Gunnersbury: Cultured and comfortable living in west London

Gunnersbury boasts a desirable location on the western outskirts of London, close to the Thames and prestigious attractions like the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

It is part of the borough of Hounslow and offers many appealing features for residents, including family attractions and amenities.

Attractions and culture

Among the attractions in the area is Gunnersbury Park Museum, which is currently offering a range of activities for all ages in its small mansion building while the main museum is closed for renovation works.

Some £21 million is being spent on the refurbishments, which will repair external and internal parts of the large mansion building and provide display rooms to showcase the museum's collection and the history of the building. The work is scheduled for completion by spring 2017.

Gunnersbury Park itself, which is jointly owned by Hounslow and Ealing Councils, encompasses open grass spaces, historic buildings, gothic ruins, a large children's play area and an 18-hole pitch-and-putt golf course in the summer.

Residents of Gunnersbury are also within easy reach of the London Museum of Water and Steam on Green Dragon Lane, which has exhibits including steam engines, an outdoor water play zone and a gallery telling the story of London's water supply.

Other attractions worth exploring in the area include Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve, Turnham Green and Chiswick Common.

As far as big events are concerned, Gunnersbury Park is one of the venues involved in the Chelsea Fringe, a festival that is "all about harnessing and spreading some of the excitement and energy that fizzes around gardens and gardening", according to organisers. The Chelsea Fringe will return from May 16th to June 7th 2015.

Transport

Gunnersbury has a Tube station on the District line and a National Rail station on the North London Overground line.

The Tube station is two stops from the end of the District line, offering quick and easy trips to Kew Gardens and Richmond, as well as direct links to stops including Westminster, Embankment and Blackfriars in the centre of London.

From Gunnersbury National Rail station, you can catch trains to locations across the capital and further afield, including Upminster, Stratford and Richmond.

The area is also well served by buses, which operate to locations including Twickenham and Hounslow to the west, Fulham to the east and even Camden Town in north Central London.

Local schools

Gunnersbury Catholic School is a boys-only comprehensive in nearby Brentford. In the same area is Brentford School for Girls, a secondary school and sixth form with academy status on Boston Manor Road.

Another option for families with secondary school-age children is Acton High School on Gunnersbury Lane.

Situated on Gunnersbury Avenue is the International School of London, which offers a curriculum based on well-recognised global schemes including the international baccalaureate programme and the international primary curriculum.

The district also encompasses several schools and nurseries for younger children, such as Green Dragon Primary School on North Road in Brentford, the Elmwood Montessori School for two-and-a-half to five-year-old children on Elmwood Road and Belmont Primary School on Belmont Road.

Other places of interest

People looking for work in and around Gunnersbury should have no trouble finding opportunities. Chiswick Business Park is home to some particularly prestigious and well-known companies, including Paramount Pictures, Singapore Airlines, Starbucks and Swarovski.

As well as making the most of the many open spaces in the area, fitness fanatics can take advantage of the facilities on offer at Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre just off Chiswick High Road.

Food lovers should also take a walk along Chiswick High Road to sample the many local restaurants specialising in Thai cuisine, European cooking and much more besides.

Published 23rd January, 2015

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