Once known as the “Queen of the Suburbs”, Ealing is a bustling town that lies partway between London and Heathrow Airport. It was an important market garden area before the arrival of the Great Western Railway in the 1830s, which saw Ealing transform into a modern residential area for London’s growing middle-class.
Things to do in Ealing
For a retail fix, head to the high street shops of Ealing Broadway, which centres around an open-air courtyard where live music is regularly performed. In addition to a wide choice of cafes and restaurants such as the Castano Lounge and Bread Street Cafe, the complex includes a pop-up art gallery where you can purchase original artwork.
Sprawling south-west of Ealing Broadway is Walpole Park, a Grade II-listed green space where you’ll find walking trails, a children’s playground and an ornamental lake. Also within the park grounds is the Pitzhanger Manor, a former retreat for Sir John Soane and now a contemporary art gallery. You can learn about the life of bees at The Rickyard or relax over lunch at Soane’s Kitchen.
Occupying the former home of Nathan de Rothschild is the Gunnersbury Park Museum, which exhibits artefacts related to the social and cultural history of Ealing and Hounslow. Get up close to a 19th-century doll’s house and a 1760s court dress before following in the footstep of the mansion’s butler, Mr. Shepherd. The museum also features exhibits dedicated to some of the area’s most famous residents, such as Freddie Mercury and William Perkin.
Getting around Ealing
Ealing is a 25-minute drive from the centre of London and 20 minutes from Heathrow Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains and Underground services connect to the Ealing Broadway station. A network of buses travels throughout Ealing.