Finchley is situated on a hill, 90 metres (300 ft) above sea level about 11km (7 miles) north of Charing Cross and about 6km (4 miles) south of Barnet. To the east is the Dollis valley formed by Dollis Brook which is the natural eastern boundary of Finchley.[1]

Finchley is roughly triangular in shape and divided into four areas:

• East, roughly the area between Highgate and the North Circular Road, and in postal area N2;
• Church End, often known as ‘Finchley Central’, the area west of the North Circular Road, centred around Ballards Lane and Central tube station, and in postcode district N3;
• West, a small residential area around tube station, and in postcode district N3; and
• North, the area surrounding Tally-Ho Corner, stretching west to Woodside Park and the Northern Line, in postcode district N12.