Eat, play, snack: treats to try in North West London

After four long months, non-essential shops opened up again in mid April. And warmed by spring, the streets of North West London have started to come back to life. The sun was shining (sort of), lockdown was lifting (kind of) and, like everyone else, we were badly in need of both a haircut and a change of scene. 

There was only one thing for it: get out into the neighbourhoods around Brent Cross Town in search of a trim, a coffee and the tastiest pastries in strolling distance. One day, this new town amid 50 acres of parkland will be home to 6,700 households and a workplaces for 25,000 people – who will all find themselves surrounded by wonderful areas of London on every side.

As you explore locally, remember to follow the government’s Covid-19 guidelines by minimising travel, keeping distance and masking indoors.

A close shave on Cricklewood Broadway

If you’re a regular on Cricklewood Broadway, you’ll recognise the sign for Jack & Frank the barber. “STOP,” it reads, “Haircut £5”, illustrated by a smiling barber brandishing scissors and comb to block your path.

We settled in for a number 2 shave and got chatting to the woman who was waiting for her young son getting a haircut in the tiny joint’s only other chair. “The queue was unbearable on Monday [12 April],” she told us, “It was the longest queue in Cricklewood!” You won’t find anywhere better or cheaper than this place, she explained. And the £5 price tag? It’s not even a discount: Jack & Frank hasn’t raised its prices for years.

Falafel and free books around Cricklewood station

Feeling good as new, it was time for a bite to eat. Off the broadway, Cricklewood Lane is where you’ll find a cluster of stalls known as Cricklewood Market of a weekend. Today, Pilli Pilli falafel stall was still serving a steady stream of hungry passers by. Expect falafel that’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a drizzle of tahini sauce, plenty of pickles and a generous dollop of hummus.

Even if you’re not catching the train, it’s worth a peer into Cricklewood station on your way past for a rummage through the pop-up library. The rules are simple: take a book you like the look of, drop off a book you don’t want any more, or both. This bookcase-for-everyone is a project by Cricklewood Library, a community venture run by local people since 2011. The library proper is hoping to reopen soon and they’re on the lookout for volunteers.

Play in the park at Brent Cross Town

After a 20-minute saunter down picturesque Brent Terrace, we emerged at Brent Cross Town’s Exploratory Park, filled with older children playing table tennis, younger kids sliding down slides and parents relaxing on benches. We stopped to try some notes on the triangles and the tongue drum – a nod to the town’s ambitious music strategy – and asked a couple of women sitting by the slide for their thoughts about the park. Just one thing’s missing, they said: a place to get coffee. Good news: a cafe will be arriving next door later this year when our visitor pavilion opens.

Try treats in Golders Green

Half an hour’s walk later, and we’re among the stately, brick, terraced buildings and bustle of Golders Green high street. Cafe customers were making the most of the sun on pavement tables and we stopped for coffee at PITA. Don’t expect a latte from this award-winning Middle Eastern street food place: instead, their coffees are strong black Turkish brews with the grounds included. Try the cardamom coffee and its fragrant and complex flavours will win over any “no bits” sceptics.

Finally, it was time to hit up a Golders Green institution. Carmelli Bakery has been going since 1987, serving breads, pastries, sandwiches and custom-made cakes – all kosher. Amid racks of challah and rolls, the manager, Mery, explained that the bakery hasn’t stopped going all this time. In usual times, though, they’d be open all night on Saturdays to cater to the Jewish community who finish Shabbat at sunset. 

Mery recognises around 20 regulars who pop in every morning for bread, and the bakery is a magnet for the whole community. The sweetish, soft loaves and the style of pastries are also reminiscent of traditional bakes from countries such as Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, so plenty of people can find something here that tastes familiar. We leave with a bag of chocolate and apple rugelach; flaky, flavourful and sweet, these rolled pastries are the perfect end to a day out.