This neighbourhood sits conveniently on the border between West Ealing and Drayton Green. An ideal suburb for many London families, the area attracts those in search of affordable post-war houses that are still in close proximity to a rail connection - in this case, West Ealing station. The neighbourhood is not just for commuting families though. For young professionals in search of a more affordable corner of London, there’s more than enough to keep them occupied locally. The neighbourhood is bursting with delicious and diverse eateries, as well as independently run shops. If stopping by on a weekend day, you’ll find locals enjoying Syrian food at Abu Zaad, others feasting on Lebanese food at Ya Sham, and a crowd over at The Old Hat supping pints while watching a match. Seeing all that the neighbourhood has to offer, it’s no wonder that more and more Londoners are considering the move out west.

This part of Ealing dates back to the 14th century, when the area was just made up almost entirely of farms. Throughout the 19th century, building picked up and by the late 1880s, there was even a hotel in the area. In 1897, Drayton Bridge Road was constructed, leading to more council-led building. The neighbourhood continues to show its mix of development initiatives. On one side of the neighbourhood, there are plenty of older Victorian style homes, while other pockets are filled with council flats and more post-war suburban housing.

West Ealing station is infamous amongst railway enthusiasts for being the site of a well-known rail accident. The accident took place in 1989, resulting in a major derailment caused by a piece of rail that had been left on the track. Luckily there were no serious injuries, though the event has gone down in history.

Unfortunately, the neighbourhood struggles with combating chronic fly-tipping, with a few streets in particular that are very prone to the practice. The council has been employing clean up teams to help with this issue and community groups are also trying to get word out throughout the neighbourhood.

In 2022, the Elizabeth Line was finally opened to the public and in the summer of that year, its West London stations were operational, including West Ealing station’s platform, meaning that locals of West Ealing have a direct line that connects them much more conveniently now to Central London. The journey would only take 15 minutes to Paddington Station and another 5 just to get to Tottenham Court Road! Work at West Ealing station involved building a new ticket hall, creating step-free access and upgrading platforms to cater for the longer Elizabeth line trains. Development interest in West Ealing is expected to increase dramatically as a result, given the neighbourhood’s increased connectivity coupled with its family-oriented suburban feel, but construction in the area, especially for residential development, had already started a few years earlier, in anticipation of the Elizabeth Line’s opening. The area’s affordability will be impacted in the long-term, so anyone interested in moving further West to Ealing should consider it as soon as possible!