Chipping Barnet is one of the highest urban settlements in London, with the town centre having an elevation of about 427 feet (130 m).

The town's name, recorded as Barneto in about 1070, Barnet in 1197, and La Barnette in 1248, is derived from Old English bærnet: "the land cleared by burning".

[2] In Saxon times the site was part of an extensive wood called Southaw, belonging to the Abbey of St Albans.

The area was historically a common resting point on the traditional Great North Road between the City of London and York and Edinburgh.

The Battle of Barnet in 1471 was fought at nearby Monken Hadley, where Yorkist troops led by King Edward IV killed the rebellious "Kingmaker" Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, and Warwick's brother, John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu.

Queen Elizabeth I granted a charter to the Lord of the Manor of Barnet to hold a twice yearly fair.

At the beginning of the 21st century, a tongue-in-cheek movement calling for the name Barnet to be changed to "Barnét" began to gain the attention of the public and the national media, with many public road signs in the area regularly being altered to contain the accented character.

[7][8] St John the Baptist Church is a landmark for miles around and stands in what was the centre of the town.

It was erected by John de la Moote, abbot of St Albans, about 1400, the architect being Beauchamp.

[10] The whole town is defined as the Chipping Barnet parliamentary constituency, which takes up the eastern third of the wider borough.

The modern Great North Road replacement, the A1, runs to the west of the town along Barnet Bypass.

Totteridge and Whetstone Underground station serves the affluent areas bearing the same name southwest of High Barnet town centre.

is also based in Barnet, near Stirling Corner, but the 1st team plays midweek and some cup home games at Hemel Hempstead Town F.C.

[13] The Barnet Society also frequently publishes articles on local news as well as a quarterly newsletter.