Having lived in West London for a number of years I’m excited to be exploring the best kept secret in the area today. Hanwell is a true gem, sitting in the heart of the London Borough of Ealing, five stops from Bond St on the Elizabeth line and boasting an abundance of green open space. It’s becoming a new go to destination for London’s growing population.

Stepping out of the station following the short journey from central London I’m immediately reminded why Ealing is known as one of London’s greenest boroughs. As I walk past the Churchfields conservation area down towards the heart of this Victorian village, I skirt Alwyne Park that leads on to the larger Brent Lodge Park. Brent Lodge Park is not only home to the Hanwell Zoo, a hugely popular destination for families, but also Hanwell’s annual music festival, the Hanwell Hootie.  

On the way I pass St Ann’s, one of a number of excellent schools which, along with the Ofsted outstanding Oaklands and Elthorne Park schools, is one of the primary reasons families are flocking to the area. 

Walking down through the Clocktower conservation area I come to the bustling heart of Hanwell, home to a growing number of cafés, restaurants and shops. I stop to grab a coffee at Momentum, one of the newest coffee houses in the area, before heading down Boston Road. This has to be one of the most eclectic parts of Hanwell with something for everyone. Here artisan bakeries sit next to microbreweries, restaurants, gastropubs, florists and everything in between.

For a change of scene I head west down towards the River Brent. Walking past one of Hanwell’s oldest and most popular gastropubs, The Fox Inn, I arrive at the river and am greeted by the flight of Victorian locks that marks the point at which the river joins the Grand Union Canal. From here, the canal flows south towards Elthorne Park and the banks make an excellent spot for a picnic in the summer. This is also a popular route for runners and cyclists – a picturesque backdrop for those lucky enough to live nearby.

As I walk back towards Hanwell I come to Hanwell Square, the new development from FABRICA and Higgins Homes. Hanwell Square comprises 340 new apartments, set around a new village square, and boasts amenities such as an on-site concierge, gym and an abundance of outside space including communal roof terraces with views across West London and beyond. Given the wealth of amenities on the doorstep and the 18 minute or so journey on the Elizabeth line into central London, it’s obvious why the apartments are being sold to a wide array of buyers from young professionals to families, all looking to take advantage of everything the area has to offer. 

Heading back to Hanwell Station it’s also clear that while there is a growing number of people discovering the area for the first time, Hanwell also has an already established, vibrant community proud to be part of what will soon no longer be West London’s best kept secret.

Further information

Contact Stefan Saul

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