“Stretching from the edges of Chiswick out to Northolt, Ealing has long been an under-the-radar popular spot for families and working professionals alike, thanks to its attractive mix of quality properties, good schools, and excellent transport links.”
Moving to Ealing
Stretching from the edges of Chiswick out to Northolt, Ealing has long been an under-the-radar popular spot for families and working professionals alike, thanks to its attractive mix of quality properties, good schools and excellent transport links. It is also the third largest and fourth most culturally diverse borough in London, with over 100 languages spoken and large Polish, Irish, and South Asian communities.
House prices in Ealing
House prices in Ealing are currently relatively high for London, with an average property price of £721,302 as of February 2020, although it is still significantly cheaper than boroughs such as Camden, Hammersmith, and Islington. However, this looks set to change with the arrival of Crossrail, which by the closing months of 2020 could push prices up by up to 50% – making the area unaffordable for all but the wealthiest residents.
Properties in this area are generally varied to suit both higher and lower income budgets, and in accordance with particular areas. Built-up areas such as Acton, for example, have a greater presence of flats and terraced housing, as opposed to greener and more spacious areas of the borough, which afford larger, detached properties.
On the whole, the appealing nature of this borough means that most people who move to the area remain for a significant period of time, upsizing or downsizing as they see fit. Mount Park Conservation Area has a particularly desirable selection of five or six bedroom Victorian detached properties, many of which overlook expansive greenery. Alternatively, for commuters to Central London and young couples looking for their first home, there are a variety of stylish apartments to suit most tastes in Turnham Green, Acton Town and Ealing Common.
“In total, the borough has thirteen tube stations, all of which sit in zones three to five, as well as a number of train stations on the Overground lines and Great Western Railway lines.”
Travelling from Ealing
Regarding transport links, the Piccadilly, Central, and District underground tube lines all run through Ealing Broadway station, which also sits on a National Rail stop, delivering passengers into London Paddington in under 15 minutes. In total, Ealing has thirteen tube stations, all of which sit in zones three to five, as well as a number of train stations on the Overground lines and Great Western Railway lines.
For alternative transport connections, there is an impressive bus service running through the borough, transporting locals to areas as far as Kingston and Golders Green. Furthermore, there are proposals for a new Cycle Superhighway, which will make life safer for cyclists and improve their journey times across the borough. For drivers, the M25 efficiently carries travellers to the northern and southern parts of London. The M4, A40 and North Circular roads are also easily accessible, from which it takes approximately 30 minutes to reach London Heathrow.
Restaurants in Ealing
For a spot of retail therapy, Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre is home to most high street chain shops as well as a few top fashion outlets, with brands including Boots, Monsoon and H&M. The centre is also home to branches of Dirty Burger and Chicken Shop, cult restaurants from the Soho House Group.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for something a little more international, take a trip to the busy streets of Southall Broadwayl – known colloquially as ‘Little India’. Here you will find steaming street food and a strong selection of Indian restaurants and takeaways nestled alongside the latest designs in fashion and jewellery straight out of South Asia.
Food shopping in Ealing
Locals in Ealing are spoilt with choice when it comes to their weekly shop. Alongside Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, the weekly Ealing Farmer’s Market on Leeland Road includes stalls such as the Handpicked Shellfish Company and authentic produce from the Bath Soft Cheese Company. Ealing also supports one of the largest Polish communities in London, so it’s not difficult to locate a little Sopocka ham in places such as The Polish Deli. Meanwhile, on Ealing Common, Japanese grocers Natural Natural is a popular stop for a variety of Asian produce.
Gyms in Ealing
There are outlets of major gym chains such as The Gym and Nuffield Health & Leisure throughout the borough, as well as good council-run services including the Alec Reed Academy Community Sports Centre where you’ll find a climbing wall, gym and dance studio, and Everyone Active Acton Centre, which offers two swimming pools. There are also a number of golf and cricket clubs throughout the area.
Culture
Ealing nurtures an ever-strengthening art scene, dating back to the 1950s when Ealing Studios produced some of the best comedy-classics of British cinema. Ealing Studios is the oldest studio in the world is frequently used for some of the most iconic television shows and films around (Monty Python and Doctor Who, to name a fraction of the productions filmed at Ealing Studios). For a little live action, Questors Theatre is the largest community theatre in Europe and offers a variety of performances from pantomimes to poetry evenings, whilst the beautiful cultural venue of Pitzhanger Manor on Mattock Lane stands out as an architectural gem, providing visitors with a range of different artistic and cultural activities.
“Ealing nurtures an ever-strengthening art scene, dating back to the 1950s when Ealing Studios produced some of the best comedy-classics of British cinema.”
Schools and education in Ealing
It’s not just the green spaces and cultural opportunities that make Ealing a popular place for young families – schools here are also very good, with many earning ‘outstanding’ ratings from Ofsted. Drayton Manor High School and Brentside Primary School in Hanwell are two such institutions with an excellent track record. In addition, there are a number of sought-after independent schools here, such as the Notting Hill and Ealing High School for Girls, Avenue House School, and St Benedict’s School.
Safety in Ealing
Ealing is a relatively safe area in London, with a 2015 survey suggesting that 95% of residents feel safe in their neighbourhood. The crime rate here is lower than a number of other boroughs, including Lambeth, Islington, and Southwark.
Green spaces in Ealing
Covering 47 acres, Ealing Common is the borough’s main park. It hosts a number of fairs throughout the year and is a major attraction for locals, especially families with young children. Further west, Brent Lodge Park and Perivale Park are other excellent options for a day outdoors.
History
An incredibly ancient area, recent archaeological finds suggest that a settlement has existed in Ealing for over 7,000 years, although the first record of the area comes from the 1100s, when it was a small dwelling in the heart of a forest.
It remained mostly farming land until the 1800s, when wealthy Londoners began to flock here seeking respite from the smoke and soot of the industrial city. This trend continued once the railways were introduced and by 1880 Ealing was being referred to as the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’ for its leafy landscapes.
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