How much do you know about Harrow?

If you’re staying nearby or in the town itself, it pays to know more about it – both today and in the past. As with any town of this size (it’s home to over 200,000 people), you can find lots to see and do in the area.

Harrow is situated around 15 miles outside the City of London. It is located to the north-west of the city and to the west of the M1. It is within the London Borough of Harrow in outer London. It covers an area of around 50 square kilometres, so you’ve got a lot of ground to cover if you’re staying there.

Harrow was originally part of Middlesex, but the expansion of Greater London swallowed the town and changed its status in 1965. Before that, there is no doubt that the arrival of the railway in the 1800s made it far easier to travel to and from the town.

Today, getting around in Harrow is easy. There are plenty of good transport links to use. A network of bus routes go past Harrow Bus Station, which is just outside St George’s Shopping Centre. Further north in Harrow Weald, you’ll find the Bus Garage.

The town is served by the mainline station Harrow on the Hill. The Metropolitan line also goes through the area. West Harrow Station is to the west of the mainline station, while Northwick Park is to the east. The Bakerloo line also runs north to south on the eastern side of town.


Harrow is fantastic to visit for shopping, but it’s got plenty more to offer as well. For example, you might be surprised at the range of green spaces in the area. Between Harrow, North Harrow, Harrow Weald, and Harrow on the Hill, you’ve got lots of opportunities to stretch your legs. Look out for Roxbourne Park, which has its own miniature railway. Newton Farm Ecology Park is a short distance south-west of the town centre, where four different types of meadow have been set up. It also has a children’s playground and a healing garden to explore.

If you’re keen on architecture and spotting signs of years gone by, make time for a trip to Harrow on the Hill, too. You can walk from one to the other in about 20 minutes or hop on a bus. Harrow on the Hill is thought of as the historic part of the area. The age of many of the buildings gives it a charming feel.

As you learn more about the area, fascinating facts start to seep through. We discovered that the game of squash was invented at Harrow School. The famous boy’s school played racquet games for years, but in 1830 they realised that balls with the air let out of them were tougher to play with – hence no bounce. Few people know that but might curse the school once they find out! It’s just part of the history of Harrow you’ll soon know more about.


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