Forum Topic

Acton - the new Chiswick?

According to the Evening Standard this week at any rate!And the Rocket gets a check as providing good food already and an indicator of things to come.So maybe....

Sara Nathan ● 5016d67 Comments

link here: http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/hot-properties-londons-upandcoming-neighbourhoods-8421832.html

Jake Woodward ● 5016d

I hope not as I choose to live in Acton and had no wish to live in Chiswick

Jill Williams ● 5015d

Since when were Foxtons considered an authority on anything? I have lived in Acton for 30 years and have been hearing that it is about to become the new Chiswick for all of that time. Crossrail might make the difference I suppose.

Maire Lowe ● 5014d

Acton the new Chiswick,  East Acton,  North Acton uumm I think not.  Acton High Street?  Nope.Ahhh I know Poet's corner!  Which is not reflective of most of Acton,  and a little section of Churchfield Road not all of Churchfield Rd mind just one end of a reasonably short road, oh dear not even a whole road can be gentrified.Estate agents do talk tosh and nonsense talking of which aren't they responsible for calling poet's Corner Poet's Corner!?

Jen Morty ● 5011d

What does being 'gentrified' bring to an area? The difference between Chiswick and Acton.The end to front gardens full of foul rubbish?The end of cheap beer and vodka bottles thrown in our bushes, flowerbeds and roadways?The end to rubbish being put out on the pavement 7 days a week - and not recycled?The end to loud parties which happen with no regard to their neighbours?The end to inappropriate infill and other planning developments?The end to us having to put up with polluted air?Or do you think that with enough 'education' this can be achieved without 'gentrification'?Perhaps being 'gentrified' has its compensations to those wanting to live in a 'civilised' area?

Dee Cook ● 5011d

Poet's Corner sounds like estate agent speak doesn;'t it - but to be fair the roads are actually called Shakespeare and Milton and goldsmith and te like so it's not an exaggeration.Maybe ALL of Churchfield Road could be "gentrified"...there are several new developments and cleanings up and the Oaks - if done properly - could make a difference. Nothing more likely to pull int he gentry than a good sized Waitrose!

Sara Nathan ● 5011d

Even a small Waitrose with a delivery service would work wonders.........the problem though is ridding the area of the 'Rachman' type landlords.........but with property prices as high as they are they could all be tempted to sell out to families willing to reconvert back to nice sized family homes. (I understand that is what is happening in the Housing Association world - they are selling and buying into new developments.) That could also alleviate some of the parking problems experienced in the area.  Houses with multiple flats = 4 cars +  Family houses = 2 cars (generally speaking)

Dee Cook ● 5011d

I agree with your last post, Dee.  Rachman type landlords indeed, blight any area.I have hopes for Acton.  I really do think it may take a turn for the better very soon.

Angela White ● 5009d

Well you learn something new every day,  just looked up Rachman seems to have had an interesting life!I can understand why you would want houses rather than houses converted into flats,  but then I live in a flat in a converted house (not a Rachman type flat I hasten to add)  and not everyone can afford to buy a house.A Waitrose would be marvellous,  even a little one.  The Sainsburys on Churchfield Rd has been a great addition in my view,  has it impacted on the local convenience stores? Oris it too early to tell.  I tend to use both to spread my custom.

Jen Morty ● 5008d

You lot are obsessed with Churchfield Rd and Poets Corner :)) remember there is Mill Hill Road, Avenue Road and gardens, and more streets besides,they are lovely, pretty streets with great houses.I think Acton will become the new Chiswick. Chiswick is so expensive now that many people are looking to Acton instead, and I moved from Chiswick because I could get better value in Acton.

Gareth Sinclair ● 5008d

Mill Hill road is very nice as are the streets off it but there is no centre there - nowhere to shop, eat or loiter...so not much to talk about really once you have agreed there are some nice houses there.Whats the Mill Hill pub like? No-one ever mentions it.For shopping and interaction, it's the High Street, Mount, Churchfield Road or the parade by Acton Town - and the latter isn't a great offer.So I suppose that's why those get discussed more.

Sara Nathan ● 5008d

No-one ever seems to mention some of the nice roads off Horn Lane either.We have the Co-Op, a nice Chippy just over the bridge past Acton Main Line, and a couple of take away restaurants.Acton Main Line Station is a short walk away with a journey time of 3 minutes to Ealing Broadway or a mere 7 minutes to Paddington Station!The only downside is the air quality problem in Horn Lane with the industrial site next to Acton Main Line. I do feel sorry for those living very close to this location.

Jean F Fernandez ● 5008d

I like that chippy too JeAN. We had a longing for chips on a cold evening recently and called in there. Excellent freshly cooked too.

Maire Lowe ● 5008d

I have never understood the obsession with Chiswick. I chose to live in Acton. I was brought up in East Acton and then Holland Park where my parents worked, i went to school in Hammersmith, did 9 years in Oxford and have now been in Acton for 6 years, my family are all in Shepherd's Bush. I prefer Acton, because you have all the benefits of being in London without the hustle and bustle of town. Everything is easily accessible, the public transport links are excellent, I can get to Oxford in 45 minutes, town in15/20, my husband gets the train to work from Ealing Broadway or the m4 is around the corner. We have parks and open spaces galore. We have a community and despite our recent attempted break in, i feel safe here. Ok, so it's not perfect, a few less betting shops and fried chicken places would be nice but if it was all Kath Kidson and La Trompette it wouldn't be the place I chose to live, ie down to earth, unpretentious, friendly, where you know your neighbours and can say hello to at least half the people in your street. If I were to move 'up' for want of a better expression it would be further into Ealing, like Ealing Common, it wouldn't be to Chiswick. I grew up in Acton, I'm not ashamed of it, in fact i'm fond of it and quite defensive of it. It is what it is and for me the good bits far outweigh the bad. Chiswick? No thanks, not for me.

Milena Vincic ● 5008d

Well said Milena, I totally agree. I do like to go to Chiswick sometimes to eat or shop, but would not want to live there. As I've lived in Acton for 30 years, I guess that says it all.

Chris Hurley ● 5008d

Unlike most of you I'm a bit of a new boy, but I'm really enjoying my weekends here. Lots to do, everything you need and a nice feel to it all. Everyone seems very chatty and friendly. I don't Acton needs a chip on it's shoulder about chiswick.  Different strokes, different folks.

David Fawcett ● 5008d

My husband and I really wanted to live in Acton long before we moved here some 34 years ago and we love this area because it is so central!Our first house was in Docklands - of course it certainly wasnm't considered posh back then, but if I had a choise I would still prefer dear old Acton!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5008d

Not sure there is much of a chip: the thread title is a quote from the evening standard article....which labelled five London places the new somewhere else.I visit Chiswick sometimes and drive through often but wouldn't live there,Barnes nor Kew/Richmond because of the flight paths. We specifically chose Acton because it was and remains less crowded and noisy than shepherds bush and not under the flight paths unlike surrounding places. And it's not too far out. So any improvements welcome but it remains not under the flight path!

Sara Nathan ● 5008d

Yep another one who loves Acton. Been here for 17 years now having lived in Germany for 5 years before that and and really enjoy it's central location, especially Heathrow Airport which is only 25 mins on the tube. My German friend comes over every summer and she prefers it more to Chiswick as it's more earthy.

Tony Crumpton ● 5008d

Tony, have you considered joining the We Love Acton Facebook site?  As an Acton lover myself, despite living across the border in Brent, I post on there regularly.  It's a very well maintained site.  I know a lot of people in Acton so visit regularly and concur with all the positives that have been said here.

David Lawes ● 5007d

Aircraft noise in Chiswick, as well as Ealing can be horrendous.......nice quiet Acton with all its excellent transport and road links is the best place in London to live by far.

Dee Cook ● 5007d

It is clear from the many replies it only the Poets Corner area that is under consideration for gentrification in most people's minds . All we need is a Waitrose , less rubbish and lager cans cast aside plus just general consideration of our neighbours Agree with previous comments that we need to get rid of the bedsits and convert houses back to family homes . New wine shop opening which may help drive out some of the smaller alcohol selling shops that fuel the nasty side of Acton

Peter Truesdale ● 5004d

Who are the smaller alcohol selling shops?  Do you mean places like Londis and other minimarkets which sell lager?

Sarah Harris ● 5004d

Almost all the little shops whether newsagents or mini-markets apply for licenses - some of them for very long hours. Maureen on the CCA exec tries to ensure these stay within the Ealing core hours as we have so many problems with street drinkers.

Sara Nathan ● 5004d

Not under the flight path ......................................... yet.If that 3rd runway gets built Acton will know about it.

Rosco White ● 5004d

Acton is a lovely place however there is a big divide! There are far too many betting shops, I don't think Chiswick has that many.  Last time I checked there was 9 including the new one across from the park. Acton High Street and one in market place. Churchfield Road is only one Road in Acton.

Margaret Noel ● 5004d

Betting shops proliferate in areas of lower incomes . They are supported by the element living in the many bedsits on Acton . Acton has many qualities and some great people BUT ruined by the few more than areas like Chiswick . It's all down to the population demographics . We have lower income , immigrants living in bedsits driving in sociable habits . Chiswick is more expensive and drives out that element .

Peter Truesdale ● 5004d

As Sara says almost all if the mini markets in Acton sell alcohol which drives the street drinkers . Why licence so many ?  I have never been in any other London area which has empty cans and bottles dumped on the streets !!!

Peter Truesdale ● 5004d

" Not under the flight path ......................................... yet.If that 3rd runway gets built Acton will know about it.  "If 3rd runway gets built, the landing flight path will be directly over the Chiswick High Road.When taking off from Heathrow in a easterly direction, planes immediately bank left, or right, to avoid flying over London.  Runway 3 would be sited north of runways 1 & 2. This means easterly runway 3 take offs would be even further away from Acton than the current easterly take off flight paths of runways 1 & 2.

Fred Bray ● 5004d

We are not all talking about Poets Corner. I for one don't live there and actually rarely go down Churchfield Rd, There are good shops and restaurants elsewhere in Acton that are worth visiting.

Milena Vincic ● 5004d

An estate agent in Chiswick told me about ten years ago that 50% -70% of the property sales/purchases in Chiswick are by  people who already live in Chiswick, which in itself I think confirms a strong sense of being. These things go in waves I suspect but are not always maintainable- I used to live in Stoke Newington, N16 in the early 80s as it became yuppified (rather than gentrified). I admit that I sold out to move to West London at a handsome profit. I went back ten years later and it had lost most of its "moving upmarket" cache simply because the local transport to centre of London was dire plus the level of crime and drugs meant high levels of break ins etc which inevitably led to very high insurance premiums etc..I have higher hopes for Acton simply because I believe it will benefit indirectly from the Chiswick/Ealing Common satellite effect and overspill, plus as many have stated it has a lot going for it already locally in terms of mix and activities, so not simply aping Chiswick and Ealing!

Joe Conneely ● 5004d

This is of course going off topic so I'll simply say Fred that I bow to your probably superior knowledge on the matter!I just seem to vaguely recall reading/hearing somewhere that the 3rd Runway would undoubtedly cause more frequent aircraft noise for Acton - might have been EANAG? (Ealing Aircraft Noise Action Group).Anyway, happy to accept this may not be the case.

Rosco White ● 5004d

Is it possible that Peter Truesdale is a real person? Up to now, I have supposed that he is a joke of some kind, more usually found on the Ealing forum. Now I am not so sure. What on earth do immigrants have to do with betting shops? Who says they all live in bedsitters? I suppose the topic is a change from the half full bottles of vodka left in his hedge but his search for things to disapprove of in Action is getting a bit odd. Peter, do chill as we immigrants say.

Maire Lowe ● 5004d

Anyone care to comment on the "Crossrail Effect"?I would have thought it will obviously be VERY good for Acton - all those deep pocketed City workers who don't really like living in Docklands etc will now possibly move to Acton (ie "West London") whence they can still be at work in 15/20 minutes?And don't attack me for any perceived love or admiration of The City, this is just my observation of what will probably happen!?

Rosco White ● 5004d

Love the reply. I am sure immigrants did not open the betting shops. I raised the issue as it is a great concern for me, watching men in there spending what they really have not got. Lets stop playing the blame game and look at how we can improve the whole of Acton.

Margaret Noel ● 5003d

I've already heard people from Barnes and elsewhere speculating that Acton will be a good place to invest in with a view to reaping a profit from the inexorable rise in values when crossrail arrives.No evidence that anyone has put their money where their mouths aree on this one yet though.

Sara Nathan ● 5003d

The area which should benefit most is that stretch of Horn Lane between the station and A40 traffic lights. I foresee little coffee shops, a Londis or Safeway type convenience store, refurbished pub etc to take advantage of the increased footfall. I am not great about property prices but North Acton has to become a good communting proposition for people heading for Farringdon and the City.

Maire Lowe ● 5003d

Maire, you are a visionary!  I hadn't thought of your description of the area between the station and the A40 but after reading your post, I can see it all now!  Wow, wouldn't that be fantastic!

Angela White ● 5003d

"stretch of Horn Lane between the station and A40 traffic lights. I foresee little coffee shops, a Londis or Safeway type convenience store, refurbished pub etc "  - Estate agents might start referring to it as 'the new Poets Corner?'    :0/

Fred Bray ● 5003d

Estate agents have never been low on the hype factor - I remember long time ago when Battersea ignoring the River Thames was promoted as "the new South Chelsea"!!

Joe Conneely ● 5003d

For estate agents Poets' Corner already reaches to Park Royal.

Eddy Leviten ● 5003d

Going back to the recommended chippy - do you mean Tonys just before Noel Road?

Kathleen Chapple ● 5003d

New Poets Corner is already as it's described above.  It has  coffee shops (Harry's and the other cafe), supermarkets (Co-op and the one next to the Vet), restarants (er, Balti House, the Kebab Shop and Tony's), um... retail opportunities (the Pound Plus Shop!), stylists (er, there's a barbers, unless it's shut down) and, er... yeah ok, it's a bit rubbish, but I love this end of Acton - it's "edgy":-)

Sarah Harris ● 5003d

Really!  Acton?  No, you mean North Chiswick, surely.

Angela White ● 5003d

Where I live, on The Vale, has been described many times as "Chiswick borders"!

Chris Hurley ● 5003d

I have always been surprised that the estate agents haven't cottoned on to 'Acton Garden Village'. The area of railway cottages in West Acton built in the 30's/40's......anything 'village' seems to be a selling point. Along with The 'AGV Club' being built as a social meeting place for railway workers and their families and still in use today.

Ellie Rose ● 5003d

I agree Ellie. They are nice cottages, a bit small for a family but nicely built with a lot of character. Good travel links too.

Maire Lowe ● 5002d

You will know when "gentrification" has started by such properties suddenly having conservatories, loft extensions and more recently cellars (if they do not have already) being added!

Joe Conneely ● 5002d

No, I mean the one of the left just before you get to Acton Main Line station. forget its name, but really good chips.

Maire Lowe ● 5002d

With street names such as Faraday Road, Allison Road, Brougham Road and Birkbeck Avenue perhaps the Estate Agents can think up a nice description when trying to flog houses in this area!Scholar's Corner?  Clever Cloggs Village? ;-)

Jean F Fernandez ● 5002d

Lovely large Victorian Houses, what's not to like?

Maire Lowe ● 5001d

The Crossrail journey time to Docklands from Acton Mainline will be 23 minutes, to Bond Street 9 minutes and Heathrow 18 minutes.  Even if you miss the trains running every 15 minutes they will be so quick your journey still won't be much over half an hour.  In any case people will have countdown apps on their phone and will be able to judge when to leave or stop to buy a coffee.  All the City types who have been buying along the Jubilee line will be buying along Crossrail.  Out here in the west they will find more green space, bigger gardens and large, relatively inexpensive properties.  They will come.

Phil Taylor ● 5001d

Just like the Wild West and the wagon trains heading westwards eh Phil?More seriously you are dead right about ease of communications being a winner - which is why Chiswick continually lobbies TfL for the Piccadilly Line to stop at Turnham Green tube station over the years one suspects and the inevitable knock on impact on property values resulting.

Joe Conneely ● 5001d

So are we saying that if someone was thinking of putting their house on the market in the next couple of months, they should perhaps hold on for a bit as prices and demand will increase considerably ??

Ellie Rose ● 5001d

It depends what the necessity is Iwould think. If you have to sell, there's no point in thinking about it. But if it's just a "maybe" I'd wait a bit for crossrail.

Sara Nathan ● 5001d

It's also about London Overground.  The old Silverlink Metro service was dreadful, but since it was absorbed into TfL and the service quality vastly improved, it makes Acton Central a much more useful station with quick links to Richmond, Clapham Junction, Islington, Stratford...

N Roberts ● 5001d

Completely agree. The service is wonderful and got a lot safer  with the introduction of barriers and cameras. Used to be plagued by young muggers trying out different areas when their own got too warm for them. Free rides for thugs I think it was called.

Maire Lowe ● 5001d

Silverlink was wholly ghastly and so unreliable as to be virtually unreliable.LOROL much better. though I would still like it to be every 15 minutes and not 4 times an hour as that can mean a 20 minute wait - which is too long.But it does make a difference - you can even use it for the City: Overground to West Hampstead and ThamesLink to the Old Bailey/St Pauls - slower than the central line but less of a shlep to the station.

Sara Nathan ● 5001d

PLEASE lobby London Borough of Ealing AND Acton  folks!The dreadful, polluting Horn Lane Industrial Estate is earmarked to remain as is, and be even further embedded under the "Local Development Plan/Framework" (or whatever it's now called) for the next 25 years, due to the complete lack of any foresight whatsoever by the Planning "Powers That Be." The area around Acton Main Line, and certainly north of it, is screaming out for regeneration and this part of Acton could and should be transformed into a wonderful, attractive addition - if "The Planners" had any common sense, let alone true devotion to bettering our living standards/situation.

Rosco White ● 5001d

As a relative newcomer, I foresee great things for Acton; clean, well-maintained  streets; a HUGE variety of shops and services. I hope it becomes a place that people drive to, not drive through!Acton: the new Acton!

Winsome Gillette-Fussell ● 5000d

I have 3 clients that I know of who arrive early in Acton for our appointment so they can go to Churchfield Road and have lunch or a coffee.  They rave about Lavelli's, Angela Malik, The Rocket and the Village Trading Store, to name a few.  I am delighted.  To me this is an indication that things are moving up.  This is a new trend.....most clients couldn't wait to get out of the area!

Angela White ● 5000d

I was walking to The Park Club with a couple of friends past Angela Malik,  Lavelli and Nara and she looked around and said gosh it's very villagey here I had no idea,  it's lovely!  Her husband Southall born and bred was stunned "I had no idea Acton was like this"! especially as we walked along Shaa Rd.I agree the area around Acton Mainline really could be improved and horn Lane generally.Everyone raves about the service from Acton Central but I find it next to useless if I have a night out in central London as the last train from Gunnersbury is so early,  the same if friends from north London visit me or vice a versa the last train home is just earlier than you would want,  why can they not end at around the same time as the tube?  During the day it is good though and so much safer than it used to be,  a very well maintained and safe station now.

Jen Morty ● 5000d

Yes, the one area they need to improve on London Overground is consistent frequency (i.e. every 15 minutes, not every 10 or 20) and later running.  Getting home after 11pm by Overground is impossible which in London is a joke.  The peak services are also very busy, they need to be looking at trains every 10 minutes in peak times.I'm still waiting for estate agents to refer to the Acton Central end of Churchfield Rd as Acton Village.

N Roberts ● 5000d

I have to smile when people who live in London say 'It's just like a village around here'...talk about playing into an estate agents hands.What village has traffic and noise almost 24/7,dirty streets,neighbours people often don't see,don't trust or are unknown,where some people are scared to go out late at night and where you where people have no time for you.If you think that is a village,you either have never lived in one or have forgotten what one is like.Most modern villages don't have a baker and a butcher  anymore btw,nor a post office and are lucky to still have a SPAR and a pub and a bus once a day.

Keith Iddon ● 5000d

I was trying to find out what time the last train leaves Richmond Station to get back to Acton Central but couldn't find the information!I will be attending a concert in Hampton Court in June but unsure of how to get back to Acton afterwards!Do they run later in the summer months?

Jean F Fernandez ● 5000d

They didn't last year.  I tried to get back from Kentish Town late last summer and ended up with a very long tube journey.  Trains run to Reading later than Richmond!

N Roberts ● 5000d

Keith, when I hear people use the term in any urban setting, not just London, I think the reason is usually the housing and general layout of the immediate geographical area is still broadly based around a "village" . This is before it being surrounded by a growing urban sprawl and the ensuing "delights" you list, but which are not always so prevalent in my experience.Having been raised in a countryside region (Shropshire) I only knew villages as a child and teenager. It is quite clear that the death of agricultural employment dominating especially post WW2 with greater personal mobility has led to many unable to continue as they were. Reliance on commuters to buy and keep houses maintained inevitably had the knock on effects you state but there are still a great number of villages that are thriving communities, simply that there are less of them.

Joe Conneely ● 5000d