Situated on the western border of London, this quiet suburban neighbourhood is defined by its abundant green spaces and the waterways that run throughout. The Yeading Brook flows down the centre, feeding vibrant plant life throughout Hayes Park, Grange Park and Belmore Playing Fields. There is also the Hayes Park Football Club, Abbeyfields Equestrian Centre, and the West London Shooting School located in the northern part of this area, offering top-range facilities. This neighbourhood is ideal for families who work in West and central London, as it is well served by buses to the nearby train station in Hayes that has high-speed trains running frequently into the city. There are also a large number of nurseries, schools and colleges in this area with Ofsted ratings from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘Outstanding’, so be sure to check the ratings before applying to a school.

Hayes End was largely a scattered collection of rural dwellings until 1927 when the advent of the electric railway occurred. This made Hayes End a desirable building location, as well as a site for industry. Firms such as Nestle, Kraft, and Smith’s Potato Crisps began to build production sites here, but this was short-lived. By 1944 the area was considered over-industrialised, with the labour saturation point having been passed. Industry began to spread towards engineering and electrical-focused work for the next few decades before the deindustrialisation of the UK began in the 1980s.

The infamous British food brand ‘Heinz’ has its headquarters located near to this neighbourhood in the town of Hayes, to the south. George Orwell also lived near to this area for a time, that is, when he wasn’t spending time hanging out in squats in London’s East End, or the rue du Pot de Fer in Paris.

The main downside to this neighbourhood area is that a car is almost mandatory for getting around. The closest train station is Hayes & Harlington, and although the bus network is strong, getting about to do day-to-day chores can be inconvenient without one. Thankfully traffic is very low in the area, so those that can drive will find it most pleasant.

Many old industrial buildings are being converted along the canal, offering some unique 20s and 30s flats surrounded by blue and green space. There are also a number of new-builds going up in and around the area, such as High Point Village if one prefers a more modern aesthetic. Some are even touting the area as ‘Shoreditch-in-the-suburbs’, however, how the area will turn out after these new developments is yet to be seen.