LOCATION The leafy suburb of Ealing known as 'The Queen of the Suburbs', lies to the west of London and covers an area of approximately 12,000 acres stretching from Acton in the east, just five miles from Central London, to Southall in the west. Today it forms an integral part of the capital with a population of 290,000, but its past before 19th century urbanisation, was essentially rural.
HISTORY Dramatic changes occurred in the 19th century, brought on by the Enclosures Act and by new communication links, principally the arrival of the Grand Union Canal in 1807 and the Great Western Railway in 1838. These new links encouraged residential and industrial expansion, which had absorbed Ealing into the metropolis by the turn of the century.
PROPERTY Ealing has a wide variety of both Victorian and Edwardian residential property from prestigious villas in the Mount Park and Ealing Common areas through to smaller terraces in South Ealing and Northfields. There are pockets of more modern 'in-fill' developments, as well as a large number of conversion flats and the 'Garden Estates' at Brentham and Hanger Hill.

There are also a number of significant buildings of historical importance, including Pitshanger Manor, a stylish 18th century house on Ealing Green rebuilt in Regency style by Sir John Soane in 1800-1810 and now a museum. Gunnersbury House dating from the early 19th century was once the former country home of the Rothschild family and is also now a museum. Southall Manor dates from the 16th century and St. Bernard's Hospital at Hanwell opened in 1830 and gained an international reputation for humane psychiatric care.
EALING TODAY Ealing today is diverse and cosmopolitan in character, combining the serenity of suburban residential areas, parkland and open spaces with the hustle and bustle of its substantial retail and office developments. Ealing Town Centre and West Ealing, remain the focus of the borough's commercial life. Following the major office developments along Uxbridge Road during the 1960s and 1970s, the 1980s saw the implementation of two major retail schemes - the Ealing Broadway Centre and the Waterglade Centre. These shopping malls have greatly enhanced the range and quality of shopping in the town centre and have also attracted more restaurants and nightlife to Ealing Broadway.

Ealing is famous for its parks and open spaces, most notably Walpole Park, Haven Green and Ealing Common, all within easy reach of Ealing Broadway. The Brent Valley Park arcs from Hanger Lane to Boston Manor Park and includes Elthorne Park, Brent Lodge Park and Churchfields. Horsenden Hill to the north of the A40 Western Avenue and Grand Union is a 250 acre oasis of fields, hedgerows, ponds and woodlands rising to 373 feet, with spectacular views across London and into Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
TRANSPORT Among its greatest assets are its excellent transport and communications links with Central London. 

The Central, District and Piccadilly line Underground serves much of Ealing and Thames Trains link Hanwell, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway and Acton Main Line to Paddington with a branch to Greenford.

To the north of Ealing the A40 Western Avenue runs east into Central London and to the west it joins the M40 to Oxford and Birmingham. It also links to the M25 London Orbital Road. The A4/M4 Great West Road runs eastwards along the southern boundary to Central London and west to Bristol, the West Country and South Wales. The M3 is easily reached and runs to the South Coast and Southampton Docks. The A406 North Circular Road passes through Ealing Common and the A4020 Uxbridge Road runs from Shepherd's Bush to Southall passing through Acton, Ealing, West Ealing and Hanwell.

Frequent bus services serve all parts of Ealing. 

Details of routes and timetables can be obtained from:
Organisation Telephone No.
London Transport Buses 020 7222 1234
Mobility Bus Service  020 7918 3312
Dial-a-Ride 020 8970 0090
SCHOOLS Another of Ealing's assets is its wide range of well-regarded primary, secondary and further educational facilities in both the public and private sectors. Details of prospectus, admissions and catchments can be obtained from the London Borough of Ealing by calling 020 8579 2424.