North London

The first northern suburb developed in the Soke of Cripplegate in the early twelfth century, but London's growth beyond its Roman northern gates was slower than in other directions, partly because of the marshy ground north of the wall and also because the roads through those gates were less well connected than elsewhere. The parishes that would become north London were almost entirely rural until the Victorian period. Many of these parishes were grouped into an area called the Finsbury division.

In the early 19th century, the arrival of the Regent's Canal in Islington and St Pancras stimulated London's northerly expansion, continuing when the development of the railway network accelerated urbanisation, promoting economic growth in the capital and allowing for the establishment of commuter suburbs.

This trend continued in the twentieth century and was reinforced by motorcar-based commuting until the establishment of the Metropolitan Green Belt, shortly after the Second World War, prevented London from expanding any further.

North London has, like other parts of London and the UK in general, a temperate maritime climate according to the Köppen climate classification system. Long term climate observations dating back to 1910 are available for Hampstead, which is also the most elevated Weather Station in the London area, at 137m. This both hilltop and urban position means severe frosts are rare.

Temperatures increase towards the Thames, firstly because of the urban warming effect of the surrounding area, but secondly due to altitude decreasing towards the river, meaning some of the hillier northern margins of North London are often a degree or so cooler than those areas adjacent to the Thames. Occasionally snow can be seen to lie towards the Chilterns while central London is snow-free.

Typically the warmest day of the year at Hampstead will average 29.3 °C (84.7 °F)[6] with around 14 days[7] in total achieving a value of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or higher.

The average coldest night should fall to −5.6 °C (21.9 °F).[8] On average 35.8 nights[9] will report an air frost, some 119 days[10] of the year will register at least 1mm of precipitation, and on 7.4 days[11] a cover of snow will be observed. All annual averages refer to the observation period 1971–2000.

• Central London
• East London
• Inner London
• Outer London
• South London
• West London

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for North London.

• Time Out editors (1 May 2009). "North London v South London – The debate". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2010. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
• Alan Rutter and Peter Watts (13 December 2005). "North London v South London – The debate". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2010.