Once associated purely with industry, Ponders End has been revitalised in recent years. New developments capitalise on its riverside location, and the grassy surrounds of the Lea Valley, to offer affordable homes to those looking to buy their first home in Enfield.
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
Located to the west of the River Lee Navigation, and centred on the Hertford Road, Ponders End was industrialised through the 19th century. This budding area of southeast Enfield, north London, has a population of over 15,000 and with exciting new developments popping up in the area, is growing fast in popularity.
First recorded in 1593 as Ponders Ende, meaning the “end or quarter of the parish associated with the Ponder family”, Ponders End’s straight road and waterway network made it perfectly placed for industry. By 1906, over 2,000 people were employed in local factories and during the first world war a huge munitions factory, the Ponders End Shell Works, was built in Wharf Road. Wright’s Flour Mill, the oldest working industrial building in the borough, remains as testament to the area’s industrial past.
Ponders End railway station is in Zone 5, on the Greater Anglia Line, with direct trains to Liverpool Street, Hertford East and Stansted. Commuters can be at London Liverpool Street in just 17 minutes. There are also a good number of local bus services, including a night bus.
Ponders End now largely features streets lined with suburban terraced housing built in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as factories and warehouses have slowly given way to housing estates. Families fill the modern terraces and tower blocks that characterise this diverse area. Large-scale regeneration is now well underway with the high-rise Alma Road Estate having undergone demolition to rejuvenate the area and provide luxury homes. New development in the area means there are now high-quality homes available to meet the needs of both families and young professionals looking for a quick commute at an affordable price.
5 REASONS WE LOVE… PONDERS END
- New homes transforming the area
- Lee Valley Leisure Complex on the doorstep
- Wandering the local waterways
- Locally brewed beers from Camden Town Brewery and Beavertown Brewery’s Beaverworld
- An easy holiday getaway with direct trains to Stansted!
FactFile
Average property price in Enfield (October 2023) – £450,106
Property breakdown*:
- Detached − £ 1,124,550
- Semi-detached − £719,369
- Terraced − £483,784
- Flat − £300,617
*According to the Land Registry House Price Index
Famous Resident
- Actor Stephen Mangan
- TV personality, quizzer and “Egghead” Christopher Hughes
- Musician Dave Peacock of Chas & Dave
- Olympic sprinter Chijindu “CJ” Ujah
- The late politician Lord Norman Tebbit
OUT AND ABOUT
Ponders End is not known for its shopping, but you’ll still find everything you need locally. Enfield has a thriving high street and Palace Shopping Centre with high street favourites including TK Maxx, H&M, M&S and Next. Enfield retail parks are also on the doorstep and are perfect for getting your new home kitted out – stores include Dunelm, The Range, Matalan and DFS. You also have your pick of the supermarkets with ASDA on Ponders End high street and Morrisons, Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury’s all within a five to 10-minute drive.
Living in Ponders End, you are of course perfectly placed to enjoy everything the capital has to offer, but you’ll be pleased to know you don’t have to go far at all to find quality food. The Meeting Bar and Restaurant offers delicious Thai food or head to Enfes Ocakbasi for a traditional Turkish grill. Alternatively, you can’t beat The Harvester at The Navigation for a cheap and cheerful breakfast or lunch on the waterfront. Fancy curling up on the sofa with a takeaway in your new home? You are spoilt for choice, with everything from fish and chips to Caribbean right on the high street. Come the evening, The Goat is a popular pub with the locals, or head further into Enfield for a wider selection including O’Neill’s and The Cricketers, a cosy venue with regular pub quizzes. Look out for beers from Camden Town Brewery and Beavertown Brewery, which both brew in the area!
There is plenty to tire the kids out locally too – we recommend heading to Jump In Trampoline Park or to the playgrounds at Jubilee Park or Ponders End Park, which also has a football pitch, basketball court and climbing areas. Alternatively, head to the Odeon Luxe to catch a movie.
Ponders End is conveniently located just a short walk from Lee Valley Athletics Centre, the largest indoor and outdoor athletics centre in the south of England, which hosts a wide range of activities and classes for all ages and abilities. You also have Lee Valley Golf Course here – just one of many locally if you’re a keen golfer! For anglers, fishing is allowed on the River Lee Navigation upstream and downstream of Ponders End Lock (information available from the River Lea Anglers Club).
END Nexus Coming soon!
From £TBC
A new development from Newlon Living – Nexus comprises 28 one and two bedroom shared ownership apartments. Each of the apartments is decorated in stylish, neutral tones, with a bright living area. Contemporary fitted kitchens and modern bathrooms complete the look and each apartment benefits from having its own private outside space. Built around landscaped gardens and play areas, these superbly presented homes form part of the third phase of this popular development and are due to be launched shortly. Enfield town centre is a short distance away and with Ponders End station so close by, journey time to Liverpool Street is just 17 minutes. For shopping and leisure, Westfield Stratford is only 30 minutes away where you’ll be spoilt with over 300 shops, 50 places to dine and an 11-screen cinema. Westfield Stratford City is one of the biggest inner-city shopping malls in Europe and a prime lifestyle destination for east London. Register your interest at newlonliving.co.uk/properties/nexus-phase-3/
Explore more in our free magazine: Read Now
