Ealing Area Guide [Updated with 2024 Data]

What’s it like to live in Ealing?

Ealing was once coined the ‘Queen of Suburbs’ and ‘a country town near London.’ In many ways this still holds true – Ealing is full of tree-lined streets and green spaces. It has developed into an area with a variety of cultural venues, festivals, restaurants and bars, as well as having good transport links with the Central, Piccadilly, District and Elizabeth lines connecting it to other parts of London. Given it is one of London’s most populous boroughs, certain areas can be congested during rush hour due to the large number of people commuting into Central London.

This guide provides an overview of important statistics about the borough and how it compares to other boroughs in London.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Ealing?

Properties in Ealing on average cost £533,943.00, ranking the borough as the 20 most affordable borough in London, according to data from HM Land Registry. 

Buying a property in Ealing is typically in line with the London average in terms of cost, though some areas can be more expensive. 

How much does it cost to rent in Ealing?

The cost of renting in Ealing is in line with the London average. According to data from the ONS:

• A studio costs on average £1,118 per month to rent which ranks 21 as the most affordable borough in London
• A one bedroom property costs on average £1,380 per month to rent which ranks 17 as the most affordable borough in London
• A two bedroom property costs on average £1,708 per month to rent which ranks 18 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £2,141 per month to rent which ranks 18 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £2,918 per month to rent which ranks 17 as the most affordable borough in London

How many people live in Ealing?

Ealing is one of the most populated boroughs in London. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Housing, it has 139000 in total, ranking 6 of London boroughs by number of dwellings.

According to data from the ONS:

• 27.6% of households are owned outright
• 28.5% of households are being bought with a mortgage
• 13.7% of households are rented from the local authority of housing association
• 13.7% of households are privately rented

Is Ealing a good place to live?

Although determining whether an area is a good place to live is subjective, we can use data on personal wellbeing collected by the ONS through the Annual Population Survey as an indicator to compare boroughs:

• Ealing ranks 21 of 32 boroughs in terms of life satisfaction (i.e. ‘how satisfied are you with your life?’)
• Ealing ranks 4 of 32 boroughs in terms of ‘worthwhile’ (i.e. ‘to what extent do you feel things you do in your life are worthwhile?’)
• Ealing ranks 8 of 32 boroughs in terms of happiness (i.e. ‘how happy did you feel yesterday?’)
• Ealing ranks 28 of 32 boroughs in terms of anxiousness (i.e. ‘how anxious did you feel yesterday?’)

What schools are there in Ealing and are they good?

In total Ealing has 117 schools, which are broken down into:

• 68 state primary schools
• 16 state secondary schools
• 21 independent schools

For a breakdown of all schools in the area and their latest ratings, search Ofsted’s reports.

Is Ealing polluted?

According to data from the GLA and TFL Air Quality:

• Ealing ranks 18 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest NO2 concentration
• Ealing ranks 16 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM2 concentration
• Ealing ranks 20 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM10 concentration

What is the employment rate in Ealing?

The employment rate in Ealing is 74.7% which ranks 19 of 32 boroughs in terms of highest employment rate.

Employment rate is important to know for those considering moving to the area, as it can provide an indication of the job market and economic opportunities available in the borough.

Is Ealing a wealthy area?

The average income in Ealing is £46,800 according to data from HMRC. This ranks 18 of London’s boroughs (ranked by highest average income). 

Ealing is home to a range of different communities and socio-economic backgrounds. While some parts of the borough may be considered more affluent, there are also areas that are more diverse and may have lower-income households.

Is Ealing a religious area?

Like the rest of London, Ealing is a diverse area with a mix of cultures and religions. According to the ONS:

• 43.3% of the resident population identifies as Christian
• 12.9% of the resident population identifies as Muslim
• 8.9% of the resident population identifies as Hindu
• 6.7% of the resident population identifies as Sikh
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Jewish
• 4.0% of the resident population do not identify as religious

How large is Ealing?

Ealing is 55.5 km2, making it the 11th largest borough in London.

Its population is estimated as 377,916 according to data from the GLA, ranking it 3 as the most populous borough.

Its population per km2 is 6,804, ranking it 16 as the most populous per km2 borough.

Is Ealing safe?

According to data from the Metropolitan Police Service, in the last two years there were:

• 22,303 total reported crimes and 59.02 total crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Ealing as 16 of boroughs with the least total number of crimes
• 1,202 total reported burglaries and 3.18 total burglaries per 1k of the population, ranking Ealing as 12 of boroughs with the least number of burglaries
• 1,487 total reported cases of criminal damage and 3.93 total cases of criminal damage per 1k of the population, ranking Ealing as 8 of boroughs with the least number of cases of criminal damage
• 662 total reported drug related crimes and 1.75 total drug related crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Ealing as 10 of boroughs with the least number of drug related crimes
• 843 total reported robberies and 2.23 total robberies per 1k of the population, ranking Ealing as 15 of boroughs with the least number of robberies
• 452 total reported sexual offences and 1.20 total sexual offences per 1k of the population, ranking Ealing as 11 of boroughs with the least number of sexual offences
• 10,321 total reported thefts and 27.31 total thefts per 1k of the population, ranking Ealing as 14 of boroughs with the least number of thefts
• 7,049 total reported violent crimes and 18.65 total violent crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Ealing as 18 of boroughs with the least number of violent crimes
  

What public transport options does Ealing have?

Ealing offers a range of public transport options, including tube lines, rail options and bus routes.

The Central, Piccadilly, District and Elizabeth lines run through Ealing, making it easy to access central London and other parts of the city. Ealing Broadway is the main tube station in the borough, offering both Central, Elizabeth and District line services, while other stations such as North Ealing, West Acton, and Ealing Common provide additional access to the Piccadilly line.

Ealing is also served by several rail stations, including Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, and Southall, which provide connections to other parts of London and beyond. Trains from Ealing Broadway offer direct services to Paddington, Heathrow Airport, and Reading, while West Ealing and Southall provide connections to the Great Western Main Line.

Several bus routes run through Ealing, providing convenient links to nearby areas such as Acton, Greenford, and Brentford. The E1, E2, and E3 are some of the key bus routes in the borough, with services running frequently throughout the day and into the night.

What places are in Ealing?

Ealing includes a number of different areas, each with their own distinct character and amenities. Some of the key places include Ealing Broadway, a bustling commercial and residential area with excellent transport links; Southall, a vibrant multicultural area with a strong South Asian community; Acton, a lively and diverse area with a thriving arts and music scene; and Hanwell, a leafy and picturesque suburb with a strong sense of community. Other neighbourhoods in Ealing include West Ealing, Greenford, Perivale, Northolt, and Pitshanger, each with their own unique attractions and amenities.

What is Ealing famous for?

As well as its reputation for being a green and leafy area, Ealing is known for:

1. Ealing Studios: This iconic film studio is located in the heart of Ealing and has produced many classic British films over the years.
2. Ealing Comedy: The “Ealing Comedy” is a genre of British film that emerged in the 1940s and was known for its wit, charm, and gentle satire.
3. Ealing Jazz Festival: This annual event has been running for over 30 years and showcases some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
4. Ealing Blues Festival: Another annual event that celebrates the best in blues music.
5. Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery: This stunning Georgian mansion was designed by renowned architect Sir John Soane and is now a museum and art gallery.
6. Acton Market: A bustling and vibrant market in the heart of Acton, offering a wide range of goods and produce.
7. Southall Broadway: A vibrant and bustling street in the heart of Southall, famous for its colourful sari shops and fantastic Indian food.
8. Brent Lodge Park: A beautiful park in Hanwell that features a range of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds.
9. The Questors Theatre: A community theatre in Ealing that has been running for over 90 years and hosts a wide range of productions.
10. Southall Broadway: A vibrant and bustling street in the heart of Southall, famous for its colourful sari shops and fantastic Indian food.

What boroughs are next to Ealing?

Ealing is bordered by several other boroughs:

• The London Borough of Hillingdon is to the north and west
• The London Borough of Harrow is to the north
• The London Borough of Brent is to the north and east
• The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is to the southeast
• The London Borough of Hounslow is to the south