The London Borough of Barnet, located in north London, is one of the capital’s least urban-looking areas, featuring leafy suburbs, village-style neighbourhoods and stretches of Green Belt countryside. It includes areas such as Hendon, Finchley, Edgware and Chipping Barnet, and is home to attractions including the Royal Air Force Museum, the Jewish Museum and the historic Battle of Barnet site. The borough has a population of about 405,050 and a diverse community, with 57.7% of residents identifying as White, 19.3% as Asian and 7.9% as Black. It also has a significant Jewish population.

Housing in Barnet is relatively expensive, with an average house price of £617,000 in late 2025 and average monthly private rents of £1,805 in early 2026. Band D council tax for 2026/27 stands at £2,132. The borough is served by 13 Underground stations on the Northern line, national rail services and hundreds of bus routes.

Politically, Barnet was long considered a Conservative stronghold until Labour gained control for the first time in 2022, winning 41 seats to the Conservatives’ 22 after a 7% swing. Since then, several by-elections have been held with no change in overall control, though there have been defections. Experts describe Barnet as a marginal contest between Labour and the Conservatives, with the possibility of gains by Reform in the 2026 local elections.