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Western part of London, England
Photo: Greater London UK location map.svg Nilfanion, created using Ordnance Survey data derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The outer western suburbs of Greater London form a diverse area that ranges from the densely-populated but tree-lined streets of Chiswick, Acton and Ealing, through to the semi-rural western districts that lie between Heathrow Airport and Uxbridge. As you might expect from the outer reaches of a metropolis, much of West London is suburban 'commuter belt' territory. Even so, a great many centres located on or near West London's key transport links have much to offer both the traveller and casual visitor in the way of accommodation, food, sights and experiences. Tracing a meandering course on the area's southern edge is—of course—the River Thames, the focus of many local opportunities.
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Maintained by English Heritage, Chiswick House is a famous and fine example of the 18th century Palladian style of British architecture. The third Earl of Burlington (1694–1753), who designed this elegant Classical villa close to the Thames, drew inspiration from his grand tours of Italy, while William Kent was employed to create sumptuous interiors to contrast with the pure exterior. The Neo-Classical gardens, although much reduced from their original size, are the perfect complement to the house.
A Jacobean manor house (built in 1622), it is a pleasant and informative place to while away an hour or two, particularly during the summer when the extensive open parklands to the rear of the building make for a delightful stroll.
The oldest film studio in the world.
Victorian Gothic building built in 1888 and still in use as town hall.
Attractive riverside area, with many imposing listed buildings (including several pubs) alongside the River Thames. Be careful though, as the riverside path is liable to flooding at high tide.
A Tudor manor house with a neoclassical facade and interior design resembling an Italian palazzo. It was owned by the Child family who were bankers to the royal family. Osterley Park is a popular filming location, the music room while small was used for Batman: The Dark Knight Rises and exterior shots of the house were used for an ITV production of Vanity Fair.
An artificial lake surrounded by woodland, the Waters Edge Pub/Restaurant, a sandy beach (No swimming allowed), narrow gauge railway rides around the lake.
The stately home of the Dukes of Northumberland for 400 years, Syon House and its 200-acre estate are located between Brentford and Isleworth. The main house was built to a design by the English architect Robert Adams, the grounds laid out by Capability Brown. The Great Conservatory, commissioned to be built in 1826, was featured in the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore film Bedazzled, and is a popular local wedding venue; Syon House itself has appeared in a vast number of period dramas. Well worth a visit.
Relaxing experience. There is a small pond and an ice cream stall. There are also great playground facilities, and even a miniature zoo!
A free park situated right next to Acton Central station. Acton Park feature green spaces, a playground, a café, tennis courts, a basketball/football court, a small pond, and a skatepark. A mini-golf course is also available but not free to access, with tickets costing £14.00 for a single adult.
Local history museum for Ealing and Hounslow, housed in the former home of the Rothschild family.
formerly known as 'Kew Bridge Steam Museum'
This museum of London's water supply is well worth a visit for anyone with an interest in the industrial revolution. Housed in the former Kew Bridge Pumping Station (a fascinating building in its own right), the Steam Museum possesses the finest collection of steam-pumping engines in the world. Different engines are to be seen working on different days, so it is worth checking the website before visiting if a particular engine is of interest. Themed days are a feature of the Steam Museum's calendar, and the purchase of an entry ticket permits limitless further visits throughout the following year.
Something of an undiscovered gem. It houses a vast collection of working automatic musical instruments, from barrel organs to player pianos and beyond. Tours with knowledgeable and highly enthusiastic guides are highly recommended, as is the opportunity to listen to the Mighty Wurlitzer (which rises from the floor in the main auditorium). In addition to its function as a museum, the venue also hosts occasional cinema screenings of classic films (preceded by music from the Mighty Wurlitzer, or - in the case of silent film - accompanied by it) and houses a popular cafe with Thames views. Among the unusual (and hard-to-find) items usually available in the gift shop are clocks made from 78 rpm shellac discs, and original player piano rolls.
Houses Pitzhanger Manor House and an art gallery.
This is the main storage facility of the London Transport Museum, holding items that cannot be fit into the main building at Covent Garden in central London. The building holds a wide range of railway carriages, buses, trams and trolleybuses, mostly restored, and many other exhibits, including signalling equipment, track items, tunnel segments, signs, models, and hundreds of small items. On open days preserved buses operate on tours of the surrounding area.
The remains of RAF Uxbridge are a museum with the Battle of Britain bunker used to coordinate pilots of the No. 11 Group Fighter Command during World War II. The bunker can only be visited by a tour guide which can be booked via the website.
Modern British printmaking as well as ceramics and jewellery.
Fans of British TV may be interested to know that the riverside area to the south of Brentford High Street is frequently used for outdoor filming by popular series such as ITV's The Bill. The backdrop of the estate (sited on the former Brentford Dock, the terminus for GWR trains transferring goods to the Thames) appears frequently in shows requiring a 'gritty', urban atmosphere. The northern aspect of the Brentford Dock estate belies its extremely picturesque marina (filled with a variety of narrowboats, Dutch barges and pleasure craft) and waterside views, however. Indeed, for connoisseurs of post-war architecture, Brentford Dock is often cited as an example of a successful and aesthetically-pleasing social housing development from a period most commonly characterised by its failures.
London's largest gurudwara, a Sikh place of worship.
They were relegated in 2024 and play in the Championship, the 13-a-side game's second tier, with a playing season Feb-Oct. Their home ground is Ealing Trailfinders Sports Club, capacity 4000.
A beer festival that is hosted by CAMRA on the 10th–13th July 2024.
Ealing hosts an annual comedy festival in the summer. Speaking of comedy in Ealing, in the late 1940s and 1950s Ealing was famous for a series of comedy movies filmed there.
The cinema is under reconstruction, said to include over 10 screens!
"The Bees" play soccer in the Premier League, the game's top tier. They play at Brentford Community Stadium, capacity of 17,250. In 2022 the stadium hosted games in the UEFA Women's Euro Finals, postponed from 2021.
An Italian gelato chain, the ice cream is delicious.
Highly reviewed in the local and national press. The menu includes brasserie classics, seafood platters, and fancy sandwiches.
Probably the best restaurant in West London, great value French cuisine, excellent wine list.
Despite being a Victorian Fuller's pub at the front, there is a Thai restaurant at the back. The menu is extensive, and vegan-friendly with the allergens clearly marked.
Inexpensive Thai food with the same menu as Angrid Thai in Oxford.
Nepalese restaurant with outdoor garden and live music nights.
Styled as a 'Pub, Brewery and Circus', the Aeronaut has been turning the Acton pub experience upside down. It was rated "London's Best Pub" by Design My Night Awards in 2018. This theme pub is inspired by Acton-born turn-of-the-century pilot, George Lee Temple (the first Englishman to fly an aeroplane upside down). Features its own micro-brewery and a program of cabaret acrobats and circus performers.
Homely old fashioned pub.
Homely old fashioned pub.
Slightly more upmarket and stocks a wide variety of draught beers.
A Wetherspoon's chain pub.
Offers a fine selection of real ales and imported beer (including fruit beer on draught).
Appeals to a younger, more affluent crowd with its contemporary 'bar' vibe and award-winning cocktails.
Offers waterside al fresco drinking in its attractive beer garden.
A tiny two-room pub offering traditional food, live jazz and a highly quirky clientele to those with a desire to discover something of Brentford's true character.
On the slightly cheaper end of the scale.
116 designer rooms.
Premier Inn London Heathrow Airport (Bath Road) Hotel
This hotel is just outside the northeast perimeter of Heathrow Airport. It is a very well maintained facility with excellent service. A free shuttle runs from the hotel to Heathrow's terminals on a routine schedule. This hotel has a full-service restaurant, and a Costa coffee shop. Basic WiFi is free and an upgrade can be purchased.
Street market with farm products.
formerly Arcadia Centre
formerly Intu Uxbridge
Includes H&M, HMV, Next, Toys R Us, Boots, Chiquito, Frankie & Benny's, Odeon Cinema.
Home to many high street names including Marks & Spencers and Argos.
Home to the usual retailers you find on many High Streets up and down the country including JD and Debenhams.
A small independent bookshop with a lot of discounted books. Take a look at the tables outside as you pass by.
Antiquarian bookseller set in a small old-fashioned shop with a curved window. Apparently the oldest bookshop on the Chiswick High Road.
Often eventful, with beautiful decorations at Christmas time and musicians performing in the Summer. Christmas and Easter markets also take place in the shopping centre square.
A small independent bookshop. There's an extensive WWII section at the back.
By train
The following routes are useful for areas of West London not well served by the Tube.
By bus
A number of key bus routes exist that can readily transport visitors to West London from the centre of town:
By car
The main routes through West London are:
By plane
By taxi
There is a taxi stand. Uxbridge Taxi Services are the most popular services.
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