Welcome

This week we've got our top 4 cycle routes and the most historic roads in North London.

Also check out the Pinner chess prodigy (not quite Finchley, but local enough for us to get excited, right?).

And Happy Birthday to Marilyn K for last Thursday, July 11th 🎂

🚲 Pedal Power: 4 Finchley Cycling Routes

Are you looking to revamp your weekend with a dose of adrenaline?

Are you a seasoned cyclist seeking thrilling new landscapes? Or maybe you're a beginner ready to take on a challenge?

We've got you covered with these 4 local cycle routes.

1: Hampstead Ponds – Hampstead Heath Loop from Brent Cross West, 25.7 km.

Kickstart your journey with this ride that offers serene views of Hampstead Heath’s famous ponds.

There are some sections that might have you pushing your bike. But it's worth it to enjoy the natural beauty of your surroundings.

2: North London Lanes Loop from East Finchley, 38.9km.

This ride is perfect for intermediates.

It combines mostly paved surfaces with a straightforward path. This makes it ideal for all skill levels.

The accessibility of this route means you can focus on enjoying the ride and the diverse scenery.

3: St Thomas A Becket Church – Hadley Green Pond Loop from East Finchley, 61.9km

Prepare for a journey that will demand excellent fitness.

This ride is suitable for all skill levels and offers a blend of historical and natural landmarks.

It does include some steps where you will need to carry your bike.

4. Herts Loop From East Finchley, 67.4 km.

For those who dare, this 67 km round trip will test your endurance with its challenging inclines and rewarding descents.

The route unfolds through some of the most picturesque landscapes, offering rolling hills and the kind of satisfaction that comes from pushing yourself.

So, why wait?

Oil that chain, pump those tyres, and get going.

For those thinking, “I want to raise my cycling game”, you can do it. Check out the Finchley Racing Team, open to club members and visitors.🚲

Events

KIDS

Summer Open Days - Better Barnet | Sat, Jul. 20 | Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre, Burnt Oak Leisure Centre, Finchley Lido, Hendon Leisure Centre, New Barnet Leisure Centre | Free | School’s out and the fun is in. The National Open Day is back, Celebrate with a range of free activities available for all local residents to try! What's more, you can get active, meet new people and explore new sports across all five Barnet leisure centres.

OLDER PEOPLE

ARTS

Royal Free Charity Summer Concert | Sat, Jul. 20 | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | St Mary's Church, Hendon Lane N3 | Free | A musical fundraising event run by Manny Hammond - A Royal Free Charity Ambassador and Finchley local. Featuring Harpist Sue Rothstein and other guests with refreshments served after. Collection for the Royal Free Charity.

Natural Aspect Summer Concert | Sun, Jul. 21 | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Parliament Hill Bandstand, NW5 1QR | Free | Experience the biggest free live music concert of the summer on Hampstead Heath, hosted by the Heath & Hampstead Society. Bring your friends, family, picnics, and sun cream for a fantastic day of music and fun in the heart of nature.

Introduction to Watercolour painting | Sat, Jul. 27 | 11:00 am to 12:30 pm | Clitterhouse Farm, Claremont Rd, NW2 1AP | Adult Tickets (14+) £15. Children's Tickets £10. | Pop over to the beautiful Clitterhouse gardens and join local artist, Janine for a laid back Saturday morning Watercolour workshop. Immerse yourself in nature and find inspiration. A practical workshop, aimed, no experience needed, all materials provided.

NATURE

The Nature Roadshow | dates in July and Aug | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | The Regents Park, The Broadwalk Cafe, NW1 4HJ | Free | Enjoy drop-in activities perfect for families and budding environmentalists; including: a summery scavenger nature trail, a closer look at nature at the mini-museum, get cosy at story time and creating your own nature crafts and have a go with interactive games.

SPORTS

COMMUNITY

Work Avenue - Networking to Grow Your Business | Tue, Jul. 16 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm | The Wohl Enterprise Hub Redbourne Avenue, N3 2BS | Free | Gain practical skills in expanding your network and leveraging your contacts in order to help you grow your business like creating and perfecting the "elevator pitch".

Summer Party At Stephens House & Gardens | Fri, Jul. 19 | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | Stephens House & Gardens, N3 3QE | £10.50 | Join everyone in the gardens for an evening of live music from SH&G favourites "the Johns". Then Try your hand at some garden games or just relax in the beautiful gardens enjoying the BBQ That will be provided.

Church Walk: Golders Hill Park And Hampstead Heath | Sun, Jul. 21 | 12:45 pm to | St Mary-at-Finchley, 26 Hendon Lane, Finchley, N3 1TR | TBD | This will be an interesting and varied walk (about 5 miles) through the Park and Heath, leaving Church at 12.45 pm. For further details, please contact June Nash.

THEATRE

Robin Hood | Thu, Jul. 18 | 7:30 pm to | Stephens House and Gardens, N3 3QE | £18 | Join utter legends Robin, Marian and the Merry Men in Sherwood Forest for a hilariously adventurous take on the timeless tales of everyone's favourite archer. Prepare to have your blocks busted, your rips roared and your swashes well-and-truly buckled!

River Stage | Fri, Jul. 19 | 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm | River Stage, National Theatre, Upper Ground, SE1 9PX | Free | Join for a variety of exciting performances on the South Bank from three brilliant partners, in collaboration with the National Theatre. Worth leaving Finchley for.

Summer Flying Theatre - Trailblazers | Thu, Jul. 25 | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | RAF Museum London, Grahame Park Way, NW9 5LL | £10.00 - Child, £12.50 - Adult, £40.00 - Family (prices vary on seating) | An exhilarating and immersive performance that unveils untold stories of unsung heroes this summer at the RAF Museum London.

Events - Book Ahead

Upfest Art House At Ashridge House | Sun, Aug. 04 | 9:30 am to 4:30 pm | Ashridge, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1NS | £17.12 | Get ready for an unforgettable experience as the creators behind Europe's largest live street art festival, Upfest, bring their vibrant urban art to the regal gardens of Ashridge House. This summer, the picturesque grounds will be transformed into a stunning urban canvas, showcasing the talents of world-class street artists for a day out the whole family can enjoy. Worth leaving Finchley.

Parliament Hill Bandstand - Dig it Soundsystems | Fri, Aug. 23 | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Parliament Hill Fields, Hampstead Heath, NW5 1QR | Free | Dig It Soundsystem brings the beats to the Summer Concerts series! Expect Reggae/Dance tunes and good vibes at Hampstead Heath.

Under The Sea Ball | Sat, Aug. 31 | 10:30 am to 1:00 pm | Finchley Youth Theatre, N2 9ED | £14.50 | Dive into a magical underwater adventure at the Under the Sea Ball, featuring the Island Princess, the Mermaid Princess and real Mermaids! This unforgettable event is packed with fun activities and memorable experiences for children ages 2+.

Local Lowdown

Chess

Pawn Star. 9-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan from Pinner’s St John Fisher Catholic Primary School will be the youngest to represent England in any sport, playing in the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. She is a Woman FIDE Master, European Blitz Chess Champion, and the world's top under-10 girl in chess.

Ornithology

Finchley Flock. Britain's ring-necked parakeets, initially released or escaped in the 1950s, are now common nationwide, and often in Finchley. Origin myths debunked, their population explosion poses environmental and agricultural risks, outcompeting native species and damaging crops. Love them or hate them, these invasive birds are likely here to stay.

Healthcare

Trusts Unite. North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust plans to merge with the Royal Free London group, aiming to enhance patient services and community health. The merger, pending NHS England approval, promises reduced waiting times, improved specialist care access, and better community services while maintaining existing hospital functions.

Sustainability

Mend Magic. Marks and Spencer is launching a clothing repair service to meet the growing demand for sustainable fashion. Customers can book repairs online, with services starting at £5. This initiative aims to extend garment life and promote mainstream clothing repairs. Islington store in first phase; will Temple Fortune follow?

Filming

Blooming Bridget. Sayeh & Galton Flowers in Hampstead was chosen as a filming location for "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy," delighting owner Sayeh Rafiei. Filming included lead actress Renée Zellweger and temporarily closed Flask Walk. The movie releases on February 14, 2025, marking the shop's 20th anniversary.

The Legacy of Cressy and Agincourt Roads

The junction of Cressy Road and Agincourt Road, NW3

In NW3, two important historic roads cross - Cressy Road and Agincourt Road. They hold a reminder of a significant period in English history.

These roads have names in honour of two iconic English victories from the Hundred Years War.

The battles of Crécy in 1346 and Agincourt in 1415 are remembered for their groundbreaking strategies and staggering odds.

At Crécy, King Edward III's forces, armed with the longbow, overcame the French army under King Philip VI. This battle marked a turning point for the English.

Nearly seventy years later, the Battle of Agincourt saw King Henry V replicate this triumph, despite his troops being heavily outnumbered.

The roads were named to commemorate these past victories. They are also there to remind us that we can overcome the odds.

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Editors' Note - From Tessa

The Davis Family are officially Switfies after a few of us headed to watch The One And Only Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour.

You might be sick of everyone talking about it, but we're going to nonetheless.

The Family went armed with these:

If You Know, You Know.

Also, let us know about local events or local news. We curate our content to keep it a 5-minute read, so can't include everything we're sent.

You can now get a guaranteed (paid) listing for local events or local lowdown/news items.

And email us with any projects or ideas you'd like us to write about.

Tessa Davis

Sasha Frieze

Finchley Now

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