A Brief History of Ealing

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A Rich and Diverse History - Ealing is a historic town located in West London that derives its name from the Anglo-Saxon settler "Gilla". Throughout history, the town's name has undergone various changes, including "Yealing", "Zelling", and "Eling" until "Ealing" became the standard spelling in the 19th century.

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St. Mary's Church, the parish church in Ealing, dates back to at least the 12th century and is a testament to the town's rich religious heritage. In the past, Ealing was divided into manors, such as Gunnersbury and Pitshanger, where farming was the main occupation. The local fields produced crops such as rye, wheat, and maslin, as well as livestock like cows, sheep, and chickens.

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The first maps of Ealing were created in the 18th century, showcasing the town's mostly rural nature and its open countryside, dotted with fields and farmhouses. The main road running through the center of Ealing was later known as the Uxbridge Road and connected the town to London and Oxford. Along this route, travelers could rest at various inns, such as The Feathers, The Bell, The Green Man, and The Old Hats.

 

Ealing's rich history showcases its diverse past and the evolution of the town into the vibrant and thriving community it is today.

 

Why You Should Live in Ealing

Ealing, London covers the area from the edges of Chiswick out to Northolt, and is popular with both families and working professionals, due to its proximity to good schools and excellent transport links. It has a wonderful mix of properties, from cosy flats to large townhouses.

Culture in Ealing

Ealing nurtures an ever-strengthening art scene, dating back to the 1950s when Ealing Studios produced some of the best comedy-classics of British cinema. Ealing Studios is the oldest studio in the world is frequently used for some of the most iconic television shows and films around (Monty Python and Doctor Who, to name a fraction of the productions filmed at Ealing Studios). For a little live action, Questors Theatre is the largest community theatre in Europe and offers a variety of performances from pantomimes to poetry evenings, whilst the beautiful cultural venue of Pitshanger Manor on Mattock Lane stands out as an architectural gem, providing visitors with a range of different artistic and cultural activities.          

 

Outside Space

Green spaces in Ealing, London

Ealing has an abundance of outside space, including ten key parks, which are some of the largest and most used sites in the borough. Ealing Common is the main park, covering 47 acres; it hosts many community fairs throughout the year, which are frequented by locals and families with young children. Brent Lodge Park and Perivale Park are also popular. Unusually for London boroughs, Ealing also has four major conservation sites, which give residents access to large areas of green space and create green corridors.

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Restaurants and shopping in Ealing
Ealing has excellent shopping facilities; you can find most well-know chains as well as some more exclusive fashion outets at Broadway Shopping Centre. 

 

Eating out options in Ealing are vast. You can find branches of Dirty Burger and Chicken Shop-cult restaurants from the Soho House Group- within the shopping centre, and you’ll be spoilt for choice with popular chain eateries such as Starbucks, Nandos and McDonalds. In addition, there are fabulous independent restaurants and cafes popping up all over the area, from Turkish grills to
Portuguese restaurants. If you like to savour Asian cuisine, you will find an array of excellent street foods and a great selection of Indian restaurants and takeaways in the streets of Southall Broadway – known colloquially as ‘Little India’. Modern South Asian fashion and jewellery shops can also be found.

Entertainment and Nightlife
There is an excellent array of entertainment in Ealing; there are many pubs within walking distance of residential areas, both chains and more traditional. If you fancy a night out at the flicks, Ealing is home to a Cineworld Multiplex cinema, or if you prefer a little more culture, you can head to the Questors Theatre

 

Ealing is also home to a library, and a museum, so there is something for everyone.

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Schools and Education

Ealing has 91 state-run schools and nurseries. Ealing’s schools have an excellent track record, and many have earned outstanding Ofsted ratings. Drayton Manor High School and Brentside Primary School in Hanwell are two very popular schools, and there are also a number of sought-after independent schools here such as the Notting Hill and Ealing High School for Girls, Avenue House School, and St Benedict's School.

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National Rail Services and Transport

Ealing has excellent transport links; it is served by the District, Piccadilly and the Central Lines on the London Tube Network, and Great Western Main Line from National Rail, which is approximately a ten minute journey to Paddington. On the Underground, the journey from Ealing Broadway to Central London takes under 30 minutes. The borough is served by 13 tube stations in total,
spreading over zones 3-5. Heathrow is also within easy reach. The station is being upgraded and expanded as part of the Crossrail project, with a new ticket hall and step-free access.

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Ealing has an excellent bus service, for both local trips and further afield to areas such as Kingston and Golders Green. Moovit can help you navigate your way around the area. Buses 207, 427, 483, E2 all stop at Ealing Town Hall.

Travelling by car? Major road routes connect Ealing to Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol, South Wales and
Central London. It is within easy reach of both the M25 and the M4.

In a new, green initiative, there are proposals for a new Cycle Superhighway, which will improve journey times across the borough and make life much safer for cyclists.

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