[title]
Georgian villas, vinyl and Japanese pastries: W5’s happening!
Isn’t Ealing just where you end up when you fall asleep on the Central line?
Yeah, but it’s also the Queen of the Suburbs! It’s had a bad rep for a while, but now, with Crossrail on the way, it’s becoming a sought-after spot for young professionals.
First things first, what can I eat?
Only some of the best pizza in London. Santa Maria (St Mary’s Road) does authentic Neapolitan thin crust accompanied by some seriously loud opera singing. Or you can eat melt-in-the-mouth sashimi and sushi at Okawari (Bond Street) or Atari-Ya (Uxbridge Road). For sweet treats, new Japanese patisserie WA (Haven Green) offers an array of baked goods, including a fantastic matcha swiss roll.
Where else can I spend my cash?
There’s a load of high-street faves and a great Oxfam Music & Audio on The Broadway (London’s only branch, FYI). Or take a trip to Harrison’s deli on Pitshanger Lane to sample some World Cheese Award-winning stinkers.
Now for the important stuff. Where can I get hammered?
The North Star (The Broadway) is a safe bet for a pint, while The Drayton Court Hotel (The Avenue) has a stupendously large beer garden (Ho Chí Minh used to work in its kitchens... how’s that for a recommendation?) For more refined boozing, Crispin’s Wine Bar (The Green) is a tiny family-run joint with a cellar of well-priced wines. It often stays open until 2am, so you can put the world to rights over a bottle of Beaujolais.
How about cutting some shapes?
Ealing isn’t blessed with any XOYOs or Fabrics. Karma (High Street) and Barracuda (The Mall) are two options, but you’d be better off heading off to nearby Notting Hill. Word on the street, though, is that a new club is opening soon on the current site of The Red Room (The Broadway), so keep your eyes and butts peeled.
Fine. Maybe I should do something cultural instead?
Pitzhanger Manor House & Gallery (The Green) is closed for a refurb until 2018, but its new Rickyard building is open for events and classes. Or there’s the 350-capacity Questors Theatre playhouse (Mattock Lane), one of the largest amateur theatres in Europe. Failing that, hang around outside the legendary Ealing Film Studios (Ealing Green) and wait for a famous face.
Amelia Hallsworth
And if I only do one thing?
Get a cup of joe from Electric Coffee Co (Haven Green) and stroll around Walpole Park (Mattock Lane), which has just enjoyed a £5 million makeover.
By Felicity Martin, who has unashamedly mounted the Ealing horse statue on numerous occasions.
Fancy a change of scene? Take a look at the best bits of Whitechapel.