I live in Harlesden, with my wife and our newborn son, near the St Raphael’s Estate where I was born. Growing up, my church (All Souls Anglican), barbershop and primary school were here. I moved away for a couple of years for university and I missed it.
I love the diversity of Harlesden. You have all sorts — Portuguese, Brazilian, Jamaican, Somali — and with all these communities food is a constant feature. It’s a personable place to be — not overcrowded with high-rise buildings in which people don’t have the opportunity to form connections.
Eating and drinking
Food is my love language. My favourite spot is Sunset Caribbean. I could eat anything from there, but my favourite dish has always been the brown stew fish with rice and peas.
Other great Caribbean spots include One Stop, which specialises in jerk chicken, and Movements Caribbean.
For sit-down dining, there’s Nigerian restaurant Flavourz Africana. I had a delicious beef stew with jollof rice and plantain when I was last there.
Where I work out
I go running around the local area, including Wormwood Scrubs Park, a recreational space next to the prison. It’s a big, beautiful green space.
My boy is a bit young to play football with but I look forward to kicking a ball with him in the park one day.
For a culture fix
Local radio station The Beat London (formerly Bang Radio), founded 20 years ago by Jennifer Ogole, is a creative hub for aspiring artists who don’t have a public-facing profile yet. It was instrumental in providing me with some of my early opportunities.
There aren’t many arts venues — funding has disappeared — but there are music shops, such as Starlight Records London and Hawkeye Records on Craven Park Road.
There is also the Church End and Roundwood Unity Centre, which runs events such as a weekly Art Cafe. I’ve been doing recordings at The Collective Old Oak, a coliving and coworking space. There’s a lot of creative activity going on and it has a cinema.
To commune with nature
Roundwood Park has beautiful hills for walking, a playground for children and space for bike riding. Green space in the city needs to be cherished.
Since my son was born, I’ve been looking out for spaces like this where kids can get together. I want more in terms of how seriously we, as a society, take non-commercial children’s spaces: parks that are well equipped, well staffed, well funded and publicly available.
Grocery shopping
Blue Mountain Peak market is the best. People travel from nearby neighbourhoods to get access to everything it sells. It’s massive, with trusted imports for the diverse community. You can get seasonings from India, Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean. It’s where I’ll buy plantain and yams.
There’s also a range of independent butchers, including Brazilian Prime, and many fishmongers, such as Harlesden Fresh Fish.
Getting around
I tend to walk everywhere. Harlesden is on the Bakerloo Line, which goes to Marylebone, Oxford Circus and Waterloo, plus there’s an Overground line which goes directly to Euston.
Dream street
Craven Park Road is endearing to me. It might look like just another busy high road, but there’s a different pace in this part of London — people seem a little more grounded and connected. I’m often here with friends, or running errands. You can always hear music.
Something you only see in Harlesden
The local barbershops are an important community space. It’s a fortnightly check-in for everyone, where men are enjoying each other’s company: joking and reflecting on relationships, telling funny anecdotes. When I was living away from Harlesden, I missed that.
What’s the catch?
A slightly convoluted road system.
In three words
It’s a vibe.
Part of a Story That Started Before Me: Poems about Black British History (Penguin), an anthology selected by George the Poet, is out now.
Schools
John Keble Church of England Primary School and Harlesden Primary School both have Ofsted ratings of good, while Mitchell Brook Primary School and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School in nearby Willesden have an Ofsted rating of outstanding.
Capital City Academy, St Claudine’s Convent for Girls and Newman Catholic College for Boys are all local secondary schools with an Ofsted rating of good.
What it costs
Buying in Harlesden:
Average flat price: £441,970
Average house price: £1,056,770
Renting in Harlesden:
Average flat rent: £1,850 pcm
Average house rent: £3,690 pcm
Source: Hamptons & Land Registry
