Ealing London

Ealing in West London is a large, leafy residential area that also offers accommodation, shopping, nightlife and some of London's best Indian and Pakistani restaurants.

Visit Ealing in London and find out why it's been dubbed the "Queen of the Suburbs!"

The London Borough of Ealing

Ealing is an outer West London borough, often called the "Queen of the Suburbs".

In London's Ealing you'll find leafy residential areas, shopping, outdoor leisure activities, and nightlife – it's all in Ealing. Hotels are also available if you're looking to stay in Ealing.

Ealing is governed by Ealing Council. It has a population of about 310,000 and is home to more than 13,000 businesses. Ealing is London's third largest borough, and is made up of seven main areas:

Acton
Ealing
Greenford
Hanwell
Northolt
Perivale
Southall

Ealing London: History and Present Day

People have lived in and around Ealing for many millennia. Originally farmland and grazing areas, during the 19th century, Ealing developed into a market gardening community, then a popular residential area, which was dubbed the "Queen of the Suburbs".

A bustling residential hub grew up around Ealing Broadway railway station (opened in 1879), favoured for its transport links via the Great Western Railway, trains and horse buses, which allowed commuters to travel to London easily. The area's rural feel was retained with parks such as Ealing Common and Walpole Park.

The world's oldest film studios, Ealing Studios, were established here in the early 20th century and are well known for the Ealing Comedies. Ealing Studios were taken over by the BBC in 1995 and have been responsible for many films and TV programmes including:

The Ladykillers
The Lavender Hill Mob
Doctor Who
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Notting Hill
St Trinian's

Culture, Community and Sport in Ealing

London's Ealing is a multicultural area that offers lots of different experiences.

Ealing was traditionally an Irish area and it still retains its ties to London's Irish Community. In recent years, many Polish migrants have also established themselves here.

In Southall, with its strong Indian and Pakistani communities, you can find vibrant street scenes of women in saris, pavement food stalls, colourful shops, bhangra music and the latest Bollywood films in local cinemas. Treat yourself to a meal in one of the many Indian restaurants and Pakistaini restaurants in Southall – some of the finest examples of this cuisine in London.

Popular cultural events and attractions in Ealing include:

Ealing Summer Festival – includes the Ealing Comedy Festival, Ealing Jazz Festival, Ealing Opera in the Park and more
Gunnersbury Park & Museum – museum dedicated to the history of Ealing, set in extensive grounds with an ornamental garden, woods and sport facilities
PM Gallery & House – West London's biggest exhibition space for contemporary art
Questors Theatre – the largest community theatre in Europe
Brent Lodge Animal Centre – a great spot for children
Ealing Farmers' Market – weekly street market selling farm produce

Sports-wise, the Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club is based in Ealing. Local football teams include Brentford Football Club and Queens Park Rangers. Several Ealing sports clubs are involved in the Gaelic Games.

Ealing Hotels

Perhaps the best way to acquaint yourself with this area of West London is to stay here in one of Ealing's hotels, B&Bs or other Ealing accommodation.

There are several good options for accommodation and hotels in Ealing, and they're often a bit more affordable than Central London hotels. But you don't need to lose out on luxury. Try the Travelodge London Park Royal or The Crowne Plaza Ealing.