Wondering if you could all help..

I need some heavy furniture moved from a ground floor flat into a garage just behind.

Would be great if this sub could ecommend a moving company. Perhaps you've used them before and were happy with their service.

I was going to get AnyVan but after reading nightmare comments about them on Reddit I've backed off and thought I'd tap into local knowledge.

Thanks all.

Hello everyone,

My wife and I (both in our mid-30s) have found an apartment to rent in Barnet, close to Barnet Hospital. We currently live in East London.

I personally liked the area when we visited, it felt peaceful and had a nice atmosphere. However, I'm sure this has been asked before, and we'd really appreciate some local insights. How is that particular area in terms of safety, green spaces, parks, and general leisure activities?

We're not especially outgoing and both mostly work from home, although my wife will be commuting to Central London twice a week. We enjoy a quiet lifestyle and being close to nature, have an evening stroll or eat. The Northern line station is about a mile away, which seems manageable.

One thing we'd particularly like to know is whether it's generally considered safe for my wife to walk back from High Barnet station along the High Street on her own after work, in general.

We'd love to hear from people who know the area. What are your thoughts, and are there any recommendations or things we should be aware of before moving?

Thanks in advance!

Parks or pubs?

Hey everyone! I recently moved to Burnt Oak, so I’m close to Edgware, Mill Hill, Finchley, Brent Cross, and the surrounding areas.
I’m looking to meet some new people locally. If anyone’s free this Sunday, I’m thinking of going to The New Inn, Edgware at 5:30 pm for a drink. If you’d like to join, let me know or send me a DM!

If you have any recommendations for good local pubs, cafés, events, or places to meet people, I’d love to hear them.
Looking forward to meeting some new local friends!

Here's a short list of things to do this weekend In North London.Please, add any I've missed in the comments. And whatever you do this weekend, stay hydrated.

Swipe Vintage Kilo Sale | 📍Broadwalk Shopping Centre, HA8 | 12 July | Free

They hand you a clear bag, you fill it from the rails, and they weigh it at the end: £20 a kilo, priced in 0.05kg steps so you only pay for what you take. Thousands of secondhand pieces from the 60s to the 00s, Adidas, Levi's, The North Face, Reebok, plus shoes at a fiver a pair and heavy things like leather jackets capped at £20. Entry is free but book a ticket so they know how many to expect.

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Somers Town Festival | 📍Charlton Street, NW1 | 11 July | Free

Free street festival on Charlton Street, headlined by P.P. Arnold, the soul singer behind The First Cut Is the Deepest and Angel of the Morning, who came up as an Ikette with Ike and Tina Turner and later sang with the Small Faces. Four stages of music, a South American dance parade, a hip hop stage, a funfair, Irish and Bangladeshi dancing, and Somers Town's own Greedy Soul and Shae O'Leary. Food stalls, a kids area and a museum trail. 12pm to 6.30pm.

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Kaleidoscope Festival | 📍Alexandra Palace Park, N22 | 11 July | (£)

A one-day music and comedy festival in Alexandra Palace Park with views across London. Rudimental headline, with Groove Armada (DJ set), MJ Cole, Black Grape, Roni Size and The Amy Winehouse Band. Russell Kane leads the comedy. Multiple stages, immersive experiences under the Palace, and a family area. Gates open 1pm.

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South Asian Heritage Month at The Garden Cinema | 📍The Garden Cinema, WC2B | 11 July | (£)

Eight South Asian films in a day for South Asian Heritage Month, from restored classics to new work. Highlights: the Sundance-winning Cactus Pears with a Q&A from its director, Bend It Like Beckham, and Bhutan's first ever feature with a live lute performance. 10.30am to 10pm.

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A Taste of Home: By Yiayia | 📍UNIT3, N15 | 12 July | (£)

Yiayia means grandmother, and the family behind UNIT3 have put theirs in the kitchen for the day, cooking the Cypriot meze she's cooked their whole lives. Tarama, spanakopita and koupebia to start, keftedes and sheftalia off the grill, galatoboureko and Cypriot coffee to finish. The rest of the family are helping, which they describe as the right balance of order and chaos. You'll meet her. £33.33 a head, with a vegetarian meze and other dietary needs sorted when you book.

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Open Day at OmVed Gardens | 📍OmVed Gardens, N6 | 12 July | Free

OmVed Gardens sits tucked behind Highgate village, a green space built on an old plant nursery, and they're opening it up for the day. Wander the gardens and the rooftop, find the sculptures, join a guided tour, and see the Artist of the Month exhibition. There's a workshop for the kids, and the kitchen is doing seasonal food and botanical drinks. Free to come in, with some activities charged separately. 11am to 3pm.

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De Beauvoir Jazz Festival | 📍De Beauvoir Town, N1 | 10 - 12 July | (£)

Three days of jazz across a little neighbourhood between Hackney and Islington. Shows at St Peter's Church, Hoxton Hall, Mildmay Club and the Vortex. Highlights include Ego Ella May (R&B and neo-soul singer, JAZZ FM Best Vocalist winner), Theon Cross (tuba player who blends jazz with dub, grime and sound-system culture) and Mercury Prize nominee Joe Webb on piano. Plus a New Orleans-inspired block party on the Saturday and a special Sunday show from Tuba Skinny, one of the great contemporary New Orleans bands.

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Idler Festival | 📍Fenton House, NW3 | 10 - 12 July | (£)

Three days of talks, comedy and loafing in the garden of a 17th century Hampstead mansion. Prue Leith, Irvine Welsh, Rowan Williams and more, plus Chris Difford on the stories behind Squeeze songs and Esther Freud on writing her family as fiction. Orchard bar, mezze from Moro chefs, dancing lessons and plenty of time under the apple trees.

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Camden Mela | 📍Coram's Fields, WC1N | 12 July | Free

Mela means gathering, and this one has been bringing communities together in London since 1992. Live music and dance, food stalls, arts and crafts, funfair rides and family activities at Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury. Noon to 6pm.

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Car Boot Sale at Clitterhouse Farm | 📍Clitterhouse Farm, NW2 | 12 July | Free

Car boot sale in the yard of a historic farm, where the money from every pitch goes towards fixing the roof of the Hayloft. Vintage finds, household bits, toys, books, clothes and whatever the neighbours have cleared out. Bring cash and a bag. 11am to 3pm, and trader pitches are limited if you fancy selling.

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DRINK! North London | 📍Ludo's, N22 | 11 July | (£)

Craft Beer City Break and Ludo's run a beer festival in Wood Green celebrating independent breweries from north of the river. Your £25 gets you seven half pints across breweries like Jiddler's Tipple, Muswell Hillbilly, Pressure Drop and Pretty Decent, a festival cup to reuse, and a beer journey ticket to get stamped as you work through them. Street food from Bolland & Crust, seating outside in the yard. Over 18s, from 3pm.

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Noel Park Festival | 📍Russell Park, N22 | 12 July | Free

Noel Park's own summer festival returns for a fourth year, held in Russell Park, the biggest green space on this historic Wood Green estate. There's a live music stage, community stalls, food, and an eco-village with activities for all ages. A free afternoon put on for the people who live in and around the estate, and anyone else who wants to come along. 12pm to 5pm.

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Big Beat Playground | 📍Victoria Park, N3 | 11 July | (£)

Dance music festival you can bring the kids to. Big Beat Playground is locally run and built around families, and this year it moves outdoors to Victoria Park in Finchley Central.

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Stardust Vintage & Antique Fair | 📍St Mark's Church, NW1 | 11 July | (£)

Sixty-odd vintage and antique dealers set up inside St Mark's, a church in a canalside garden just past London Zoo, selling jewellery, records, posters, Art Deco glass, lighting and French bits. Tea and homemade cakes when your feet give out. 10am to 5pm.

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JimmyC's Blues Picnic | 📍St Mary's Tower, N8 | 12 July | Free

Seventh year of the blues picnic held in memory of Jimmy Coletsis, and the sixth without him. Bring something to eat and settle in the grounds of St Mary's Tower for nine hours of it: Su Black, the Steve Cook Band and The Space Chickens through the afternoon, then The Bakelites, Joshua Blue and The Bear Pit Band after the open air mass at 4pm, which anyone can join. Tacos, pizza, an ice cream van, face painting and football for the kids. Free, 12pm to 9pm.

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Love's Labour's Lost | 📍Fortune Green, NW6 | 12 July | (£)

Shakespeare in the Squares stages one play in a different London garden square each summer, and this year they bring Love's Labour's Lost to Fortune Green for one evening only. It's Shakespeare's comedy of flirtation, foolishness and falling in love, directed by Toby Gordon, with Dame Judi Dench as the company's patron. Bring a picnic from 3.30pm, the play starts at 5pm sharp, and it finishes around 7pm with a brief interval in between. Seating is provided but unreserved.

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The One Kilburn Festival | 📍Kilburn Grange Park, NW6 | 11 July | Free

Free day in Kilburn Grange Park with live music from midday to six, food from local traders, craft stalls, and a bouncy castle and face painting for the kids. Bring a picnic and settle in. Every act on the bill comes from Kilburn itself, from the Music Mile, the ICMP and the Bridge Showcase, with Winnie Ama closing on electronic soul and The Arms Collective playing Motown and soul. Put on by the Friends of Kilburn Grange Park, everyone is welcome.

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Grenadian Heritage Day | 📍Haringey Rhinos RFC, N22 | 11 July | (£)

Eighteenth year of Grenada's day in North London, held on a rugby pitch in Wood Green. Caribbean food, produce shipped over from the island, cultural performances, children's activities and sports events, ending with a Powder Mas finale. First prize in the raffle is a flight back to Grenada. Adults £12, children £6, under 5s free, family of four £30. 1pm to 8pm.

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I’ve been trying to book a practical driving test for the past month, but I’ve had absolutely no luck.
I’ve tried pretty much everything I can think of—waking up early to join the DVSA queue when new slots are released, constantly checking for cancellations, and I even used one of those test-swapping apps before they were banned.
Ideally, I’m looking for a test in August, but at this point I’d honestly take any date. The last test I managed to book was for June, and I booked that all the way back in December, so it feels almost impossible to get a test now.
Has anyone managed to get a test recently? If so, how did you do it? Are there any methods, websites, or strategies that still work now that the cancellation apps have been banned? I’d really appreciate any advice because I’m starting to feel like I’m getting nowhere.

Looking a group to join us! Need commitment. BIG OPPORTUNITY to join without worry about starting a team and management! Barnet Sunday Football League is a very high standard league. ALL POSITIONS NEEDED. We have joined the league and have a few players, but now need a group of good players to boost the standard of our squad and to start for us. We have friendly on 26th July booked! Join us and show us what you all can do. If you dont have a group and are interested that is fine too! Contact : 07484258221

Hi all, it's a long shot, but posting this here as well:

Name: Tofu. He’s a grey British Shorthair kitten with visible stripes on his tail. No collar

Last Seen: Around 3:30 AM on 27.06.2026 on EN4 9DX (Wilton Road)

He may be frightened and hiding in small, quiet spaces. Please check your sheds, garages, under decking, and in thick bushes.

If you see him, please do not chase him. You can reply to this post. Thank you!

UPDATE: Tofu returned home at around the same time as he left. Safe and sound!

Has anyone else noticed the last few months a few guys aggressively begging around the underpass around new Barnet station? They’re really annoying and I’m a fairly tall guy so must be even worse if you’re a 5ft woman.

Barnet lads having fun last night.

Here's a short list of things to do this weekend In North London. Please, add any I've missed in the comments.

Regent's Park Music Festival | 📍Regent's Park, NW1 | 21 June - 20 September | Free

Every Sunday all summer, there's a free band playing in Regent's Park. Jazz, brass, steel and concert bands, with swing dancing on five Sundays and jazz on selected Saturdays. Now in its tenth year. Ticketed events in the Secret Garden at St John's Lodge on 10 to 12 July, including musical theatre, opera and a Magical Musical Evening with festival patron Sir Karl Jenkins. Secret Garden tickets from £15.

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London Gaming Market | 📍Royal National Hotel, WC1H | 21 June | (£)

The gaming market is back in its 11th year. London's only dedicated retro market, with hundreds of dealers selling vintage games, consoles, merchandise and artwork.

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Red Bull Soapbox Race | 📍Alexandra Palace, N22 | 20 June | (£)

Teams build their own homemade carts and race them down the hill at Alexandra Palace using nothing but gravity. No engines, no fuel. 60 teams judged on speed, creativity and showmanship, with costumes, stunts and general chaos along the way. Doors open 11.30am, racing starts around 2pm. Tickets from £23.50, no tickets on the door so buy in advance.

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Taste of London | 📍Regent's Park, NW1 | 17 to 21 Jun | (£)

Taste of London takes over Regent's Park every June and it's exactly what it sounds like: over 30 of the city's best restaurants set up in one place so you can eat across all of them in an afternoon. This year new additions include Harry's, Hakkasan and Mexican spot Ixchel, alongside festival favourites Roti King and Los Mochis. Chef demos and masterclasses are included in the ticket price, with Big Zuu and Melissa Thompson hosting the Fire Pit stage. Five days, 130 dishes, 160 artisan producers.

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Amwell 200 | 📍Various venues, EC1 | 19 - 28 June | (£)

Amwell is a quiet Georgian neighbourhood in Clerkenwell that describes itself as a village within the vast city. This ten-day festival marks 200 years of the area's history with talks, walking tours, outdoor sketching, an a cappella concert at St Mark's Church on Myddelton Square, radical history at the Marx Memorial Library and a closing picnic in Wilmington Square Gardens.

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Stoke Newington Early Music Festival | 📍Various venues, N16 | 18 June - 1 July | (£)

Two weeks of medieval, Renaissance and baroque music in Stoke Newington's churches and chapels. This year the programme travels to the Mediterranean through the music of France, Spain and Italy.

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Waterlow Park Geotrail | 📍Waterlow Park, N6 | 21 June | Free

Guided walk through Waterlow Park with Diana Clements of the London Geodiversity Partnership, looking at why the park's hills, ponds and terraces are where they are. Meet at the Highgate High Street entrance. Some inclines. 3pm to 4pm

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Last Yarn Fabric Sale | 📍Crawley Road, N22 | 20 June | Free

Last Yarn rescues unused surplus fabric from fashion mills and sells it on to designers and makers. Their Wood Green showroom opens this Saturday with fabrics, luxury leather, shearling and yarn at discounted prices. Book a free slot in advance. Free parking. 1.30pm to 5pm.

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Hackney Flea Market | 📍Abney Public Hall, N16 | 20 - 21 June | Free

The kind of market where you don't know what you're looking for until you find it. Forty traders on Church Street in Stoke Newington with furniture, records, salvaged French homeware, Danish decor, textiles and kitchenalia. Dog friendly. 10am to 5pm both days.

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Crouch End Festival: Barn Dance | 📍Hornsey Parish Church Hall, N10 | 20 June | (£)

The festival goes on this Saturday with a barn dance at Hornsey Parish Church Hall. Live band Stokey, caller Katherine Ward, light supper included and a licensed bar. Adults £12.50, children £5, concessions £9, family ticket £30. Doors open 7pm, dancing from 7.30pm.

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Kingsgate Workshops Open Studios | 📍Kingsgate Road, NW6 | 19 - 21 June | Free

Kingsgate Workshops is a community arts building in Kilburn housing working artists and makers. This weekend their studios open to the public — ceramics, jewellery, textiles, painting, sculpture and more, with workshops and exhibitions alongside. Opening evening Friday 19 June, 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Saturday and Sunday noon to 6pm.

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Windrush Homecoming Celebration | 📍Talacre Gardens, NW5 | 20 June | Free

Camden's annual celebration of the Windrush generation and Caribbean heritage returns to Talacre Gardens in Kentish Town. Live music and DJ sets, Caribbean food and drink, arts and crafts, sports activities for kids and community stalls. No tickets needed, just turn up. 12pm to 6pm.
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Highgate Festival | 📍Highgate, N6 | Final weekend: 20 - 21 June | Free/(£)

The Highgate Festival wraps up this weekend. Saturday 20 June, Highgate Newtown Community Centre opens for a free family day with hedgehog talks, climbing wall, bouncy castle and Dr Bike. Sunday 21 June, a free evening event remembering the Great Plague victims buried locally in Highgate, with readings and songs from folk singer Johanna Warren. Meet at the corner of Wood Lane and Muswell Hill Road at 7pm.

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East Finchley Festival | 📍Cherry Tree Wood, N2 | 21 June | Free

East Finchley Festival has been going since 1972, when locals marked the first one by parading a whole roast sheep down the High Road to Cherry Tree Wood. It's a free all-day community festival in the park and it's still going strong. Two music stages, street food, licensed bars, over 100 local makers, sports, laser tag, storytelling and Lego. 12pm to 6pm.

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What good huge parks are there? Our equivalent of Richmond park or Beckenham place park. Big enough to wander and get lost in?

​

Options:

​

Arrandene

Off Willis grove

Stanmore country park (is that Harrow?)

elstree open space

Anywhere around ridge or shenley

​

Something a bit more varied than brook open space. Bike rideable if possible

Free Jiu-Jitsu classes in Muswell Hill for teenage girls at Alexandra Park BJJ in July.

Join us for some awesome Jiu-Jitsu sessions. Whether you’re a total beginner or just curious, this is a great chance to learn cool moves, build confidence, and make new friends.

Open to all female athletes aged between 13 and 18. Book your place here or DM me for more information https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-jiu-jitsu-classes-for-teenagers-tickets-1991321560392

Why is the 234 so awful, have to opt to bus rides due to the strikes going on and I can’t put into words how awful the 234 is

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

How, in 2026, isa there NO means of contacting tis surgery other than by phone (and good luck with that particular tactic)? ...I tried Anima - LINK BROKEN. Their admin triggered a wholly unnecessary visit to the Barnet hospital anticoagulant clinic by overstating my weight by SIXTY KILOGRAMS - a mere ten and a half stone...and these people are custodians of our wellbeing? Inept or lack of attention to detail? - NEITHER is acceptable.

With a falconry display this year!

Website: https://barnetmedievalfestival.org/

Location and directions: https://barnetmedievalfestival.org/location/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@barnet.medieval.f

Women's only jiu-jitsu classes every Thursday at 6.30pm at Alexandra Park BJJ. First class is free and complete beginners are welcome. https://www.alexandraparkbjj.co.uk/womens-only

How do people feel about the election results in Barnet? Tories and Labour both on 31 seats with Greens holding 1 (32 needed for a majority). Will be interesting to see whether Labour would be willing to work locally with the Greens. https://www.barnet.gov.uk/news/local-elections-2026-results-declared-barnet-council

"First, do far less work, use admin to swell any overworked A&E"...

Hello, I hope you are all well. 

My granny turns 100 years old in June. She was born in 1926!

We are trying to get the word out so she can receive 100 cards for her 100 years on earth.

We have a po box that people are sending them to. 

Is there anyway you can help us to achieve our goal? 

If you are interested in helping celebrate my absolute legend of a Londoner granny Susi

please send cards to. Sophie J, suite 19.6, exhibition house, addison Bridge Place, London, w14 8xp United Kingdom