The structure of Nijmegen-breakage syndrome protein 1

Local area

It's not all green grass and fresh air around NIMR. Mill Hill and the surrounding areas offer an abundance of leisure activities, from sports to cinema, eating out and shopping - there's something for everyone.

Sports facilities

A range of sporting and leisure activities is available at NIMR, and within the local area there are a number of sports and fitness facilities, including those below.

  • The Copthall Leisure Centre offers a range of facilities, including a swimming pool, and there are a number of private fitness centres, including a David Lloyd centre at North Finchley, a Virgin Active Healthclub at Mill Hill East and Hendon, and branches of LA Fitness at Finchley and Golders Green.
  • There are three local golf courses in the surrounding area.
  • For horse riders, the London Equestrian Centre is a short distance from the Institute.

Parks and green spaces

Just a few minutes walk from the Institute you can experience some of London's finest sites of nature conservation, and enjoy the peacefulness of some beautiful areas. At the back of the Institute site is a large area of farmland, criss-crossed with footpaths which connect with:

  • the Darlands nature reserve and lake
  • the Dollis Valley Greenwalk (from Mill Hill to Hampstead Heath)
  • the Moat Mount nature reserve and campsite

Arrandene open space and Featherstone Hill are also nearby.

Shopping

A number of local shops, Post Office, petrol station (with cashpoint) and Waitrose supermarket are located near to Mill Hill East station. At Mill Hill Broadway there is a typical suburban shopping area, with a range of shops and banks.

Several other shopping areas are readily accessible by car or bus including those at Finchley Central, North Finchley and Edgware. Brent Cross shopping centre, north London's largest shopping mall, is a 10 minute drive, and houses major department stores and high-street chains.

Eating out

There are three local pubs within easy walking distance, and two a little further away, which are open for lunch and evening meals, and offer outdoor eating and good quality food.

There is also a large range of restaurants and cafes in the surrounding areas of Mill Hill Broadway, Finchley Central, North Finchley, Hendon, Golders Green and Edgware, and of course Central London is just 30 minutes away and offers a huge diversity of places to eat, drink and socialise.

Entertainment

A range of social activities take place regularly at NIMR. In addition, nearby leisure facilities include:

  • Hollywood Bowl at Finchley, with 26 bowling lanes.
  • Multiplex cinemas can be found at Finchley Lido and at the O2 centre on Finchley Road (both Warner Village cinemas, now known as Vue cinemas), and in Barnet (Odeon cinema).
  • The Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley is an independent cinema with Art Deco features, and one of London's oldest, with a varied film and rep programme and many special and community events.
  • The Old Bull Arts Centre in High Barnet has a varied programme of events including theatre, dance, comedy and music.
  • The Arts Depot, an arts centre in North Finchley, offers a varied range of dance, music, theatre, and comedy.
  • And, in Central London, 30 minutes by tube, you will have access to a vast range of cinemas, theatres, galleries and music venues.

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© MRC National Institute for Medical Research
The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA