May 25, 2024

Is Enfield a Nice Place To Live? Discover What Enfield Has to Offer

Enfield is a large town in North London, situated 10 miles from Charing Cross and just south of the Hertfordshire border. It is a town with a colourful history as it was the place to have the first cash machine but it is also well known for tales of the Enfield poltergeist.

Ghosts aside, within this article we are going to dive into the question – is Enfield a nice place to live? We will look at what Enfield has to offer so you can make an informed decision.

Overview of Enfield

Enfield’s history dates back to Anglo-Saxon times and it has seen steady growth since this time period due to its close proximity to the centre of London. In modern day, it has a population of over 150,000 and it is made up of many areas of London including Brimsdown and Clay Hill.

It has a lot of cultural significance due to the tales of the Enfield Poltergeist which first began in the late 70s. The tales brought paranormal investigators from around the world and has been the subject of many television shows and the 2016 film, The Conjuring 2. Nearly fifty years later, plays and television shows are still being made about the Enfield Poltergeist and so even though it was discovered to be a hoax, it really put Enfield on the map.

Transportation Links in Enfield

Trains

Enfield has two train stations and Enfield Town the northern terminus for the overground route to Liverpool Street. This journey takes just over 30 minutes. From Liverpool Street, you can get onto the Central, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines and various rail services. Enfield Chase is on the Great Northern Line and you can get to Kings Cross in 25 minutes. The nearest underground station is Oakwood on the Piccadilly line’s Cockfosters branch.

Buses

Along with easy access to trains, there are also many bus services. The 313 GOES towards Chingford and Potters Bar, the 231 heads to Turnpike Lane, the 456 towards North Middlesex Hospital and there is also the N29 night bus between Enfield Town and Trafalgar Square.

Cars

For cars, there is the A10 on the doorstep as is the North Circular between Woolwich and Chiswick. Enfield is also a short distance from junction 25 of the M25.

Airports

For travelling further afield, London City Airport, Stansted Airport and Luton Airport are all within an hour’s drive from the town.

Housing and Real Estate in Enfield

When it comes to housing there are a variety of housing types available within Enfield, all varying in price.

Flats in Enfield come in on average at £295,000. Terraced properties have an average asking price of £525,000. Semi-detached is £650,000 and detached is £675,000.

Education and Schools in Enfield

Enfield has a great selection of schools, both state and private, with many of them receiving either a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted.

If you are looking for primary schools, outstanding primary schools include St George’s RC, Eversley, Worcesters, Forty Hill CofE, Kingfisher Hall and Enfield Heights.

For local secondary schools, Enfield County for girls and Highlands are both considered “outstanding”, as is Ark John Keats Academy which is named in honour of one of Enfield’s most famous scholars.

Safety and Crime Rates in Enfield

Enfield is a very family friendly place and whilst crime does exist, rates are lower than average compared to the rest of the Metropolitan Police force area and average in comparison to similar areas of the UK.

Local Amenities and Leisure Activities

Although Enfield is within London, renowned for being a bustling city, Enfield has many green spaces. There is Enfield Town Park which runs alongside the scenic New River, Chase Green Gardens, Bush Hill Park and the Enfield Playing Fields. There is also the beautiful Trent Country Park and Forty Hall Estate which is set in 273 acres of parklands and home to a fishing lake, organic farm and popular café. If you are really wanting to be immersed in nature, the 6,000-acre Epping Forest is only 25 minutes’ drive.

If you enjoy shopping more than nature, there is the Palace Exchange and Palace Gardens shopping centre in the middle of town for high street favourites such as M&S, H&M and Superdrug. There are also many big supermarkets such as Sainsburys, Tesco, Waitrose and Lidl within the local area. If you are more about independent retailers, head to Pearsons of Enfield, Holtwhites artisan bakery and deli or the family run furniture store Furncrafts.

When it comes to dining, there are a variety of options available in Enfield from chain restaurants such as Wagamamas, to local restaurants such as Zaza and there are also many gastro-pubs such as The Beehive.

Community Life in Enfield

Enfield has been classed as a market town since the 14th century and a local market is still held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9am – 4pm. This includes fresh meats, seafood, baked goods, gifts and homewares plus a food court selling international street food making it wonderful for locals and visitors alike.

There is also the Dugdale Centre which has many plays, musicals, live music and films on throughout the year. It also has an art gallery, cafe and the Museum of Enfield within it.

If you are a sporty type, there are many Sports football, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics and golf clubs available in Enfield too.