Highgate news
Highgate news, newest first, from Crouch End News: planning, roads, schools, business and what's on in Highgate, with every story linked to its source.
Top story
Santa's grotto near Crouch End: Lauderdale slots selling out
18 of Lauderdale House's 30 Santa's grotto slots on 5 and 6 December had sold out by 7 October. Ally Pally's grotto runs 4 to 23 December at £14 a child.
More stories
Highgate
North Road Highgate petition: 3,285 sign for school safety
3,285 people have signed a Haringey petition for a lollipop patrol, signals and speed cameras on North Road, past the bar for a full council debate.
Highgate
Highgate Art Fair 6-8 Nov: £8 tickets still on, 7 workshops
Highgate Art Fair is at Highgate Primary School 6 to 8 November. £8 Early Bird tickets were still on sale on 21 October; under-16s free, seven workshops.
Highgate
Highgate Christmas lights switch-on: 2026 date due late Oct
Rupert Grint switched on Highgate's lights on South Grove on 19 November 2025. The 2026 date is not out yet; the last two were announced in late October.
Highgate
Highgate North Road crash: girl, 16, dies near school
A 16-year-old Highgate School pupil died after a car hit her on North Road on Thursday morning. A driver, 68, is on bail and police want dashcam footage.
Christmas
Crouch End Christmas markets 2026: 5 Dec at the town hall
Muswell Hill Creatives bring a winter market to Hornsey Town Hall on 5 December. Highgate's fairs start 20 November; Lauderdale House is 12 and 13 December.
Health
Whittington maternity: £34.6m released, works start 2026
The Whittington's board has released £34.57m to start rebuilding maternity and neonatal care. Services stay open, and this first phase runs to October 2027.
Planning
Highgate School plans: 273 objections, 8 years of work
Five applications to rebuild Highgate School drew 273 objections and 11 supporting. Works could run six to eight years, with a decision due by year end.
Crouch End
Haringey half term 26-30 Oct: £1 swims, free tennis, walks
Haringey half term is 26 to 30 October: £1 junior swims at Park Road, free Priory Park tennis, and four of Lauderdale House's eight Halloween walks sold out.
Crouch End
Crouch End pantomime 2026: no panto, six festive shows
There is no traditional panto in Crouch End or Highgate this year. Jacksons Lane runs six children's shows from £10 and Ally Pally has 68 performances.
Highgate
Open House 2026: 26 local buildings open free, 12 to 20 Sept
Hornsey's medieval tower, Highpoint, Highgate School and the old Ally Pally station all open free next month. Which need booking, and which you can walk into.
Schools
A level results 2026: 51% A*s at Highgate School
Highgate School posted 51% A*s and Channing 62.4% at A*-A, while Fortismere reports its best ever sixth form progress. England's A-or-above rate: 28.3%.
Schools
Haringey term dates 2026/27: Christmas break from 21 Dec
Haringey schools break for Christmas on 18 December and return 4 January. Fortismere, Hornsey and Alexandra Park take a two-week October half term from 19 October.