Ealing is the most underrated borough in London

When you tell people you’re from Ealing, any Londoner who has been on a Westbound Central Line tube will undoubtedly respond with “oh, Ealing Broadway?”

But as the third largest London borough Ealing is so much more than that.

Ealing is a borough that is sometimes considered not quite London, but let’s be real, we may not have a C in our postcode but we’re Zone 3 and if that’s not London then I don’t know what is. Yes we may be at the end of the Central Line but that just means we always get a seat.

In 2015 Thrillest reported that Ealing had the most people living in sheds of any London borough. I’m not entirely sure how to take this news but I would argue that Ealing must be pretty great if people will sleep alongside pruning sheers and plant pots in order to be one of us.

We have the best pizza in London

 In 2012 Time Out listed Santa Maria as the best pizza in London. More recently the restaurant has two rivals for our affection: L’oro di Napoli and Franco Manca – anyone getting hungry?

And we’re home to the first ever Nando’s

We’ve had our fair share of tragedy: the discontinuation of 2 for £2 at Chick ‘n’ Spice and the waffle shop by the station closing down – I still miss that smell. Nevertheless we can console ourselves safe in the knowledge that Ealing Common is home to the first ever Nandos.

Ealing is a friend to the underage drinker

As a teenager, wherever you were in Ealing you knew where the nearest corner shop was that would turn a blind eye to your braces and prepubescent faces. A certain convenience store on Northfields Avenue was a personal favourite.

Once you had your alcohol, you then needed a location. You likely had your first taste of social drinking in Lammas Park, but Elthorne Park has been a staple drinking ground for many years. I know you all know the spot I mean.

 

And the houses are perfect for parties

One benefit of Ealing being so middle-class is the multitude of large Victorian houses. Big houses mean big parties, most of which end up on Haven Green in the early hours of the morning.

Everyone knows everyone

Don’t make the mistake of walking down Northfields Avenue or visiting Ealing Library looking like a troll, because you will see someone you know. Another hot spot in the centre is the Baitbucks by the metal horse statue – if you need to catch up on W5 gossip look no further than the toilet walls.

And they’ll all be in the Red Lion and Pineapple on a Friday night

Half of Ealing will reliably gather in Acton’s Red Lion and Pineapple on any given Friday night. With each year that passes you’ll get more and more unnerved seeing faces of people you vaguely recognize from high school, as you think: surely they aren’t 18?! If Spoons doesn’t tickle your fancy, The Drayton is a competitor for the baitest spot in Ealing: if you go on Christmas Eve you will probably bump into people you’ve not seen since primary school.

Just try and not bump into everyone you’ve ever met at the Cricket Club Bonfire Night

The same goes for the annual Bonfire Night celebration at Ealing Cricket Club. November 5^th used to be an occasion to watch fireworks with your family, but as you grew up you stopped paying the entrance fee and swapped your family for a group of friends and a bottle of wine.

Crispins

When the pubs of Ealing start to shut around 1:00am you’ll search for a place to continue drinking and head to Crispins. Crispins Wine Bar is somewhere you are unlikely to feel welcome unless you: play piano, don’t mind an unconventional take on customer service, and like the feeling of being in a confined space with middle-aged drunk people. But hey, it stays open till 3am so we can’t complain too much.

Famous people love Ealing 

Geoffrey from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air calls Ealing home and director Steve McQueen went to Drayton Manor High School. Also, thanks to Ealing Studios you run the chance of bumping into A listers – Professor Green has been spotted on Ealing Green.

 

The Cigarette Lady is our local hero

Furthermore, while not strictly a celebrity, Ealing was home to the infamous Cigarette Lady. If you’ve ever stood outside of Ealing Broadway station you will have been approached by her asking for a “thigarette”, but the place hasn’t quite been the same in her absence. Does anyone know where she went?

Ealing has something for everyone

Most people in Ealing have been to at least one Questors Theatre Christmas production, and those who haven’t have starred in them.

If you’re a football fan, Griffin Park is a 10 minute walk out of Ealing – come on you Bees.

A short bus journey away is Southall, fondly known as “Little India”, the place for all of your jalebi and magic corn needs. Southall is a great example of the diversity of Ealing – just don’t make the mistake of trying to drive through it.

We may not be as rich as people who live in Kensington and Chelsea but you probably have at least one acquaintance that has a pool.

What we lack in clubs we make up for in pubs

What we lack in clubs – let’s face it no one should be going to Barracuda – we make up for in pubs. The Haven Arms is the destination for a game of pool, then to The New Inn the morning after for a Sunday roast. Meanwhile, Acton is home to Chatsworth and Aeronaut – it’s probably not worth venturing too much deeper into Acton as you’re never quite sure what you might find.

And we love parties

Pitshanger hosts an annual Party in the Park while Walpole Park is host to an array of festivals where you can eat your fill of churros while basking in the sun listening to live music. If alcohol is more up your street than churros there is always the option of getting merry at the summer Beer Festival in the middle of the day.

Ealing may not be perfect, and, while it is tempting to pretend that we have no affiliation with West Ealing, it is Ealing’s flaws that help make it great. If you need an example of our community spirit, look no further than the way Ealing residents came together to clean up our borough in the wake of the London riots.

Think your hometown is better than this? We’re running a competition for the UK’s best hometown, tell us why yours should win to [email protected].