Finchley news
Finchley news, newest first, from Barnet Live: planning, roads, schools, business and what's on in Finchley, with every story linked to its source.
Top story
Oxford Street Traffic Free: Footfall Up 16% in Week One
Footfall rose 16% and spending 28% in Oxford Street's first traffic-free week, City Hall says. Buses ran well, TfL says, including the four from Barnet.
More stories
Christmas
Christmas Day in Barnet: 8 Pubs Pouring Pints and Carving the Turkey
Eight Barnet borough pubs open on Christmas Day 2026, from a £61.99 lunch at the Five Bells to £125 at the Spaniards Inn. Updated November 2026.
Transport
Oxford Street Traffic Free: What Changes for Barnet Buses
The 13, 113, 139 and 189 from Barnet now use stops off Oxford Street's closed stretch, and the Northern line still gets you there. Checked November 2026.
Christmas
Christmas Trees Near Barnet: 8 Places to Buy One, or Rent It for December
We checked 8 places selling real Christmas trees near Barnet, from the Finchley pitch to rent-a-tree firms, for 2026 prices and dates. Updated November 2026.
Food & Drink
Christmas Dinner in Barnet 2026: Pubs With Prices
10 Barnet borough pubs with 2026 Christmas menus, deposits and hygiene ratings, and Christmas Day lunch from £61.99 to £125. Checked November 2026.
Food & Drink
Cafes in Barnet: 10 Worth Finding, From Fortis Green to the Heath
We checked 10 Barnet cafes, from Campbell & Syme in East Finchley to Oak Hill Park Café, for opening hours and hygiene ratings. Updated October 2026.
Food & Drink
Brunch in Barnet: 8 Spots Worth Getting Up For, From Turkish Eggs to Babka
8 Barnet brunch spots, from Cup of Joy in East Finchley to Huddle Caffe in High Barnet, with menu prices, opening hours and booking rules. Checked October 2026.
Family
Soft Play and Rainy-Day Places Near Barnet
We checked 10 Barnet soft play venues, from free play at artsdepot to AeroPlay at the RAF Museum, for prices, ages and opening hours. Updated November 2026.
Family
Barnet Playgrounds and Parks for Children
15 free Barnet playgrounds listed with ages, cafes, toilets and transport, from Fair Play in New Barnet to Golders Hill Park. Checked October 2026.
Walks
Walks Near Barnet: 11 Routes Worth Getting Your Boots Muddy For
11 walks near Barnet with distances, mud, toilets and stations, from the Dollis Valley Greenwalk to Trent Country Park. Checked October 2026.
Food & Drink
Sunday Roast in Barnet: Where to Book, Checked October 2026
Nine Barnet pubs for a Sunday roast, with prices from £15.49 to £28, plus hours, booking rules and hygiene ratings for each. Checked October 2026.
Finchley
Finchley Roadworks: Road Closures and Traffic Orders Near Finchley
Finchley roadworks: Temple Fortune Lane (from 16 Nov) and every other traffic order within 3 km, checked each morning with the council's notice linked.
Finchley
Finchley Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
Finchley weather today: overcast, 8°C by day and 3°C overnight, with a 0% chance of rain and winds up to 12 mph. Seven-day forecast, updated every morning.
Food & Drink
Best Restaurants in Barnet: 12 Places Worth Crossing the Borough For
We checked 12 Barnet restaurants, from Odos in High Barnet to Izgara in Edgware, for prices, opening hours and hygiene ratings. Updated October 2026.
Food & Drink
Pubs in Barnet: 15 Locals, From Coaching Inns to a Finchley Brewpub
We checked 15 Barnet pubs, from Ye Olde Mitre Inne to the Spaniards Inn, for opening hours, food, dogs, gardens and hygiene ratings. Updated October 2026.
Arts
AYD100 Finchley: £210,000 in Dance Scholarships Last Year
AYD100 is back at London Studio Centre, North Finchley, 26 to 30 October: five days of dance for young Black dancers aged 12 to 19, with scholarship auditions.
Planning
Finchley Golf Club padel plan: floodlit courts until 10pm
Finchley Golf Club wants two floodlit padel courts in its Frith Lane car park, open 7am to 10pm in summer. Comments close 5 November; the noise report inside.
Schools
Chalgrove Primary Ofsted: Strong in 6 of 7 Areas
Ofsted graded the Finchley school Strong standard in six of seven areas. 86% of its Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
What's On
Light + Flight: Finchley Lakeside opens free for a festival
Barnet's free Light + Flight festival opens Finchley Lakeside to the public for the first time on 14 and 15 Nov, then moves to the RAF Museum and artsdepot.
Health
Barnet drops 'gap' finding over closed Finchley pharmacy
Barnet said in June the Fairview closure could leave a gap. New analysis says it does not: 71 pharmacies become 70, and no pharmacy nearby opens Sunday.
Health
North London Hospice Appeal: £2m Left of £10.3m Rebuild
The hospice needs £2m more for its £10.3m Woodside Avenue rebuild. Inpatient beds are at Edgware Community Hospital until the new unit opens in August 2027.
Crime
Finchley Shooting: Man Charged, Old Bailey Trial in 2027
A man arrested in Spain is charged with murder and three firearms counts over the fatal Dale Grove shooting. He is remanded until a trial next June.
Planning
Finchley Garage: Inspector Overrules Barnet, 9 Flats Win
Barnet refused nine flats at Glebe Motors on Glebe Road in May, saying the homes would be substandard. A planning inspector allowed the appeal on 19 August.
Finchley
College Farm Finchley reopening: funding deal, 3 hurdles
College Farm has a funding partner after 25 years shut. The Charity Commission inquiry is still open, no planning application is filed, and no sum has been named.
Planning
Finchley shisha lounge: retrospective bid, comment by 24 Sep
A 50-seat shisha lounge with a retractable roof has been built behind 225-229 Regents Park Road without permission. Barnet's site notice runs to 24 September; decision due by 19 October.
Schools
Moss Hall Junior, Finchley: Ofsted strong in all six
Ofsted graded the Nether Street school Strong standard in all six areas of its new report card, from achievement to inclusion. Safeguarding met.
Health
Finchley Memorial Hospital pharmacy closing 30 Aug: act by 28th
Fairview Pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital shuts for good on Sunday 30 August. Collect prescriptions and re-nominate by Friday 28 August: the last two days are collections only.