Editing Harlesden

{{Short description|District in London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|51.536|-0.248|display=inline,title}}
| region = London
| london_borough = Brent
| official_name = Harlesden
| constituency_westminster = [[Queen's Park and Maida Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Queen's Park and Maida Vale]]
| post_town = LONDON
| postcode_area = NW
| postcode_district = NW10
| dial_code = 020
| os_grid_reference = TQ215835
| static_image_name = File:The Royal Oak, Harlesden (West Face - 01).jpg
| static_image_caption = The Royal Oak, High Street/Park Parade
| population = {{formatnum:{{London ward populations|00AEGQ|population}}}}
| population_ref = ({{london ward populations|00AEGQ|ward}} ward {{london ward populations|year}}){{london ward populations|reference}}
}}
'''Harlesden''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɑr|l|z|d|ən}} is a district in the [[London Borough of Brent]], [[London|north-west London]].

Located north of the [[Grand Union Canal]] and [[Wormwood Scrubs]], the [[Harrow Road]] flows through the centre of the area which goes eastwards to Central London and west towards [[Wembley]]. Harlesden was historically in the [[Municipal Borough of Willesden]] before the creation of Brent; it lies within Willesden's postal district of NW10. Harlesden has been praised for its vibrant [[Caribbean]] culture and unofficially named London's [[reggae]] capital for its contributions to the musical genre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/harlesden-boasts-highest-number-minority-owned-businesses|title=Harlesden boasts highest number of minority-owned businesses|website=Voice-online.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-06-12}}</ref> The town centre contains a large number of multicultural independent businesses, while industry exists by the canal, most notably a [[McVitie's]] biscuit factory that has been operating since 1902.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marketer|first=The Conscious|date=2020-12-31|title=Harlesden: The last of the inner-city London suburbs|url=https://theconsciousmarketer.medium.com/try-harlesden-before-it-dies-81dc5767c6ec|access-date=2021-08-12|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref> The population includes people of [[British Afro-Caribbean community|Afro-Caribbean]] heritage most notably, as well as [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]], [[Brazilian people|Brazilian]], [[Somalis|Somali]], and smaller [[Latin American]] and [[Horn of Africa|East African]] groups within the community.

==History==
Harlesden was once a [[Saxon]] settlement. The [[Domesday Book]] calls it "Hervlvestvne". For centuries the area was a small rural community set in orchards with some inns.

In the 19th century, Harlesden, then a rural village in the parish of [[Willesden]], began to develop some of its urban appearance with the arrival of the railways. [[Willesden Junction tube station|Willesden Junction]], [[Kensal Green station|Kensal Green]] and [[Harlesden station|Harlesden]] stations on the [[London & Birmingham Railway]] all had an effect on the developing village. Cottages for railway and industrial workers were built, as was grander housing for the local [[middle class]]. The London–[[Harrow, London|Harrow]] coach passed through the village every day by 1839. The village gained a blacksmith, grocer and a shoemaker during this period.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|title=Harlesden, district in the London Borough of Brent, Jubilee Clock|url=http://www.brent-heritage.co.uk/harlesden.htm|access-date=2021-07-23|website=Brent-heritage.co.uk|archive-date=5 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405071808/http://www.brent-heritage.co.uk/harlesden.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Jubilee Clock, Harlesden - geograph.org.uk - 1576697.jpg|thumb|left|Jubilee Clock on High Street]]
Harlesden increasingly lost its rural nature, with factories replacing farms and woodland. Sewerage arrived here in 1871 and soon houses were being built. A mainly middle class population resided here who enjoyed the availability of numerous churches, cinemas, a court, a library and recreational pleasure at [[Roundwood Park]]. From late Victorian times until the 1930s, housing completed its spread across the area, and Harlesden became part of the London conurbation. A [[jubilee clock]] tower was built in 1888.<ref name="auto2"/>  Harlesden gained excellent transport links by the train stations as well as a frequent horse bus service to [[Paddington]] as early as 1890. [[Electric tram]]s came to Harlesden in 1907. That year also saw the opening of Willesden Hippodrome Theatre,<ref name="auto2"/> which was destroyed by German bombing in 1940. Much of the working class in Harlesden suffered from poverty, with the ''Willesden Chronicle'' mentioning "nearness to starvation" of those people in 1908.<ref name="auto2"/>

In 1908, the [[1908 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] were held in London. The marathon race course went through Harlesden, and ended at the White City Stadium.  The course entered Harlesden via Craven Park Road, turned down Manor Park Road, down the High Street and passed the Jubilee Clock.  After that, the course headed towards North Acton via Station Road and passing Willesden Junction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Route; 1908 Olympic marathon |url=https://fastestknowntime.com/route/1908-london-olympic-marathon |website=Fastest known time}}</ref>

[[File:McVitie's Biscuit Factory - geograph.org.uk - 4774329.jpg|thumb|[[McVitie's]] factory in Harlesden]]

Mainly after [[World War I]], one of Europe's biggest [[Industrial park|industrial estates]] was constructed at nearby [[Park Royal]], and large factories there and within Harlesden included [[McVitie's|McVitie & Price]] (later [[United Biscuits]]) from 1910, and [[H. J. Heinz Company|Heinz]] from 1919. Industrial growth led to a middle class exodus as Harlesden turned entirely into a working class area in the inter-war period.<ref name="auto2"/> The McVitie & Price factory became the largest biscuit factory in the western world, employing 2,600 people by 1978.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.brent.gov.uk/page-not-found |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=1 October 2011 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20111001031728/http://www.brent.gov.uk/regeneration.nsf/Files/LBBA-70/$FILE/wembleywayissue8.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

[[File:Amber Grill (geograph 2834725).jpg|thumb|left|Former Willesden Junction Hotel on Station Road]]
By 1939 the last of the really large Victorian houses, Roundwood House and Knowles Tower, had both been demolished by Willesden Council.<ref name="auto"/> At 6am on 16 January 1939, the [[Irish Republican Army]] blew up the Harlesden electricity cable bridge. The bridge crossed the [[Grand Junction Canal]], and carried the power line from [[Battersea Power Station]]. No one was injured in the attack.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Harlesden Explosion|date=16 January 1939|work=Coventry Evening Telegraph}}</ref> In the interwar period, a cargo ship, built on Tyneside, was named after the area. In 1941, the ship was sunk by the German battle cruiser Gneisenau, approximately 600 miles west of Newfoundland. Seven members of the crew were killed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harlesden 1932 |url=http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/H-Ships/harlesden1932.html |access-date=May 15, 2022 |website=Tyne Built Ships}}</ref>

In the 1950s, the transport of coal from [[Durham, England|Durham]] and steel from [[Sheffield]] became a main contributor to the local economy, these industries employed a mass of labour from Irish and Jamaican immigrants.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Judah |first=Ben |title=This is London |publisher=Picador |year=2016 |location=Croydon, England |pages=293 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Craven Park Road, Harlesden - geograph.org.uk - 22040.jpg|thumb|Craven Park Road]]
The image of Harlesden today began to take shape in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Continued immigration from [[Ireland]] and new immigration from the [[Caribbean]] and the [[Indian sub-continent]] changed the racial and cultural make up of the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5942254&c=Harlesden&d=14&e=16&g=327782&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1204805227775&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87|title=Harlesden (Ward) Ethnic Group (UV09)|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=2001 Census Neighbourhood Statistics|year=2001|access-date=2008-03-06|archive-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612174515/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5942254&c=Harlesden&d=14&e=16&g=327782&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1204805227775&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite the immigration the population of Harlesden still declined from 39,527 in 1951 to 26,970 in 1971, but remained densely populated. [[Prefab]] homes for those made homeless by Second World War bombings were still in existence by the end of the 1960s.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/387280/Harlesden.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=29 December 2020 |archive-date=14 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314151326/https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/387280/Harlesden.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

By the 1960s, the Curzon Crescent estate was known for poverty and became a vandalism hotspot. At the same time, immigration from the West Indies and Indian sub-continent led to racist articles in a national newspaper. Poverty increased further by the decline of industry and the building of [[Brent Cross Shopping Centre]].<ref name="auto1"/> Steps were taken to improve the area, such as the Harlesden City Challenge community project in the 1990s that involved the creation of public artwork in the area, as well as the renovation of the jubilee clock on the High Street in 1997.<ref name="auto1"/> More recently from the end of the 20th century the area has become home to [[Brazilian people|Brazilian]], [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] and [[Somali people|Somali]] communities,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area-guides/brent-borough/harlesden/living-in-harlesden-area-guide-to-homes-schools-and-transport-a109896.html|title=This diverse north-west London area is set to be one of the capital's best connected neighbourhoods|website=Homesandproperty.co.uk|date=16 June 2017}}</ref> as well as [[Polish people|Polish]], [[Afghan people|Afghan]] and [[Colombian people|Colombian]] communities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/davehillblog/2014/nov/01/walking-adventures-in-harlesden|title = Walking adventures in Harlesden|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = November 2014}}</ref>

[[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]] visited Harlesden in March 2007. He commented "I don't think I have enjoyed myself so much for a long time going down the high street and popping into one or two shops. I'm sorry I couldn't go into more of them."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2007/03/06/Charles-kicks-up-heels-on-tour/47781173215486/|title = Charles kicks up heels on tour|website=Upi.com}}</ref>

The fortunes of Harlesden have been on the up more recently. Reduced crime rates have led to higher house prices,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/buy/rise-harlesden-gun-crime-capital-highest-house-prices-increases/|title = The rise of Harlesden: From gun crime capital to the highest house prices increases in London|newspaper = [[The Daily Telegraph]]|date = 18 April 2017|last1 = Alexander|first1 = Martha}}</ref> but the district retains a non-[[gentrified]] atmosphere.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/brexit-making-people-crazy-what-15374128|title=What life's like on one of London's 'unhealthiest' high streets|website=Mylondon.news|date=6 November 2018}}</ref> In 2015 a new community "Town Garden" was opened for locals to garden, socialise and exercise,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/new-community-garden-opens-in-harlesden-3739194|title = New community garden opens in Harlesden|website=Kilburntimes.co.uk|date = 15 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.actionfunder.org/|title=Home|website=ActionFunder.org|access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref> established by the funding of local volunteers and charities. It has become a green sanctuary in the heart of Harlesden.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20221006192805/http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/8d0109_64bf4fedcb924ee187e2e60d82c7287d.pdf?index=true] </ref>

==Amenities==
The diversity of Harlesden is apparent in the high street which houses various businesses such as the likes of Afro-Caribbean hair and beauty shops, Somali restaurants, Portuguese bakeries and Brazilian cafes.<ref name="auto3"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/11174838/Harlesden-from-Londons-Bronx-to-1.5m-houses.html|title = Harlesden: From London's Bronx to £1.5m houses|website=Telegraph.co.uk| date=21 October 2014 }}</ref>

===All Souls church===
[[File:All Souls, Harlesden (geograph 5056290).jpg|thumb|All Souls, Harlesden]]
The Church of All Souls is on Station Road in Harlesden. It was designed in 1879 by E.J. Tarver and is a [[Grade II*]] listed building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359000|title = CHURCH OF ALL SOULS, non Civil Parish - 1359000 |website=Historicengland.org.uk}}</ref>

===Jubilee Clock===
Harlesden's [[jubilee clock]] was erected in 1888 which commemorates [[Queen Victoria]]'s [[Golden Jubilee]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caribvoice.org/Features/harlesden.html |title=Harlesden: London's yardies backyard |access-date=2009-01-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129125855/http://caribvoice.org/Features/harlesden.html |archive-date=29 January 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Roundwood Park===
{{main|Roundwood Park}}
Roundwood Park is the main public open space and park in Harlesden.

===Willesden County Court===
Located on Acton Lane, the current Willesden County Court was built in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol7/pp232-236|title=Willesden: Public services &#124; British History Online|website=British-history.ac.uk|access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref>

===Our Lady of Willesden===
[[File:Our Lady of Willesden, Acton Lane, Harlesden (geograph 5056348).jpg|thumb|Our Lady of Willesden, Harlesden]]
[[Our Lady of Willesden Church]] is a Roman Catholic church, with devotion to [[Our Lady of Willesden]] and was the first mission to cater for a growing Irish population in the late 19th century, although the current church was built in 1931.

=== Harlesden House ===
This is a government building, constructed in 1960, that currently contains a Jobcentre Plus office. The site was previously occupied by the Willesden Hippodrome; a Music Hall and Variety Theatre. It was designed by the theatre architect Frank Matcham, opening on 16 September 1907. The Theatre had seating for 3,500 people. The Theatre was destroyed in 1940 during an air raid.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 20, 2021|title=Willesden Hippodrome Theatre - 161-163 High Street, London, NW10 4TL|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/30136|website=Cinematreasures.org}}</ref>

==Demography==
[[File:Harlesden High St shops 2001.jpg|thumb|left|Shops on the High Street, 2001]]
The 2011 census results for Harlesden ward counted a population of 17,162. In 2011, 71.4% of homes were apartments across the ward, 15.8% of homes were terraced houses, 8.6% semi-detached houses and 4% detached houses; with 0.1% of the homes mobile or temporary structures.<ref>"KS401EW - Dwellings, household spaces and accommodation type", 2011 Census, UK Government www.nomisweb.com</ref> Most of the terraces are pre-1920s and the flats converted from them. Many of the flats date to after 2000. Non-mixed use terraces and private sector built apartments are the main housing types that attract high prices from private sector owner-occupiers unable to afford similar properties in nearby [[Kensal Green]] and [[Queen's Park, London|Queen's Park]].

Harlesden is ethnically diverse. 67% of the population identified themselves as being [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|BAME]] (Black, Asian and minority Ethnic) at the 2011 census in the Harlesden ward.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-profiles-and-atlas|title=Ward Profiles and Atlas |website=Data.london.gov.uk|access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref>  Ethnically, 19% of the population was Black Caribbean, followed by 19% Black African (both including those of mixed heritage), 15% Other White, and 14% White British. The main spoken foreign languages were Portuguese and Somali.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/harlesden-e05000091#sthash.X2SgbDQd.dpbs | title=Harlesden - UK Census Data 2011 | website=Ukcensusdata.com | access-date=15 May 2016 | archive-date=13 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913093701/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/harlesden-e05000091#sthash.X2SgbDQd.dpbs | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Crime===
In the late 1990s to early 2000s, Harlesden and the nearby [[Stonebridge, London|Stonebridge estate]], witnessed a high number of murders and became a crime hotspot, because of several rival [[yardie]] and [[Somalia|Somali]] gangs. During this time Harlesden turned into one of London's main crack cocaine trading centres, and one of the yardies' strongholds.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jul/18/ukguns.theobserver | title=Yardie terror grips London| newspaper=The Guardian| date=1999-07-18| author=Guardian Staff}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/murders-rising-in-yardie-drug-war-1104772.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/murders-rising-in-yardie-drug-war-1104772.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Murders rising in 'Yardie' drug war| website=[[Independent.co.uk]]| date=1999-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/398197.stm | title=BBC News &#124; UK &#124; Police tackle London's Yardies|website=News.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In 2001 the area reportedly had the highest murder rate in Britain,<ref>{{cite web|title=Time to take guns out of community|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1169598.stm|website=News.bbc.co.uk|date=15 February 2001|access-date=23 April 2016}}</ref> with 26 shooting incidents that year alone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://flag.blackened.net/blackflag/218/218nw10.htm |title=Article |access-date=2016-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222637/http://flag.blackened.net/blackflag/218/218nw10.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Through community projects and better policing, crime rates were significantly reduced throughout the 2000s. Crime rates fell at Stonebridge in 2002<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2255545.stm|title=Community reclaims estate from crime|website=News.bbc.co.uk|date=16 September 2002}}</ref> and residents reported better living conditions in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4448172.stm|title = Bid to lose stigma of gun crime|website=News.bbc.co.uk|date = 18 November 2005}}</ref>

During the nationwide [[2011 England riots|riots of 2011]], some shops in Harlesden were attacked by looters.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/crime-court/harlesden_traders_attacked_as_looters_attempt_to_storm_their_shops_1_988261| title=Harlesden traders attacked as looters attempt to storm their shops| website=Kilburntimes.co.uk| date=8 August 2011| access-date=16 May 2016| archive-date=2 February 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202132637/http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/crime-court/harlesden_traders_attacked_as_looters_attempt_to_storm_their_shops_1_988261| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Culture and "reggae capital"==
[[File:Tile Mural on Church Path in Harlesden, London UK - panoramio - Sean Breeden.jpg|thumb|A tile mural on Church Path, Harlesden]]
Harlesden and some of its surroundings in Brent played a key part in the development of the [[reggae]] music business in the UK. In the 1960s Planetone Studios [[Sonny Roberts]] the heartbeat of Rhythm & Blues and Ska recordings, releasing and distribution followed by [[Trojan Records]] who became a major reggae label, producing successful artists within and in Jamaica, such as [[Desmond Dekker]] and [[Toots and the Maytals]], and numerous top 20 UK singles during the 1970s. Another popular label of reggae and other [[black music]] was [[Jet Star (record distribution company)|Jet Star]], which called itself "the world's largest reggae distributors".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/communityeventsuk6/docs/25th_anniversary_international_regg|title = 25th Anniversary International Reggae Day|website=Issuu.com| date=13 July 2019 }}</ref>

The Brent Black Music Cooperative Rehearsal Studios was set up in [[Willesden]] in 1983 by a grant from Brent council. It provided a studio and training for numerous local and international acts such as [[The Last Poets]] and [[Aswad]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.brent2020.co.uk/reggae-map/bbmc-theorum-music-village/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=13 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113150847/https://www.brent2020.co.uk/reggae-map/bbmc-theorum-music-village/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1970, [[Sonny Roberts]] established the first specialist record shop called Orbitone Records, retailing various genres of music but in the mid 1970s became the hub premises for producing, licensing and distributing soca music.  During the mid 1970s and 1980s, dozens of record shops filled the Harlesden streets of Church Road, Craven Park Road and the High Street.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.layersoflondon.org/map?l=eyJmcmVlX3RleHRfcXVlcnkiOm51bGwsInNlYXJjaF9wYWdlIjoxLCJjYXRlZ29yeV9hbmRfdGVybV9maWx0ZXJzIjp7InRlcm1faWQiOm51bGwsImNhdGVnb3J5X2lkIjoxfSwiYWN0aXZlX2xheWVyX2dyb3VwX2lkcyI6W119&m=eyJjZW50ZXIiOls1MS41MDc0LDAuMTI3OF0sInpvb20iOjEwLCJsaWdodHNPdXQiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D&record=6467|title=Layers of London|website=Layersofl;ondon.org}}</ref> As of 2020, two still remain in operation on Craven Park Road: Hawkeye and Starlight Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/news/the-story-of-this-harlesden-record-shop-shows-why-local-businesses-matter-more-than-ever-110920|title = The Harlesden record shop that shows why local businesses matter|website=Timeout.com| date=9 November 2020 }}</ref> Numerous [[pirate radio]] stations also operated in the area, being very influential to local black artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londonist.com/2015/09/how-black-music-pirate-radio-stations-shaped-london-s-music-scene|title = How Black Pirate Radio Stations Revolutionised London's Music Scene|website=Londonist.com|date = 25 September 2015}}</ref>

[[The Cimarons]], England's first home-grown reggae roots band, was formed in 1969 at Tavistock community centre in Harlesden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clintonlindsay.com/2014/07/19/pioneering-uk-reggae-band-the-cimarons-are-honored-with-a-blue-plaque-at-community-center-they-formed/|title = Pioneering UK Reggae Band the Cimarons, Are Honored with a Blue Plaque at Community Center They Formed! |website=Clintonlindsay.com|date = 19 July 2014}}</ref> Numerous reggae artists lived or live in or around Harlesden, including [[Dennis Brown]] (on Hazeldean Road),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/lifestyle/blue-plaque-erected-in-harlesden-in-honour-of-reggae-singer-3689682|title = Blue plaque erected in Harlesden in honour of reggae singer Dennis Brown|website=Kilburntimes.co.uk|date = 10 April 2012}}</ref> [[Janet Kay]], [[General Levy]], [[Jimmy Cliff]], [[Bob Marley]] (on The Circle, [[Neasden]]), [[Liz Mitchell]] of [[Boney M]] (on Wrottesley Road), and others.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.brent2020.co.uk/brent-stories/bass-weekender/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201024232419/https://brent2020.co.uk/brent-stories/bass-weekender/| archive-date = 2020-10-24| title = Brent2020 — Reggae Pioneers to Perform in Harlesden}} {{Cite web |url=https://brent2020.co.uk/brent-stories/bass-weekender/ |title=Brent2020 — Reggae Pioneers to Perform in Harlesden |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120034246/https://brent2020.co.uk/brent-stories/bass-weekender/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

The 1998 musical film ''[[Babymother]]'', produced by [[Film4 Productions|Channel 4 Films]], is set in Harlesden and captures the black dancehall culture in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/442572/index.html|title = BFI Screenonline: Babymother (1998)|website=Screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> ''A London Safari: Walking Adventures in NW10'' is a 2014 paperback book authored by local Rose Rouse about Harlesden.<ref>{{cite book| title = A London Safari: Walking Adventures in NW10: Amazon.co.uk: Rouse, Rose, Theroux, Louis: 9781445644509: Books| id = {{ASIN|1445644509|country=uk}}}}</ref>

More recently,{{when|date=July 2024}} Harlesden has produced known hip hop and [[Grime (music genre)|grime]] artists such as [[K Koke]], [[Nines (rapper)|Nines]] and [[George The Poet]].{{cn|date=July 2024}}

==Media==
The Beat London (formerly known as BANG Radio) is a licensed radio station that broadcasts urban music and cultural programmes from Harlesden High Street. It broadcasts on 103.6 FM throughout north-west London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-community/community-directory/the-beat-london-1036-fm/|title = Brent Council - the Beat London 103.6 FM|website=Brent.gov.uk}}</ref> Numerous unlicensed stations broadcast in and around North West London from reggae and other genres, including Radio RJR 98.3 FM,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://radiorjr.com/| title = Radio RJR – Reggae, R&B, Roots, Soca Music |website=Radiojr.com}}</ref> UK Roots 95.4 FM<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ukrootsfm.com/| title = UK Roots FM - 95.4FM {{!}} London's Foundation Station|website=Ukrootsfm.com}}</ref> and Omega Radio 104.1 FM.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.omegafmradio.co.uk/| title = Omegafmradio|website=Omegaradio.co.uk}}</ref>

Brent's largest newspaper is the ''[[Brent & Kilburn Times]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/| title = Brent and Kilburn News, Sport & Things to do |website=Kilburntimes.co.uk}}</ref>

The Queen Victoria Pub in ''[[EastEnders]]'' on the BBC was inspired by The College Park Hotel in Harlesden.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://londonist.com/2015/01/exclusive-the-story-behind-the-sets-of-eastenders | title=The Story Behind the Set of EastEnders | date=13 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:The Grand Junction Arms (geograph 4664796).jpg|thumb|The Grand Union Canal in Harlesden, in the background is the Grand Junction Arms inn]]
{{Geographic Location
|state=expanded
|width=auto
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas of Harlesden'''
|Northwest = [[Stonebridge, London|Stonebridge]], [[St Raphael's Estate]], [[Wembley]]
|North     = [[Church End, Brent|Church End]]/[[Willesden]], [[Neasden]]
|Northeast = [[Willesden Green]]/[[Brondesbury Park]], [[Cricklewood]]
|West      = [[Stonebridge, London|Stonebridge]]/[[Park Royal]], [[Alperton]]
|Centre    = Harlesden
|East      = [[Kensal Green]]/[[Kensal Rise]], [[Queen's Park, London|Queen's Park]]
|Southwest = [[Park Royal]]/[[North Acton]], [[West Acton]]
|South     = [[Old Oak Common]], [[East Acton]]
|Southeast = [[North Kensington]], [[Shepherd's Bush]]
}}

==Transport==
[[File:Busy With Buses - geograph.org.uk - 2833312.jpg|thumb|Buses on Acton Lane]]
Stations in Harlesden are:
* [[Willesden Junction station|Willesden Junction Station]] ([[Bakerloo line]], [[Watford DC Line]], [[North London Line]] and [[West London Line]])
* [[Harlesden station|Harlesden Station]] (Bakerloo line and Watford DC Line)

==Notable residents==
{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2017}}
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}

*[[O.G. Anunoby]]
*[[Ricardo P. Lloyd]]
*[[Steve McFadden]]<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/enders-phil-i-just-flipped-1639986 | location=London | work=The Daily Mirror | title=Enders' Phil: I Just Flipped | date=2007-08-12}}</ref>
*[[Shane Richie]]<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/shane-richie-you-ask-the-questions-757787.html | location=London | work=The Independent | title=Shane Richie: You Ask The Questions | date=2003-12-18}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*[[Gappy Ranks]]
*[[Ronny Jordan]]
*[[Sabrina Washington]]
*[[James DeGale]]
*[[Audley Harrison]]
*[[K Koke]]
*[[Nines (rapper)|Nines]]
*[[George the Poet]]
*[[Chizzy Akudolu]]
*[[O.G. Anunoby]]
*[[Hastings Banda]]
*[[Dennis Brown]]
*[[Anthony C. George]]
*[[Ian Hancock]]
*[[Paul Merson]]


{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.harlesdentown.com/ |date=* |title=Harlesden Town Centre Partnership }}

{{LB Brent}}
{{Areas of London}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Railway towns in England]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Brent]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]