Golders Green means the village green o the Golders, a somewhat distorted version of the name of the Godyere family who owned land in the area. It was a wooded area in the Middle Ages, but it was cleared in the 18th century to make way for farmers. It was still a secluded area protected from the wholesale residential development of neighbouring areas until 1905 when a tunnel was dug under Hampstead Heath which allowed the Northern Line to reach Golders Green. This led to immediate development of the area into residential housing. The Golders Hill Park remained as a recreational area. Before and after the Second World War it became a particular enclave for refugees from Central Europe.

The housing in Golders Green is generally Edwardian and later in style. The most sought-after houses are in the streets crossing the Ridgeway just south of Golders Green Road and west of Finchley Road, such as Ridge Hill, Dunstan Road and Hodford Road. These are generally large detached or semi-detached houses. There are similar properties on the other side of Golders Green Road in the area of Brookside Road, such as Ravenscroft, Beechcroft and Elmcroft Avenues. There are blocks of flats purpose built from the 1930s onwards in Golders Green Road, the most notable being Riverside Drive, and also Gloucester Court and Eagle Lodge.

Another pocket of sought-after houses is to be found in Temple Fortune. (Temple Fortune is the area around Finchley Road and then to the North Circular Road.) On the east side of Finchley Road there are mainly small houses in the area round Temple Fortune Lane. There are large family houses in the streets near Hampstead Heath such as Rotherwick Road, Middleton and Corringham Roads. Near the top of Finchley Road there are mansion blocks of flats such as Belmont, Montrose and Clarendon Courts. West of Finchley Road, Templars Avenue and the streets running off it such as St John’s and St George’s Roads contain family sized houses. Similare houses are to be found further north in the streets running off Bridge Lane such as Hallswelle Road and Monkville Avenue.

South of Golders Green tube station and North End Road there are other desirable streets such as West Heath Avenue and The Park which overlook Golders Hill Park. North End Road contains a number of mansion blocks.