The neighbourhood of Bedfont is unique for the area surrounding Heathrow. Whilst it does have many of the modern office parks that its neighbouring areas boast, Bedfont has managed to hold onto some of its quaint cottages and historical architecture. Nestled against the Longford River, residents live in a range of relatively inexpensive homes. From the modest post-war terraced houses and flats, to the quaint Victorian cottages, there’s plenty to choose from! The neighbourhood is far more than just its affordability however. On a typical weekend, you’ll find locals attending services at the historic St. Mary’s Church, others picnicking in the greens surrounding Staines Road, and families enjoying the facilities in the Bedfont Library. Residents are also spoiled by the many eateries that line Staines Road. Between The Bell on the Green pub, Bedfont Cafe, and the Mediterranean food at O Calau, there’s something for everyone in Bedfont!

The Bedfont neighbourhood is believed to have dated back to the 11th century, when its local manor and church came to be. Many of the iconic locations in the neighbourhood can be dated back multiple centuries. These include the Burlington House, which was built in 1791, as well as the yew trees that were trimmed to look like peacocks back in 1704. The neighbourhood didn’t really develop though until the coaching era, as it became a spot for coaches to stop between Hounslow and Staines. Later on, in the 20th century, the area became known for its more modern developments like the Bedfont Lakes Country Park. These new buildings allowed for major tech companies, like IBM and Cisco, to move in. Today, the area is characterised by its historical cottages and green spaces, which are juxtaposed with the many modern complexes.

The famous captain, Matt Webb, lived in the Bedfont neighbourhood towards the end of his life. He’s best known for being the first man to swim across the English Channel.

Unfortunately, many busy roads cut through the neighbourhood. The multiple lanes on the A30 can make the neighbourhood feel a bit noisy at times. Still, for residents who rely on their cars, having these roads there makes the neighbourhood so much more convenient.

In 2016, Hounslow Council announced that they would be partnering with Heathrow Aiport authorities to catalyse the development of a major large-scale multi-use complex in the area around Bedfont Lakes Country Park. Referred to as The Bedfont Lakes Neighbourhoods, the scheme is highly ambitious in its promise to deliver 9,000 new homes, satisfying a large chunk of the borough’s housing provision requirement as delineated in the London Plan, and 20,000 new jobs to the area. In addition to these, the development includes the construction of a new Bedfont train station and an ‘Airport Business Park’, which would be situated around the existing Hatton Cross tube station and act as a centre for airport-related commerce including logistics companies. That said, no updates have been announced regarding the project since then, and infrastructure works for the scheme were never initiated. This ‘Garden City’ initiative relies heavily on Heathrow’s expansion and the development of a third runway but, considering that Heathrow plans are currently on hold, it is safe to assume that for now the Bedfont Lakes Neighbourhood scheme is not initiating in the near future.