About Kentish Town
Kentish Town Area Guide
Kentish Town is situated between the busy hype of Camden and the village feel of Highgate and Hampstead, this pretty neighbourhood is becoming increasingly desirable and offers a fantastic community feel which is cherished by the local residents. Well connected, with abundant green space and home to a mixture of chain-stores and locally owned independents that are long established in the area. , With no shortage of trendy pubs, bars and tasty eateries, the thriving high street is a quirky shopping destination with plenty to offer.
Shopping in Kentish Town
Kentish Town is known for its independent retailers with shop owners who are proud of their local high street. The Owl Bookshop, approaching its 40th year of trading within the area, holds regular talks and book signings in-store. The alternative local Supermarket Phoenicia, is a Mediterranean food hall offering delights from eastern Europe and the Middle East, home to a huge range of staples and an in-house butcher and bakery.
Eating & Drinking in Kentish Town
From upmarket gastro pubs to full on fast food, Kentish Town has a food offering for every circumstance, from Chicken Shop, selling a selection of marinated rotisserie chicken and burgers, to the seasonal brasserie Neighbour, serving chilled locally sourced craft beers. For the best locally brewed lager, Camden Town Brewery is on hand, holding regular tasting tours giving you the perfect opportunity to sample some of the local brews and learn how it’s made! The 02 Kentish Town Forum also has an eclectic programme of well-known bands, club nights live music within the former art-deco cinema.
Parks and Green Spaces in and around Kentish Town
Talacre Gardens is a short walk from the centre of Kentish Town, providing a children’s play area, skate bowl, climbing wall, sports facilities and well-maintained formal gardens and manicured lawns. Parliament Hill is an expansive area of open parkland in the south-east corner, with tennis courts and notable walks linking through to Hampstead Heath.
Waterlow Park is just over a mile away and is steeped in local history across 20 acres of grassland and some of the best views in London, this attracts dog walkers all year round and is the setting for a number of festivals and fetes. The park is also home to Lauderdale House, home of Nell Gwynn which was also visited by Samuel Pepys and has a recently refurbished Terraced Garden and is a hub for local events, exhibitions and weddings, this is also a great spot for afternoon tea!
Situated between Kentish Town tube station and Kentish Town West Overground station, the Kentish Town Sports Centre is located in the historic building and has three swimming pools and a state-of-the-art gym with a programme of activity and fitness classes to take advantage of.
Transport in Kentish Town
By Tube: Kentish Town Underground Station is serviced by the Northern Line and falls within Zone 2. The area is well serviced for links into West London and the City of London.
Schools and Education in Kentish Town
Primary Schools
- St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School
- College Francais Bilingue De Londres
- Kentish Town Church of England Primary School
Secondary Schools
- Haverstock School
- The Camden School for Girls
- The Bridge School
Property in Kentish Town
With a number of hidden squares and private, secluded enclaves within the desirable Conservation areas, Kentish Town offers a mix of pretty period properties and a mixture of 1960s modernist buildings towards the Tufnell Park and Caledonian Road. The liveliness and access to green space attract young professionals and families, keen to take advantage of the well-connected transport links.
And now for a bit of History on Kentish Town
Kentish Town, originally a small village on the River Fleet, derived from ‘’Ken-ditch’ which means ‘the bed of a waterway’ the area was developed by the large rail and road infrastructures introduced to the area in the early 19th century meaning the water now runs underground. In the 17th and 18th century the area was renowned for being highly dangerous due to the number of highwaymen that targeted travellers passing through the area.
During the first half of the 20th century, the area was run down and dilapidated however a council initiative that began in the 1930s but wasn’t implemented until after WW2 was finally finished in the 1960s which pushed an aggressive redevelopment of the area to attract the middle classes.