I moved to Ealing from Boston, Massachusetts, last year.
A family friend who also lives here talked highly of Ealing so that’s how that happened. I had been going back and forth for Dancing on Ice but now I’ve relocated to London full-time.
Boston has a hustle bustle. In Ealing you get a taste of the hustle bustle, but it’s much quieter.
What I like about Ealing is that you can find everything here — not only restaurants but the huge Ealing Broadway shopping centre, where you can find anything you need. It’s very convenient in that sense.
I’ve had a beautiful year here.
It’s a safe, friendly environment — everybody’s always walking around with their dogs, talking to each other and waving.
I loved the summer here last year, and how close it is to central London, especially with the Elizabeth line now. You get the best of both worlds here.
Eating and drinking
There is so much in Ealing. I like the Rose & Crown on Church Place. The pub does an amazing Sunday roast, which I was introduced to in the summer. They have good wines and a back garden, which is nice on a summer’s day.
Teatro Hall, on New Broadway, is an old theatre that has been transformed into a restaurant. It’s lovely inside, with a nice chandelier. During the day, people can bring their laptops and set up a work station there. It has a beautiful aesthetic and ambiance.
There’s a little café, restaurant, everything together kind of thing called The Moon & Maybe on St Mary’s Road. It has all these different places to sit — there’s a hammock and little secluded tables. It has a cool atmosphere in the back and good food.
Where I work out
If I want to do some aesthetic training, I’ll run to the parks. There are three main parks nearby, and a few even have outdoor gym equipment, so you can do your cardio and some resistance training outside, weather permitting.
I also go to David Lloyd on East Acton Lane. Last summer, I used Queens ice rink in Queensway quite a bit for training.
To commune with nature
Ealing has beautiful parks.
There’s Warwick Dene, in the corner of Ealing Common, and Lammas Park, with an outdoor gym and play area for kids.
Walpole Park has great places to sit. There are two ponds and wonderful old buildings, like Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery, which was once the country home of the architect Sir John Soane and is now an art gallery. You can sit, watch everyone with their dogs and take in the serenity.
Grocery shopping
Marks & Spencer at The Broadway, of course.
For a culture fix
Walpole Park always has events going on. There’s an incredible jazz festival which I went to last summer. There’s also a huge Latin celebration, LatinoLife, which was amazing. I used to live in Mexico City, so I love Latin music.
There’s a cute bookshop, Paperback Coffee and Books, on St Mary’s Road. It’s nice to stroll through and have a look from time to time.
I don’t go to the cinema much, but there’s Ealing Project on the High Street, which is also an arts and event space. Ealing Studios, on Ealing Green, is an old movie and recording studio built in 1902. It was owned by the BBC from 1955 until 1995 and was where TV series and films like Monty Python, Doctor Who, Bridget Jones’s Diary, The Crown, The Darkest Hour and St Trinian’s were all produced.
Getting around
There are two Tube stations nearby: South Ealing on the Piccadilly line and Ealing Broadway on the Central, District and Elizabeth lines. You can be in central London so quickly.
Dream street
There are beautiful old houses next to the recording studios on Ealing Green. It almost looks like they’re from a movie.
Something you only see in Ealing
It feels like you’re in the country, but in a skip and a jump you can be right in the centre of London. It’s unique in that sense.
What’s the catch?
I don’t think there is one.
In three words
Friendly. Convenient. Relaxing.
Colin Grafton is a former Team USA figure skater and a Dancing on Ice finalist.
Schools
Christ the Saviour Church of England and Holy Family Catholic primary schools are both rated outstanding, with Montpelier, Grange, St Gregory’s and West Acton all deemed good by Ofsted.
For secondaries, the top picks include Ada Lovelace Church of England High School, The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls and Elthorne Park High School.
What it costs
Buying in Ealing
Average flat price: £413,410
Average house price: £757,260
Renting in Ealing
Average flat price, pcm: £2,010
Average house price, pcm: £3,050
