This suburban pocket of Northfields and West Ealing is desirable for many families in search of a convenient but lively alternative to central London. Drawn in initially by the affordable prices, residents are not disappointed once they realise everything that the neighbourhood has to offer. Aside from being easily accessible via the Piccadilly line at Northfields station, locals get to enjoy the lush Lammas Park and recently refurbished West Ealing Library. The neighbourhood’s high street - Northfield Avenue - is lined with exciting eateries. Between the Chinese food at Maxim, Pasta at Momento, and Sri Lankan food at Papaya, there’s something for everyone in the neighbourhood.

This neighbourhood dates back to the 14th century when it was a part of the manor of Coldhall. Later on, in 1738, an important orchard was planted in the area. This led to the growing of apples at an industrial scale. By the 1870s, there was even a major fruit-packing warehouse in the area. However, by the time the railway arrived in the beginning of the 20th century, many of the fruit trees were destroyed to make way for streets and new homes. Once the Piccadilly line arrived, the local Northfields station, was rebuilt. Today, the neighbourhood shows little of its orcharding history, but still remains a beloved suburb amongst many London families.

Lammas Park is a favourite amongst locals, but few know the origin of its name. Lammas refers to the land that tenants of the former medieval manor were allowed to use for cattle grazing. They were only permitted to do this from the 1st of August (or Lammas Day), which was a festival celebrating the annual wheat harvest.

Most of the homes in the neighbourhood are not all that aesthetically interesting. The majority are modest semi-detached houses. Still, residents don’t mind these and find that their affordability makes them totally worth it.

Over the coming years, West Ealing will be seeing a whole slew of changes. The Borough of Ealing recently launched its West Ealing Neighbourhood Plan. The Council has committed to providing new housing and business space to the area. What’s notable is that they’ve promised that at least 50% of the housing built must be set at affordable prices. The council has actually followed through on that commitment and rejected large projects that have not fulfilled the housing requirement, including the Gurnell Leisure Centre redevelopment. The council is also looking to improve the area’s public spaces, as well as the pedestrian and cycling pathways.

Ealing has become a much more attractive area of West London to move to, especially given its more affordable prices. The proximity of West Ealing, including Northfield Avenue, to the Piccadilly line has made it especially interesting for new development, and developers have flocked in, very quickly changing the landscape of the area. West Ealing locals are very concerned with the proliferation of high-rise buildings in the neighbourhood, with many community protest groups being born as a response. Nevertheless, it is an interesting chapter of change for West Ealing, and for those who want a slice of peaceful living without sacrificing access to Central London, it’s worth a look!