Anyone live near Acton/Chiswick?

Hey guys!

Other half and I have been doing some very (very, very) preliminary probing into buying our first house (well, flat, but you know what I mean!) and we are trying to figure out where to start looking...

We currently live in Watford (ugh) in accommodation that is provided by my job, and have done for almost two years now, but we'd love to be closer to his job and I'll be leaving this job next year anyway.

We were thinking about Acton/Ealing/Chiswick way - anyone live around there? Any impressions? DH works in Chiswick, and I've been there a few times - it's quite nice I think! But probably way too expensive for us.

Any hints/tips etc would be well appreciated :-) Also any tips/hints on buying your first flat...etc would also be gratefully received!!

I live in Ealing Common (well did until last week), and I love Ealing, rents are pretty affordable, our 1 bed with garden etc is £1000 a month, with nice big rooms. Very leafy street, kids playing etc. Some decent-ish restaurants and shops around Ealing Broadway, you can be in Chiswick in 10-15 minutes by bus or tube where there's a good selection of restaurants.

Chiswick is nicer, but can be pricey. It's not crazy expensive though if you're away from the high road towards the river.

Also you want to do stay away from too far south or west ealing, and don't go further into Acton than Twyford Avenue.

Oooh good to know - I have spent the last two years in Watford so...I am pretty much in the dark here!

Is Acton rough? Ed and I had a drive through down the high street and around a few properties I found on rightmove (not to view them, just to see an actual place in it's 'natural setting' and get a feel for what the streets are like) and it seemed fairly nice.

Oooh good to know - I have spent the last two years in Watford so...I am pretty much in the dark here!

Is Acton rough? Ed and I had a drive through down the high street and around a few properties I found on rightmove (not to view them, just to see an actual place in it's 'natural setting' and get a feel for what the streets are like) and it seemed fairly nice.

Yeah, Acton is rough. I don't go down there in the day, I wouldn't go down there at night for love nor money. The high street is pretty bad at night! The Redback?! O_O
The area around West Acton station is nice, area around North Acton station is not, very much not.

Yeah, Acton is rough. I don't go down there in the day, I wouldn't go down there at night for love nor money. The high street is pretty bad at night! The Redback?! O_O
The area around West Acton station is nice, area around North Acton station is not, very much not.

I have fond memories of the Redback from my first few months in London.  Don't worry, it's closed down now. The area is trying to clean itself up, so Acton could be a great place to invest. They've been touting it as up and coming for years, but like cheesebiscuit, I'd avoid the high street!

A good area to look at, which estate agents say is Chiswick, others argue it's Acton, is the Bedford Park neighbourhood. Bordered by Chiswick and Acton Green Commons to the south, the rail line to the west (Bollo Lane), Southfield Ave to the north and The Avenue to the east. This is the ideal Acton.

Good to know!! The high street seemed fairly nice, but we just drove down it (didn't walk around or anything). I will keep these neighborhoods in mind next year when we are looking to buy. :-)

I have fond memories of the Redback from my first few months in London.  Don't worry, it's closed down now.

They closed it down because of all the fighting

They closed it down because of all the fighting

Ugh. Snakebites and £1 alcopops... bad idea.

Poor Acton, how long until it shakes its bad rep? If Dalston can do it...

Thank you for the tips. We just started looking for a place in Richmond/Kew/Chiswick but we might give Ealing a go.

After living on Holloway Road for just about my first year hear, i can GLADDDDDLY say Ealing is sublime. Although we live on the border of West Ealing/Ealing Broadway, it feels so comfy to me.

We've only been here since March, but I don't think I want to leave. I love never having to go into central for anything.