Families are especially drawn to the quaint, suburban neighbourhood of South Ealing for its quality schools, multiple independent shops and restaurants, as well as its wonderful transport connections. Wandering through the streets, you’ll notice the community feel and the detached post-war houses and blocks of flats. A typical weekend day will show residents flocking to local gem, Gunnersbury Park, in order to be active or simply relax with friends and family. Aside from this park though, the neighbourhood has no shortage of green space. Some locals love taking late night summer strolls through South Ealing Cemetery, or picnicking in Popfield Playing Fields. Additionally, being home to a fairly diverse population, residents benefit from the wide array of food from different cultures. Whether it be Italian food at L’oro di Napoli, or Polish food at Kuznia Smaku, there’s something for everyone.

The neighbourhood’s South Ealing station has an interesting history behind it. Built in the late-19th century, when the Metropolitan District line was extended to the area, it eventually needed to be expanded to later accommodate the incoming Piccadilly line. In the early 1930s, the station was demolished and replaced with a temporary station on the opposite side to allow for the widening of tracks. However, residents liked the new location so much that the London Underground decided to convert the temporary station into a permanent one!

In the 18th century, today’s Gunnersbury Park was the country home of Princess Amelia, King George II’s daughter. While living there, she had a grotto and plunge bath built.

The neighbourhood recently witnessed a terrible gas explosion in popular restaurant, Charlotte’s Place. One of the chefs was badly hurt and was eventually transferred to a specialist in Wales. Today, the restaurant remains closed. Still, patrons were impressed with how quickly the emergency services arrived on site and helped to evacuate everyone. While many locals miss the restaurant, there are still many other highly rated eateries throughout the area.

Gunnersbury Park, which sits in this neighbourhood, is undergoing a major renovation project. The project will bring new sports facilities to the park by 2026. These facilities will include tennis courts, cricket pitches, rugby and football fields, as well as an indoor community sports hub with an education centre. This park is already loved by locals, and is promised to become even more of a destination in the coming years. The small mansion in the park, which was long overdue for repair, has finally begun its rejuvenation. Works are well underway and additional improvements have already been completed. Local communities have also been involved in the park’s refurbishment and they should be expected to keep their active role once works are completed. A local Community Interest Company (CIC) has been selected as the operational arm of Gunnersbury Park and Museum, under the leadership of the Park’s Trust. In addition to park refurbishments, the area is seeing an increase in interest from developers, especially for residential development.