Local elections profile: Harrow

Ahead of the local elections on Thursday 7 May, we have produced short guides to London's 32 boroughs.

Where is it? The London Borough of Harrow is in north-west London, and is bordered by Barnet, Brent, Ealing and Hillingdon.

What's it like? Harrow is a green borough, with one fifth of land being used for parkland. With about 80 places of worship, Harrow is one of the most religiously diverse boroughs. It is home to large Hindu, Jewish, and Zoroastrian communities.

Neighbourhoods: Harrow, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Wealdstone, Harrow Weald, Pinner, Stanmore, Edgware, Sudbury, Rayners Lane, Kenton, Hatch End.

Places of interest: Harrow School, Headstone Manor and Museum, Bentley Priory Museum, Heath Robinson Museum, Pinner Memorial Park, Zoroastrian Centre - Rayners Lane, Harrow Central Mosque.

Pub quiz fact: Harrow School's Fourth Form Room is covered in carved graffiti, including by four boys who later became British prime minister.

Population (2024 estimate): 270,724

Demographics: According to the 2021 census, 36% identify as white, 45% as Asian, 7% as black, 4% as mixed race and 5% as another ethnic group.

Average property price: According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the average house price in January 2026 was £532,000.

Average monthly rent: The ONS reported that the average monthly rent in January 2026 in Harrow was £1,750.

Transport: According to TfL there are 10 Tube stations, three London Overground stations and around 430 bus stops in Harrow.

Local history: The history of Harrow stretches back to the early Middle Ages, when Harrow‑on‑the‑Hill served as a centre of Anglo‑Saxon religious worship. The word Harrow is derived from a term meaning pagan shrine.

In more recent history, in 1952, a three‑train collision at Harrow and Wealdstone station tragically killed 112 people. It remains to be one of the UK's worst railway accidents.

Harrow formally became a London borough in 1965. Now, it's known for its views over London and its famous boarding school.

Harrow is also home to Pinner, where Elton John was born and started his career. It's also home to the locally legendary Pinner Fair, which is held every year and has been since it was established by Royal Charter in 1336.

What is the borough's electoral history? Harrow has switched between Conservative, Labour and no overall control since its creation in 1965, but the borough looked to be locked in for Labour who were in power from 2010 until 2022 when the Tories took it back in a surprise win.

What happened in 2022? A turnout of 37.9% resulted in Harrow being the only London council the Conservatives gained that year, against the broader London trend.

Conservatives: 31 seats (+3)

Labour: 24 seats (-11)

Boundary changes reduced the number of seats from 63 to 55.

Since the election, one Labour councillor was suspended and now sits as an independent.

Professor Tony Travers of the London School of Economics said Harrow is one of the Conservatives' safest boroughs in London.

In the 2024 general election, there were swings from Labour to the Conservatives in both the constituencies in the borough.

The Conservatives will hold Harrow.

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