Editing Willesden

{{Short description|Area of north-west London, England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Redirect|Willesden Green|the station|Willesden Green tube station}}
{{distinguish|Wilsden}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| region                   = London
| official_name            = Willesden
| london_borough           = Brent
| constituency_westminster = [[Brent East (UK Parliament constituency)|Brent East]]
| post_town                = LONDON
| postcode_area            = NW
| postcode_district        = NW10, NW2
| dial_code                = 020
| os_grid_reference        = TQ227846
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.5468|-0.2295|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name        = Willesden Old Library.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Willesden Green Old Library Building
}}
'''Willesden''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|l|z|d|ə|n|}}) is an area of north-west [[London]], situated 5 miles (8&nbsp;km) north-west of [[Charing Cross]]. It is historically a parish in the county of [[Middlesex]]<ref>https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol7/pp182-204#fnn7 
 A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7, Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1982.</ref> that was incorporated as the [[Municipal Borough of Willesden]] in 1933; it has formed part of the [[London Borough of Brent]] in [[Greater London]] since 1965.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10204148|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925034233/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10204148|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-09-25|title=Willesden CP/AP through time &#124; Census tables with data for the Parish-level Unit|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Dollis Hill]] is also sometimes referred to as being part of Willesden.

With its close proximity to affluent neighbourhoods [[Brondesbury Park]], [[Queen's Park, London|Queen's Park]] and [[Kensal Rise]], the area surrounding [[Willesden Green tube station|Willesden Green station]] has seen increased gentrification in the past several years, with rapidly rising property prices. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' described Willesden Green as one of London's "new middle class" areas.<ref name="brignall1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/apr/02/londons-brent-borough-leads-britain-rising-house-prices |title=London's Brent borough leads Britain for rising house prices |last=Brignall |first=Miles |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=22 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522174901/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/apr/02/londons-brent-borough-leads-britain-rising-house-prices |archive-date=22 May 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="mcghie1">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/11485833/The-new-map-of-middle-class-London.html |title=The new map of middle-class London |last=McGhie |first=Caroline |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=23 March 2015 |access-date=22 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610232403/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/11485833/The-new-map-of-middle-class-London.html |archive-date=10 June 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The area has a population of 44,295, as of [[United Kingdom 2011 Census|2021]], including the Willesden Green, Dollis Hill and Dudden Hill wards. Willesden Green has one of the city's highest [[Irish people|Irish]] populations, and is also strongly associated with [[British Afro-Caribbean community|Afro-Caribbean]]s and [[Latin American]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hidden-london.com/miscellany/demographics/|title=Demographics – Hidden London|website=hidden-london.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206172555/http://hidden-london.com/miscellany/demographics/|archive-date=6 February 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Willesden is mostly in the [[NW postcode area|NW10]] postcode district, but part of it is in the [[NW postcode area|NW2]] postcode district.

==History==

===Etymology===
The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon ''Willesdune'', meaning the Hill of the Spring,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.brent-heritage.co.uk/willesden.htm |title=Willesden, London Borough of Brent |publisher=Brent-heritage.co.uk |date=1 October 2002 |access-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718213552/http://www.brent-heritage.co.uk/willesden.htm |archive-date=18 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and a Manor (landholding) bearing this name was recorded in 939 AD. The [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 records the manor as ''Wellesdone''.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> However, on 19th century maps of the town such as those from the 'Ordnance Survey First Series', the town is shown as Wilsdon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/index.jsp?layer=nineteenth&xMin=3314244.016643333333257542108185589313507080078125&yMin=2796266.417393333333257542108185589313507080078125&xMax=3317697.349976666666742457891814410686492919921875&yMax=2799719.750726666666742457891814410686492919921875 |title=Old maps of Britain and Europe from A Vision of Britain Through Time |publisher=Visionofbritain.org.uk |access-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031313/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/index.jsp?layer=nineteenth&xMin=3314244.016643333333257542108185589313507080078125&yMin=2796266.417393333333257542108185589313507080078125&xMax=3317697.349976666666742457891814410686492919921875&yMax=2799719.750726666666742457891814410686492919921875 |archive-date=21 May 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The current spelling was adopted by the [[London and Birmingham Railway]] in 1844, when they opened a local station.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Snow|first=Len|title=Willesden Past|publisher=Phillimore and Co|year=1994|isbn=0850339030|location=Chichester Sussex|pages=}}</ref>

===Early history===
[[File:St. Marys Church, Neasden Lane, NW10 (geograph 2822687).jpg|thumb|Church of St. Mary on Neasden Lane, Willesden]]
Willesden became a [[civil parish#ancient parish|civil parish]] in the medieval period. From the 14th to 16th centuries, the town was a place of pilgrimage due to the presence of two ancient statues of the [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Virgin Mary]] at the Church of St Mary. One of these statues is thought to have been a [[Black Madonna]], venerated as [[Our Lady of Willesden]], which was insulted by the [[Lollards]], taken to Thomas Cromwell's house and burnt in 1538 on a large bonfire of "notable images" including those of [[Our Lady of Walsingham]], Our Lady of Worcester, and [[Our Lady of Ipswich]].  There was also a "holy well" which was thought to possess miraculous qualities, particularly for blindness and other eye disorders.
Much of the district supplied apples, pears and vegetables to the city of London for many years from the early years of the industrial revolution.

===Industrial history===
[[File:MHV Iris 15 hp 1912.jpg|thumb|left|Iris 15 HP (1912)]]
The [[Iris (car)|Iris]] was a British car brand that was manufactured from 1906 by Legros & Knowles Ltd in Willesden. Lucien Alphonse Legros (1866–1933), son of the artist Alphonse Legros, and [[Guy Knowles]], scion of a wealthy and artistic family, founded Legros & Knowles Ltd in Cumberland Park, Willesden Junction, in 1904 to build and repair vehicles.<ref name="Grace's Legros">{{cite web|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Lucien_Alphonse_Legros|title=Lucien Alphonse Legros|website=www.gracesguide.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518075843/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Lucien_Alphonse_Legros|archive-date=18 May 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Grace's L&K">{{cite web|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Legros_and_Knowles|title=Legros and Knowles|website=www.gracesguide.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509011346/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Legros_and_Knowles|archive-date=9 May 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="MotorSport 1960">{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-1960/42/iris-car|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518070111/http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-1960/42/iris-car|url-status=dead|title=Motor Sport, February 1960, Page 42, The Iris Car. By S. A. Gibbons|archive-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

===Modern history===
[[File:Willesdengreenstation.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Willesden Green station opened in 1879]]
The parish of Willesden remained predominantly rural up until 1875, when its population was 18,500. It included the villages and hamlets of [[Brondesbury]], [[Dollis Hill]], Dudden Hill, [[Harlesden]], [[Kilburn, London|Kilburn]], [[Mapesbury]], Oxgate and [[Stonebridge, London|Stonebridge]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Guy R.|title=London In The Country – The Growth of Suburbia|publisher=Hamish Hamilton|date=1975|page=18}}</ref> However, this changed with the opening of the Metropolitan Railway (later the [[Metropolitan line]]) station of Willesden Green on 24 November 1879. By 1906 the population had grown to 140,000, a phenomenon of rapid growth that was to be repeated in the 1920s in neighbouring areas such as [[Harrow, London|Harrow]]. The Metropolitan line service was withdrawn in 1940, when the station was served by the Bakerloo line,{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} and later the [[Jubilee line]].

The [[First World War]] caused Willesden to change from a predominantly [[middle class]] suburb to a [[working class]] part of London. After the war, Willesden grew rapidly as many factories opened up with numerous flats and terraced houses. The local council encouraged building to prevent large unemployment and decline.
To the present day, Willesden has been shaped by the patterns of migration which marks it out as one of the most diverse areas in the [[United Kingdom]]. [[City of London Corporation]] records show that the first black person recorded in Brent was Sarah Eco, who was christened in [[St Mary's Church, Willesden|St. Mary's Church]] in Willesden on 15 September 1723.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brent.gov.uk/Heritage.nsf/24878f4b00d4f0f68025663c006c7944/0ff7e91c2dfaf43380256b21002eb018/$FILE/ChurchEnd.PDF |title=Church End and the Parish of Willesden |publisher=[[Brent London Borough Council|Brent Council]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070423140355/http://www.brent.gov.uk/Heritage.nsf/24878f4b00d4f0f68025663c006c7944/0ff7e91c2dfaf43380256b21002eb018/%24FILE/ChurchEnd.PDF |archive-date=23 April 2007 |access-date=22 May 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[United Kingdom Census 1901|1901 United Kingdom census]] recorded that 42% of the population was born in London. In 1923, the specialist coach builder [[Freestone and Webb]] established their base in Willesden, producing bespoke cars on [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]] and Bentley chassis until 1956.

Willesden became a municipal borough in 1933, and it is at this time that the area became predominantly working class. A small [[Irish diaspora|Irish]] community had formed in Willesden by this time, which grew rapidly during the period of the [[Second World War]]. A small Jewish community of refugees from Europe also formed during the war, with 3.5% of the population in 1951 born in [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Russia]] or [[Austria]].
During the war, Willesden suffered large bombing damage due to the heavy concentration of manufacturing industry, such as munition factories, the location of 'Smiths Instruments" (Used defensive aircraft instrumentation). Mulliner-Park Ward (Coach builders to Rolls-Royce and Bentley, hand built cars). Power Station location, canal and major railway locomotive overhaul facilities located in the area.

[[File:Willesden Jewish Cemetery prayer hall.jpg|thumb|The prayer hall of [[Willesden Jewish Cemetery]]]]
The period from 1960 saw migrants settling from the [[Caribbean]] and the [[Indian Subcontinent]]. Additionally, from 1963 it was the site of the [[Kuo Yuan]], the first Chinese restaurant to serve Pekinese dishes in Britain.<ref>Jay Rayner. "[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/foodmonthly/story/0,,834742,00.html The sweet and sour revolution] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223034543/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/foodmonthly/story/0,,834742,00.html |date=23 December 2007 }}". ''The Observer''. 10 November 2002.</ref> Since the 1960s, Willesden has been popular with young working holidaymakers from [[Canada]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], although this popularity has declined somewhat in favour of other areas since about 2003.

Willesden went into a period of decline during the 1970s and 1980s as much of the housing was inadequate due to overcrowding as industry was mixed with housing. The whole of central Willesden (bar the area by the Willesden Green station) was earmarked for redevelopment; however, this did not come to fruition. In the late 1980s, traders were given money to revamp the High Street to prevent shops closing.

The area surrounding [[Willesden Green tube station|Willesden Green station]] has become more middle-class and gentrified with marked property price rises in 2014 and 2015.<ref name="brignall1"/><ref name="mcghie1"/>

[[File:Willesden French Market 2006.jpg|thumb|Willesden French Market]]

==Politics==
The Willesden Green ward is represented on [[Brent Council]] by three [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[councillor]]s,  Janice Long, Saqlain Choudry, and Tom Miller.

Willesden forms part of the [[Brent Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Brent Central]] parliamentary constituency and is home to the local [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] MP [[Dawn Butler]].

==Demographics==
According to the 2011 census, the Willesden Green ward had a population of 15,587. Ethnically, 22% of the population was Other White, followed by 20% White British, 8.2% Other Asian, 8.1% Black African and 7.1% Black Caribbean.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/willesden-green-e05000105 |title=Willesden Green – UK Census Data 2011 |publisher=Ukcensusdata.com |access-date=2017-07-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725050700/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/willesden-green-e05000105 |archive-date=25 July 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 52.7% were [[Black, Asian and minority ethnic|BAME]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-profiles-and-atlas|title=Ward Profiles and Atlas – London Datastore}}</ref> The most spoken foreign language is Portuguese. 2,621 of the tenure households were privately rented; 1,625 were socially rented; 1,540 were owned.<ref name="auto"/>

==Geography==
[[Roundwood Park]] is on the south-western side while [[Gladstone Park, London|Gladstone Park]] is nearby to the north of Willesden. It lies about {{convert|40|m|ft|order=flip}} to {{convert|60|m|ft|order=flip}} above sea level.
{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas of Willesden'''
|width=auto
|Northwest = [[Neasden]], [[Kingsbury, London|Kingsbury]] / [[Wembley Park]]
|North     = [[Dollis Hill]], Neaden, [[West Hendon]]
|Northeast = [[Cricklewood]]
|West      = [[Church End, Brent|Church End]], Neasden
|Centre    = Willesden (Library)
|East      = [[Brondesbury]], [[Kilburn, London|Kilburn]], [[West Hampstead]]
|Southwest = [[Harlesden]] / [[Stonebridge, London|Stonebridge]], [[Park Royal]]
|South     = Harlesden, [[Old Oak Common]]
|Southeast = [[Brondesbury Park]], [[Kensal Rise]] / [[Kensal Green]], [[Queen's Park, London|Queen's Park]]
}}

==Transport==

=== Rail and tube ===
[[File:Metro-land-map.jpg|left|thumb|274x274px|Map of [[Metro-land]] showing the [[Metropolitan Railway]] passing through Willesden, 1924]]
Several [[National Rail|rail]] and [[London Underground]] lines pass through Willesden, calling at local stations including:

*[[Dollis Hill tube station]] ([[Jubilee line]])
*[[Willesden Green tube station]] (Jubilee line)
*[[Willesden Junction station]] ([[Bakerloo line]] and [[London Overground]])

The '''[[Jubilee line]]''' connects the area directly to [[Stanmore tube station|Stanmore]] via [[Wembley Park tube station|Wembley Park]] northbound, and to [[Central London]] southbound. Key southbound destinations include [[Baker Street tube station|Baker Street]], [[Bond Street tube station|Bond Street]], [[Westminster tube station|Westminster]], [[London Waterloo station|Waterloo]] and [[Canary Wharf tube station|Canary Wharf]]. Most southbound services terminate at [[Stratford station|Stratford]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf|title=London's Rail & Tube services|website=[[Transport for London]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610232441/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf|archive-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref>

Northbound '''[[Bakerloo line]]''' trains from '''Willesden Junction''' terminate at nearby [[Stonebridge Park station|Stonebridge Park]], with some continuing towards [[Wembley Central station|Wembley Central]] and [[Harrow & Wealdstone station|Harrow & Wealdstone]]. Like the Bakerloo line, southbound services also pass through Central London, with trains to [[London Paddington station|Paddington]], [[Marylebone station|Marylebone]], Baker Street, [[Oxford Circus tube station|Oxford Circus]], Waterloo and [[Elephant & Castle tube station|Elephant & Castle]].<ref name=":0" />

'''[[Metropolitan line]]''' trains pass through '''Willesden Green''' and '''Dollis Hill''', but do not stop. This has not always been the case: Willesden Green station was opened by the [[Metropolitan Railway]] in 1879, and the area owes much of its development to the Metropolitan Railway and [[Metro-land]]. Today, passengers from Willesden can access the Metropolitan line by using the Jubilee line and changing at either Wembley Central to the north, or [[Finchley Road tube station|Finchley Road]] to the south.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/16402731/willesden-green-conservation-area-appraisal.pdf|title=Willesden Green Conservation Area|website=[[London Borough of Brent]]|pages=6–8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714012921/https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/16402731/willesden-green-conservation-area-appraisal.pdf|archive-date=July 14, 2019}}</ref>

'''Willesden Junction''' is served by several London Overground routes:
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+
!Line
!Direction
!Terminus
!Calling at...
|-
|[[Watford DC line]] {{Rint|london|Overground|Watford}}
|Northbound
|[[Watford Junction railway station|Watford Junction]] {{Rint|gb|rail}}
|Harlesden, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central {{Rint|gb|rail}}, North Wembley, South Kenton, Kenton, Harrow & Wealdstone {{Rint|gb|rail}}, Headstone Lane, Hatch End, Carpenders Park, Bushey {{Rint|gb|rail}}, Watford High Street
|-
|Watford DC line {{Rint|london|Overground|Watford}}
|Southbound
|[[Euston railway station|Euston]] {{Rint|gb|rail}} {{Rint|london|northern}} {{Rint|london|victoria}}
|Kensal Green, Queen's Park {{Rint|london|bakerloo}}, Kilburn High Road, South Hampstead
|-
|[[North London line]] {{Rint|london|overground|north}}
|Eastbound
|[[Stratford station|Stratford]] {{Rint|gb|rail}} {{Rint|london|crossrail}} {{Rint|london|central}} {{Rint|london|jubilee}} {{Rint|london|dlr}}
|Kensal Rise, Brondesbury Park, Brondesbury, West Hampstead, Finchley Road & Frognal, Hampstead Heath, Gospel Oak {{Rint|london|overground|goblin}}, Kentish Town West, Camden Road, Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, Highbury & Islington {{Rint|gb|rail}} {{Rail-interchange|london|overground|east}} {{Rail-interchange|london|victoria}}, Canonbury {{Rail-interchange|london|overground|east}}. Dalston Kingsland, Hackney Central {{Rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{Rint|london|overground|lea}}, Homerton, Hackney Wick
|-
|North London line {{Rint|london|overground|north}}
|Westbound
|[[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]] {{Rint|gb|rail}}
|Acton Central, South Acton, Gunnersbury {{Rail-interchange|london|district}}, Kew Gardens
|-
|[[West London line]] {{Rint|london|overground|west}}
|Westbound
|[[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]] {{Rint|gb|rail}}
|Shepherd's Bush {{Rint|gb|rail}} {{Rint|london|central}}, Kensington Olympia {{Rint|gb|rail}} {{Rint|london|district}}, West Brompton {{Rint|gb|rail}} {{Rail-interchange|london|district}}, Imperial Wharf
|}
Stations in Willesden straddle [[List of stations in London fare zone 2|London fare zones 2]] and [[London fare zone 3|3]].<ref name=":0" />[[File:Willesden Green Tube Station.JPG|thumb|Willesden Green station|271x271px]]

===Road===
Several key routes pass through or around Willesden:
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+
!Route
!Road
!Southbound/Westbound
!Northbound/Eastbound
|-
|{{UK road|A219|height=15}}
|Scrubs Lane
|[[White City, London|White City]]
[[Shepherd's Bush]]

[[Hammersmith]]
| -
|-
|{{UK road|A404|height=15}}
|[[Harrow Road]]/Manor Park Road
|[[Kensal Green|Kensal]]
[[Paddington]]
|[[Wembley]]
[[Harrow, London|Harrow]]
|-
|{{UK road|A406|height=15}}
|[[North Circular Road, London|North Circular Road]]
|[[Ealing]]
{{UK road|M4|height=15}} for [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] {{Rint|air}}

[[Chiswick]]
|[[Brent Cross]]
{{UK road|M1|height=15}} for [[Luton Airport|Luton]] {{Rint|air}}

[[Finchley]]

{{UK road|M11|height=15}} for [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] {{Rint|air}}
|-
|{{UK road|A407|height=15}}
|High Road
|Willesden Junction
|[[Cricklewood]]
[[Golders Green]]
|-
|{{UK road|A4000|height=15}}
|Old Oak Lane
|[[Acton, London|Acton]]
| -
|-
|{{UK road|A4003|height=15}}
|Willesden Lane
| -
|[[Kilburn, London|Kilburn]]
|-
|{{UK road|A4088|height=15}}
|Dudding Hill Lane
| -
|[[Wembley]]
|-
|{{UK road|A5|height=15}}
|Shoot Up Hill
|[[Kilburn, London|Kilburn]]
[[Maida Vale]]

[[Paddington]]

[[Marble Arch]]
|[[Cricklewood]]
{{UK road|M1|height=15}} for [[Luton Airport|Luton]] {{Rint|air}}

[[Brent Cross]]

[[Edgware]]
|}

===Buses===
A large bus garage was built in 1902 and thus, many bus routes start or run through the town. [[Queen Elizabeth II|The Queen]] visited it during her Golden Jubilee celebrations. [[London Buses]] routes serving Willesden are: [[London Buses route 6|6]], [[London Buses route 52|52]], [[London Buses route 98|98]], 206, 226, 260, 266, 297, 460 and N98.

===Cycling===
To the north of Willesden, [[List of cycle routes in London|Quietway 3]] runs unbroken between [[Gladstone Park, London|Gladstone Park]] and [[A5 road (Great Britain)|Shoot Up Hill]] on quiet, residential streets. The route is coordinated by [[Transport for London]] (TfL) and is planned to extend eastbound into [[West Hampstead]] towards [[Regent's Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/quietway-3-map-regents-park-to-gladstone-park.pdf|title=Quietway 3: Regents Park to Gladstone Park|website=[[Transport for London]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613161440/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/quietway-3-map-regents-park-to-gladstone-park.pdf|archive-date=13 June 2018}}</ref>

A direct, traffic-free cycle route runs to the south of Willesden along the [[Grand Union Canal]] [[towpath]]. Cyclists [[Shared use path|share the route]] with pedestrians, but the towpath provides cyclists with an unbroken, traffic-free connection to [[Paddington]]. From Paddington, cyclists can access further Central London destinations using traffic-free [[Cycle Superhighway 3]].

==Notable people from Willesden Green==
* [[Ronald Coase]] (1910–2013), Nobel Prize winner in economics
* [[Graham Cole]], actor
* [[Ernest Eldridge]] (1897–1935), racing driver
* [[E. L. James]], author
* [[John Neville (actor)|John Neville]] (1925-2011), actor
* Ben Smith, an underground [[British hip hop|British rapper]] who goes by the name [[Doc Brown (rapper)|Doc Brown]]. He is featured on the track "Think Back" from the album ''The Enthusiast'' produced by the British DJ Evil Ed. He raps "Born and bred in Kilburn" but also says "Veteran Willesden tenant. Brent the borough of residence."
*[[J. Keighley Snowden]] (1860-1947), author and journalist who lived and died here
*[[Kelvin Krash]], [[trap music]] producer
*[[Janet Kay]], Reggae singer

== Popular culture ==
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2015}}
* [[Emma Thompson]]'s character in ''[[Last Chance Harvey]]'' mentions she lives in Willesden Green.
*The town was featured in the popular novels ''[[White Teeth]]'' and ''[[NW (novel)|NW]]'' by [[Zadie Smith]], published in 2000 and 2012 respectively; the first novel was the basis of a subsequent TV series.
*[[Joe Strummer]] and the Mescaleros song from "Willesden to Cricklewood" on their album ''Rock Art and the X-ray Style''.
*Willesden is the origin of the formation of the 1980s breakdance group the Willesden Dodgers with Pete Q. Harris, Nigel Green and Richard Jon Smith as the main members.
*"Willesden Green" is the title of a song written by [[Ray Davies]] and performed by [[the Kinks]] and is included in the soundtrack of the 1971 film ''[[Percy (1971 film)|Percy]]''. Lyrics from the song:
{{blockquote|
Well I tried to settle down Fulham Broadway<br />
And I tried to make my home in Golders Green<br />
But I gotta get that train<br />
And go back home again<br />
Oh how I miss the folks back home in Willesden Green

You know, I tried, I really tried to settle in this big city<br />
And I always thought I could make it all on my very own<br />
But there's one thing that keeps calling me<br />
To that little, that little semi-detached<br />
That's the folks, yeah, the folks back home<br />
In Willesden Green
}}
*Willesden Green is a running reference/joke on the animated TV cartoon series ''[[Danger Mouse (1981 TV series)|Danger Mouse]]''.
*''[[The Last Detective]]'' (2002) was set and filmed in and around Willesden and used the Rising Sun pub as its central location.
*''[[Jonathan Creek]]'' is regularly filmed around Willesden.
*[[The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band]] make a short reference to Willesden Green on their track "Shirt", the second track of their 1969 album ''[[Tadpoles (album)|Tadpoles]]'' quote: "Now, here in Willesden Green, yes, brrr, it is a bit chilly but no matter. Here comes a gentleman and we're going to talk to him about shirts."
*''[[Lead Balloon]]'', a BBC4 sitcom starring [[Jack Dee]], is filmed principally in Willesden.
* A [[static inverter plant]] of [[HVDC Kingsnorth]] was located in Willesden.
* In the book ''[[The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time]]'', Christopher's mother lives in Willesden.
* Willesden was the first home of [[Jive Records]]. It remained there for many years while growing into an international music company, which released the music of such global artists as [[Whodini]], [[DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince]], and [[Britney Spears]]. It was eventually acquired by [[Bertelsmann Music Group]] and relocated to New York.
* The family who share their house with a ghost in the BBC's 1992 Sitcom ''[[So Haunt Me]]'' lived on Meadow Road, Willesden.
* On the popular 1980s/90s TV show ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'', Arthur Daley had a lock-up full of questionable merchandise located in Willesden. He also orchestrated many of his dodgy deals in the area and other parts of northwest London. In the episode "Willesden Suite", Arthur finds himself caught up in the web of a dishonest manager whilst supplying a hotel with dodgy gear.
* Willesden was once home to [[Morgan Studios]], where many well-known rock albums by artists such as Yes, Led Zeppelin, and Supertramp were produced. [[Morgan Studios]] was the first to use 24-track recording.
* In [[Nines (rapper)|Nines]]' "Can't Blame Me" music video, the rapper can be seen wheelie-ing on his pedal bike down Willesden Lane outside the launderette where he washes his millions.
* The second volume of Louis Ferdinand Celine ''Guignol's Band'' tells the story of Colonel O'Cologhan, whose mansion is situated in Willesden.

==See also==
*[[St Matthew's Church, Willesden]]
*[[Willesden Jewish Cemetery]]
*[[Liberal Jewish Cemetery, Willesden]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.brent.gov.uk/planning.nsf/0/ac3a63699612b4c980256bb40055d4e4?OpenDocument A Short History of Brent]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310234213/http://www.willesdentown.com/ Willesden Town Centre Partnership]
*[http://www.willesdencyclingclub.co.uk Willesden cycling club]
*[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22601 Willesden: Settlement and Growth from ]

{{LB Brent}}
{{London Districts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Willesden| ]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Brent]]
[[Category:Places formerly in Middlesex]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]