Bush Hill Park: Affordable luxury

Popular with young professionals and families alike, Bush Hill Park is a pretty enclave in the borough of Enfield, only half a mile from its town centre. Its architecture is largely Victorian or later, and it is well-provided with green, open spaces and other important facilities.

Location and transport

Situated in travel zone five, residents of Bush Hill Park are well served in terms of transport links. A number of buses run through the area, and Bush Hill Park railway station has twice-hourly trains to both Enfield Town and London Liverpool Street. This route is set to become part of the London Overground network in May 2015, and the station will be run by Transport for London by the end of the year.

History

Like many areas away from the centre of London, Bush Hill Park began life as quiet farmland, although in this case part of the estate attached to the now-demolished Bush Hill Park House. While the area was first occupied by Roman settlers, it appears to have been abandoned after the end of Roman rule in Britain.

As part of the Bush Hill Park House estate, the location remained undeveloped until the arrival of the railway in 1880. The decision was taken to build a station for Bush Hill Park due to a series of planned housing developments, which were begun between 1880 and 1886.

Many of the early residents worked at the Small Arms Factory, which flourished during the Boer War of 1899-1902.

In 1987, Bush Hill Park was designated a conservation area, which has limited the scope of any modern or future developments.

Amenities

Parents will be pleased to know that there are a number of good local schools, such as Raglan Infant School and Bush Hill Park Primary School, both of which are rated good by Ofsted. Secondary schools seem to be even better, with both the Latymer School and Enfield County School classed as outstanding.

The area is also home to a variety of restaurants, pubs and other eateries, with something to cater for all tastes. However, it is still a primarily residential zone, so those hoping for a variety of shopping opportunities will need to head down to Enfield town centre.

The large open spaces of Bush Hill Park are one of its biggest selling points, with Bush Hill Park Recreation Ground serving as the jewel in the crown. There is also a good range of sports clubs in the area, catering to all ages and skill levels.

Housing

Both renting and buying property in Bush Hill Park is significantly cheaper than the London average, making this a great choice for those on a budget who don’t want to compromise on space or aesthetics.
Many of the grander old residences have been replaced or repurposed into modern flats, meaning that there is plenty of choice when it comes to the type of properties on offer. For those who opt for houses, the well-kept front gardens are an area of frequent admiration, meaning that this could be a good home for the green-fingered.

Published 11th March, 2015

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