Just a stone’s throw from the River Thames, the desirable west London suburb of Gunnersbury offers large Victorian and pre-war properties on quiet, leafy streets while remaining somewhat industrial and within touching distance of the inner city. Gunnersbury station operates on the District line, which takes just 35 minutes to reach central London, as well as the north London Overground line, again providing quick and easy transport into town. The A4 also forms the area’s southern border, which is convenient for those who drive. Much of the area’s daytime population is made up of employees from the vast Chiswick Business Park nearby, but the permanent residents are predominantly well-to-do families and young professionals. Slightly north of Chiswick, the neighbourhood is located right next to the tourist destinations of Kew Gardens and is just a short commute to Richmond Park. It also has plenty of green space in its own right, with Chiswick House and Gardens, Turnham Green, and Gunnersbury Park on its doorstep, as well as good schools and convenient nearby amenities. The area is also home to the Gunnersbury Triangle nature reserve, which provides a habitat for many species of animals and plants.

Chiswick, to the south of Gunnersbury, began to develop as a farming and fishing village in the 12th century, remaining predominantly rural for much of its history. Turnham Green was the site of a decisive battle during the English Civil War, when, in November 1642, Royalist forces attempting to take London were stopped by the larger Parliamentarian army and forced to retreat. Around this time, Gunnersbury House was built for Sir John Maynard, later becoming the residence of the daughter of George II. The grounds were sold in 1800 and the house demolished to be replaced by Gunnersbury Park. Gunnersbury’s suburbanisation began in the 1860s, coinciding with the opening of Gunnersbury station in 1869, and the park was later split up and purchased by local boroughs. The area suffered badly during the Blitz, and the station was rebuilt in 1966, topped with an 18-storey office block, which remains one of the area’s most recognised and imposing structures.

Gunnersbury is one of the few areas of London named after a woman. The name derives from the name Gunnhildr, who owned the manor that Gunnersbury now occupies. Some have claimed that she was the niece of King Canute, though there is no evidence to support this.

The area’s proximity to the busy A4 means that it can sometimes get congested and polluted, especially down Wellesley Road, which connects to the highway. There is also a general lack of nearby shops, though Chiswick High Road is not too far away and offers some popular local boutiques and cafes.

Gunnersbury and its surrounding areas are becoming more and more sought after, prompting numerous developers to build luxury apartment complexes nearby. Recently completed was 500 Chiswick High Road, which comprises of 59 1-to-3- bedroom apartments, 7 penthouses, and 5 luxury 4-bed townhouses. Another, whose properties came on the market in 2019, is Bollo Lane, which offers 84 affordable 1-bedroom apartments, 28 private sale apartments, and flexible office space. Ealing Council has also granted Transport for London (TfL) permission to develop some of their land on Bollo Lane, which would provide more than 850 new homes to rent and buy in Acton, half of which will be affordable, in addition to new connections and amenities. Development for the project is expected to begin in Autumn 2022. The increase in local population that these developments will bring is bound to affect the make-up of the nearby high streets.