giving up the perks of city living. Barnet is a place with something for everyone; you’ll never get bored here. 

So you’ll appreciate Spires Shopping Centre and its large selection of familiar high street names. But you’ll also wander the stalls of Barnet Market, which is held every Wednesday and Saturday, browsing local produce, clothing, and antiques. When it’s time for entertainment, you can watch the latest releases at Everyman Cinema, or turn to the artsdepot for theatre productions and music events. 

Of a weekend, you might explore the local history by visiting Royal Airforce Museum London or Barnet Museum. Or perhaps you’ll take a trip to the wonderful Belmont Farm. 

With so much to find within Barnet, it’s hard to pick just a few highlights, but we recommend: 

• Visit the Royal Airforce Museum London for a stunning history of the RAF with aircraft such as Phantoms and Sopwith Camels on display, and take the chance to sit in a real Spitfire. 
• Belmont Farm is the only public farm of its size within London. Its mission of teaching Londoners about farming and the countryside means you can handle and feed the animals or even ride the tractors. 
• Take a walk through Hadley’s Woods and end up at Jack’s Lake. You’ll forget you’re in London at all. Both are lovingly maintained by volunteers, and there’s even fishing at the lake. 
• The artsdepot serves as the heart of artistic Barnet, putting on comedy, dance, tribute acts, children’s theatre, and more. There’s plenty to be entertained by at the artsdepot. 

Bars, Restaurants and Nightlife 

Whether you’re looking for a drink, a meal, or a great night out, there’s plenty of fantastic destinations in Barnet. 

Savoro’s premises have been an inn, a boat house, a bakery, a traditional tea shop, and today is a restaurant dedicated to imaginative cooking with the best ingredients, including Aberdeenshire beef, Peterhead cod, and Covent Garden vegetables. This is a meal destined to impress your dinner guests. 

For a dining experience that evokes sunny holiday vibes, try Melange. It serves dishes inspired by cuisines from Southern France, Italy and Spain alongside wines sourced from small independent wineries. You’ll love the cosy, holiday-like atmosphere, and the fresh ingredients combined with fresh ideas. 

If you’re looking for somewhere to have a relaxing drink, visit The Green Dragon. A country-style British pub, it proclaims a love for dogs, children, and muddy boots. More importantly, it serves a huge variety of craft beers, a rotating offering of local ales, an extensive wine list and a great range of gins. 

There’s been a pub on the site of Ye Olde Mitre Inne since 1553. Maintaining an authentic vibe with exposed brickwork, wooden beams, and open fires, this promises to be a “proper” pub by focusing on real ale, winning local CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year multiple times. 

Showcasing contemporary dance, comedy, drama and more, there’s something for everyone at the artsdepot. Audience members can choose from a variety of performances from Shakespeare to tribute acts, family musicals to powerful contemporary drama. The cultural hub of the artsdepot has something for everyone. 

Leisure Centres and Outdoor Activities 

If you’re looking to get active, there’s no better place to do it than Barnet. 

Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre boasts a gym with 70+ cardio and resistance stations, two 25m swimming pools as well as a learner pool for swimming lessons. There’s also a 5-court sports hall that accommodates badminton, basketball, gymnastics, football, and toddler’s soft play. You’ll also find Anytime Fitness within the Spires Shopping Centre, which is open 24 hours a day and offers a range of cardio equipment, a large selection of fixed resistance machines, and a comprehensive free weights section. 

Barnet offers golfers a wealth of choice when it comes to courses. The Old Ford Manor Golf Club was founded in 1910, designed by Harry Colt, one of the greatest golf course architects. In that time, it hosted national championships and entertained royalty. It’s thought that the Battle of Barnet of the War of the Roses was fought on the same land. So the club is steeped in history, all of which you can feel as you play across the 18-hole course. 

The Shire London is the only golf course in the UK designed by Seve Ballesteros, the Spanish golfer who is credited with bringing a new generation of fans to professional golf. Just like Seve, the club prioritises inclusivity over any traditional barriers that might put people off. So whether you’re enjoying the 18-hole Seve Masters Course, or the 9-hole Academy Course, you won’t need to adhere to a strict dress code. 

If these clubs haven’t enough history for you, how about some prehistory? Dinosaur Safari Adventure Golf features 18 holes nestled within cascading waterfalls, lagoons, lush greenery and tropical palm trees. But watch out: the course is patrolled by 9 dinosaurs from the Jurassic period! Where else can you try to sink a hole in one under the shadow of a life-sized diplodocus? 

History of Barnet

Barnet’s rich and fascinating heritage is present on every street corner. Visitors are often surprised by the abundance of historic sights, from its impressive grade II-listed Tower Mill to the famed Barnet Physic Well – a medicinal spa once frequented by Samuel Pepys. Most of these treasures date back to Barnet’s days as a rural town, when the area was best-known for its weekly market.

Despite its sleepy village past, Barnet did play a pivotal role in The War of The Roses. It was here that Edward IV defeated the Earl of Warwick in the Battle of Barnet. Although civil unrest was to follow in the Tudor period, the town still prospered as a trading hub. Queen Elizabeth I issued another market charter and Barnet became home to London’s largest meat market.

After the development of Barnet station in 1850, the population soared and neighbouring New Barnet was born. As infrastructure improved in the early 20^th century, the town left behind its rural image and became a vibrant borough of London.