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North Cranford & The Parkway
This neighbourhood sits in the western corner of Heston. While most of the homes are unimpressive post war semi-detached houses, the stock is extremely affordable and has attracted many to the area. Being close to Heathrow Airport and surrounded by busier roads, one would think that the area would feel a bit like a thoroughfare. However, this is far from the case. Residents of Heston have formed their own tight knit community and enjoy the area’s abundance of quiet suburban attractions. From the Airlinks Golf Club to the lush and historical Cranford Park, there’s plenty to be proud of in the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood, while not as lively as central London, does still have a number of decent options for a pint. On a typical Sunday in the area, you can find many of the local residents down at the Queen’s Head catching up over a beer or one of their wonderful roasts.
Cranford Park has a long and interesting history. The site was originally used as collateral in the 14th century when King Edward II took it from the Knights Templar. Later on, in the 17th century, the site was sold to Lady Elizabeth Berkeley, and was used by her family as a holiday house for nearly 300 years. Having been used for extensive hunting over the years, the site was home to numerous stables, and even had a birthing bay where foals were born. Eventually following the Second World War, the land was passed over to the borough of Hillingdon for conversion into a public park. Today, the park is arguably one of the best kept secrets of outer west London.
The infamous Hound of Hounslow lived in his parents’ house in this part of Heston. Navinder Singh Sarao was able to earn millions from running illegal schemes based on the US stock market. He was eventually caught and arrested.
Unfortunately, the neighbourhood is not serviced by any close tube or rail stations. While nearby areas have stations, this section is really made for car commuters. Still, the area is still serviced by bus lines, and some residents don’t mind having to rely on their cars for most trips.
Local favourite, Cranford Park, received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to allow for a major restoration project. This project will bring better biodiversity to the park, as well as the refurbishment of vaulted 16th-century cellars. There will also be work done on a listed 18th-century stable block that will allow for space for meeting rooms, a visitor centre and a café. Construction firm Quinn London was awarded the contract for the project and works began in June 2022. The overall budget for the scheme is approximately £4 million and the works are due to finish in spring 2023.