Park Royal: Business with pleasure

Despite its regal moniker, Park Royal is actually a pleasant suburb in the north-west of London. Since it’s home to both plenty of houses and the city’s largest business park, Park Royal is the perfect location for combining work and play.

History

Park Royal is named after the showground of the Royal Agricultural Society, which was briefly operational in the area in 1903. Despite being intended as a permanent location for the organisation’s annual exhibitions, it was sold after just three years.

During the 1930s, Park Royal was transformed into a centre for commerce, thanks to its excellent rail, road and canal links. It is still home to a number of small and large companies, although the focus has shifted from engineering to food and drink.

The area was home to a Guinness brewery, which was at one point the largest and most productive in the world. It also was the location of the Guinness Sports Club, which played host to the hockey events of the 1948 London Olympics.

Most of the enterprises are located in the Park Royal business park, which is 1,200 acres in size. Over 35,000 people are employed by the companies that operate there, 500 of which are in the food and drink sector.

It is now government policy to promote business and industry in the area, as per the Mayor of London’s Planning Framework for Park Royal, which was published in 2008. This does not prevent parts of the business park being used for housing, but aims to encourage food, drink, transport, logistics, film and television enterprises in the area.

Location and transport

As mentioned above, Park Royal is very well-connected, making it a great place for commuters. It is nestled between Acton Lane and the Western Avenue (A40), allowing easy access by road, especially via the Hanger Lane gyratory.

Later in 2015, the Barclay’s Cycle Superhighway (CS10) is expected to open in the area. This promises journey times of as little as half an hour into the City of London.

Further transport developments are also afoot, as Transport for London has just completed a public consultation into extending the Overground line to nearby Old Oak Common. This would compliment the existing Park Royal Underground Station, which is on the Piccadilly line. Stonebridge Park Station and Hanger Lane Station are also in the area, and are served by Bakerloo and Watford DC, and Central trains respectively. The multinational company Diageo promised to connect Park Royal Station to the Central Line in 2004 as part of their First Central Business Park project, although this has yet to take place.

For those who are fond of picturesque walks, an expedition along the Grand Union Canal is a must, particularly as it is well-provided with pedestrian access along the towpath.

Amenities

There are a number of good schools in Park Royal, although your choices may be limited by which borough your home is in, as the area straddles the boundary between Ealing and Brent local authorities.

The Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Ealing is rated outstanding by Oftsted. In terms of secondary schools, the Ellen Walker School for Girls is rated good, and there are a number of independent options in the area.

There is also a good range of shops and other services on offer in modern and comfortable surroundings.

Housing

The area has a lot of large older houses that are often divided up into flats, offering affordable options for singles, couples and families. Rents are generally slightly below the London average, which is particularly advantageous for a district in Zone Three.
While it may not be the first area to spring to mind, Park Royal has a great deal to offer in terms of convenience and comfort, making it well worth a look for those looking to rent in the city.

Published 3rd March, 2015

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