How to spend a perfect day in Ealing, according to a local

Leafy Ealing earned its Queen of the Suburbs moniker back in 1902, and the name is still befitting of the genteel west London spot to this day. While not the buzziest area of London, Ealing’s wide streets, expansive parks, and community feel generate a fondness among west Londonites, and there’s an abundance of lovely restaurants, watering holes and things to do among the borough.

There are two main halves of sorts: West Ealing and Ealing Broadway. In Broadway, you’ll find a smattering of markets, familiar high-street shops and decent transport links. West Ealing has Northfields Avenue, a long stretch of mostly independent shops, a lot of which have become some of my best-loved spots over the last five years I’ve lived in the area.

Here’s our official guide to spending a perfect day in Ealing – with the choicest spots in town to eat, drink and play.

8am: Morning coffee at Delizia

Marzia and Nicola are the familiar faces behind the counter at dinky family-run Italian cafe and deli Delizia on Northfield Avenue, serving authentic Italian coffee and homemade Italian treats to locals since 2020. Take your espresso outside in the summer – the garden space is a great sun trap. Don’t leave without taking a few slices of mortadella or a ball of burrata from the deli, either.

Address: Delizia Northfields, 99 Northfield Avenue W13 9QR
Website: delizianorthfields.co.uk

9:30: Pilates at Pilates Hub

Give yourself a reason to pat yourself on the back and start your day with a workout. Take a walk through leafy Lammas Park and you’ll find Ealing’s newly-opened pilates hub at the croquet club pavilion, which runs reformer and tower sessions for groups and individuals at all levels. The space is bijou, so class sizes are small, and instructors Flavia and Hali greatly emphasise technique. Expect to come away with a better understanding of both Pilates and your own body after class.

Address: Croquet Club Pavilion in Lammas Park, W5 5JH
Website: pilateshub.london

10:45: Breakfast at Reinata

You may have to queue a little at Reinata if you visit at peak time but be assured it’ll be worth the wait. The Spanish omelette is divine – they only make one a day – but the eggs are the dish to order for breakfast. Try the pisto manchego, which comprises toasted sourdough topped with a slow-cooked ratatouille and paprika-sprinkled eggs. When the plates are cleared, spend a little time perusing the shelves; there’s a treasure trove of cheeses, meats and vegetables on offer to take home (you’ll want some of the Isle of Wight tomatoes, at least, which are some of the freshest and most delicious I’ve found in all of London).

Address: Unit 9a Dickens Yard, Longfield Avenue W5 2TD
Website: reineta.co.uk

11:30: Shopping

Head into Ealing Broadway, and you’ll spy all the regular high street suspects, but continue up on Northfield Avenue. There are a couple of independent gems to peruse in addition to the excellent selection of coffee shops and restaurants. Buying a gift? Head to Mooch, which has a very well-curated selection of tasteful items for men, women and children, spanning clothing, toys, homeware and jewellery, so you can rest assured that your recipient won’t be tempted to return. Closer to the centre, pick up some new glassware, jewellery, or a print from For Art's Sake, then take a stop at Mary’s Living and Giving. This chicly designed charity shop has the best selection of pre-loved fashion we’ve found in Ealing, with plenty of well-cared-for designer gems to uncover every time we peeked inside.

1pm: Lunch at Tapelia

There are a few tapas restaurants in Ealing, but all locals will tell you that Tapelia is king. The interiors feel authentically Spanish; flagstone floors, exposed brick walls and dark wood furniture bring a cosy feel. The menu is on the larger side, but that rather than resulting in a dip in quality, it tends to leave tables heaving under the weight of all the dishes you inevitably order. The bacalao con tomate – cod stewed in tomato and red wine sauce – is a standout, the Padron peppers are perfectly charred, and there’s always plenty of sangria to wash everything down with.

Address: 92 Northfield Avenue, London W13 9RT
Website: tapelia.co.uk

2pm: Stop into the Ealing Project

Despite Ealing’s historical roots in film (it’s home to the world’s oldest continually working film studio), the suburb was devoid of a single cinema for 14 years until the opening of the Ealing Project in mid-2022. The swish new Picturehouse, a short hop up the road, has now finally launched after myriad delays, but it’s definitely still worth booking into this community space. It has three screens, a café, bar and community room, plus a stage for live performances and art exhibitions. Ticket prices are very reasonable – a yearly membership gets you six showings, discounts on food and drink and at local restaurants for £55 – there are open mic nights every Monday and regular repair cafes to help you breathe new life into old clothes.

Address: 1 High St, London W5 5DB
Website: ealingproject.co.uk

3pm: Snack from Pitshanger Bakery

Queues regularly form outside this buttercup-hued family-run bakery on a Saturday morning as patrons come to stock up on the homemade freshly baked sourdough for the weekend. As well as the faithful bread selection that’s graced the shelves since this bakery opened in 2002, and the wonderful croissants – another favourite with regulars – there’s a seasonal selection of delicious pastries, doughnuts with a variety of jams, cakes and muffins. Prices are very reasonable, too.

Address: 145 Northfield Ave, London W13 9QT
Website: instagram.com/pitshanger_bakery

4pm: Walk around the parks

Ealing is home to several beautiful parks, which host several events throughout the year. Walpole Park is one of the loveliest – once part of the grounds of pretty 18th-century manor house Pitzhanger Manor, which is now open to the public as a gallery and event space. In summer especially, the park comes into its own, with a strong line-up of events returning annually, including beer, jazz, blues and comedy festivals, plus the annual New Gen festival, which serves as a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent, help young people learn more about careers in the creative industry and explore taster workshops.

Address: Walpole park, Mattock Ln, London W5 5EQ

6pm: Aperitivo at 17 Dickens Yard

Dickens Yard is one of Ealing Broadway’s choicest areas, and this chic all-day eatery and bar makes the most of its smart address. The minimal industrial interiors are pepped up with fuzzy, comfy sofas, but it’s best to sit out on the terrace to make the most of the sun in the warmer months. The Saturday brunch here is lovely (the brioche French toast is an indulgent must-try), but the cocktail menu is the star of the show – order the blackberry spritz.

Address: Unit 17, Dickens Yard, Longfield Avenue W5 2TD
Website: no17dickensyard.co.uk

7pm: Dinner at Patri

Patri means ‘pavement’ in Hindi, and the fun street food that flies out rapidly from the kitchen has become a bit of an institution around these parts. The menu is inspired by the food served aboard Indian trains and at stations, and the interiors are just as fun – dressed as ticket halls and carriages, with tables set up as though in a restaurant car with platform-style benches. The black dahl is a real standout, while the irreverently named new girlfriend chaat is another dish that gets reordered repeatedly. Vegans and vegetarians are especially well served here, it must be mentioned.

Address: 139 Northfields Avenue W13 9QT
Website: patri.co.uk

9pm: Live music at The North Star

Ealing has a bit of a dearth of live music venues, but the bands on Friday and Saturday nights at The North Star always draw a good crowd. This pretty period building, right in the centre of town, has been given a modern facelift inside with the odd neon light or so, a big space for a dance floor and a standard pub grub menu. Expect familiar feel-good bangers from a rotating cast of local band regulars, and the big covered terrace means you can sit outside with your pint come rain or shine, too.

Address: 43 The Broadway, London W5 5JN
Website: thenorthstarealing.co.uk