Bustling with colourful saris and Bhangra music, Southall is a suburb of West London that you will never forget. The district is complemented by numerous shops from many cultures spreading along the busy streets. Thanks to its proximity to Heathrow Airport, Southall drew a large number of immigrants and people from other parts of the capital, who mainly came to find job opportunities. While this surge has faded away, Southall is still an attractive place to live in West London if you want to avoid the teeming streets of central areas.

1. What Makes Southall Unique?
2. Things To See In Southall
3. Nightlife In Southall
4. Sport In Southall
5. Food In Southall
6. Shopping In Southall
7. Culture and Entertainment In Southall
8. Living Cost Of Southall
9. Transportation In Southall
10. Explore The UK From Southall

Photo credit: Kiran Parmar via Flickr

1. What Makes Southall Unique?

A huge Indian community

There is a reason Southall is also known as "Little India" or "Little Punjab". This suburb has the largest Indian population in the UK, who came to Southall and settled in this corner of London for work in the 1950s. Since then, this community has expanded and become an integral part of Southall.

Historical role in the UK's film industry

Southall Studios was founded in this district as one of the earliest film studios in the country. It played a big role in the UK's film-making scene before its closure in 1959.

Low crime rate

Southall has a lower rate of burglary and shoplifting compared to other areas of London. This is also a paradise for cyclists as residents of Southall are less likely to be a victim of bicycle theft.

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2. Things To See In Southall

• Southall Manor House: this is the oldest standing building in the town. Situated right in the busy town centre, this grade II listed house stands out from the modern surroundings thanks to its timber frame with an authentic Elizabethan style.
• Hanwell Zoo: this small zoo is home to a fascinating mix of invertebrates, birds, reptiles, and mammals.
• Wharncliffe Viaduct: a brick viaduct that runs across the Brent Valley between Southall and Hanwell. Built in the 1830s, it was among the first structures to be listed in 1949.
• Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall: located on Havelock Road, this is the largest Sikh temple in the capital.

3. Nightlife In Southall

It's always great to go out, grab a beer, meet friends, enjoy a relaxed night together, and Southall is brimming with places for you to do that. There are amazing bars and pubs near the Southall station on King Street, The Broadway, and North Road, where you can let your hair down completely in this west London's suburban district.

Photo credit: Ewan Munro via Wikimedia

The Prince of Wales is one of the most popular pubs that are still open while other places have come and gone. It has a large TV showing live sports like football and racing. The sound is indeed noisy, but it's a great addition to the atmosphere of this pub. Most people who come here have something to eat on their tables, whether a full meal, mixed grill, or just a snack.

The New Inn on Marys Road is a spacious pub that just underwent refurbishment. It's a perfect place to hide yourself from the hustle and bustle of London. The staff are friendly, while this dog-friendly pub has a large beer garden and shows live sports as well.

4. Sport In Southall

Southall FC, the former local football club, is among the oldest in the country. It was founded in 1871 and has nurtured some players for the national team, such as Les Ferdinand. They are currently playing in the Combined Counties League Premier Division at the Robert Parker Stadium in Stanwell, Surrey. The club is in discussions to return to Southall, including a plan to build a new stadium. This stadium will have a health and wellbeing centre for the local community, designed for both sports and educational use.

Photo credit: Featherstone Sports

Featherstone Sports Centre is the biggest local sports facility for residents of Southall. You can book online to unwind and play some football, badminton, tennis, cricket, table tennis, or netball. For fitness enthusiasts, Featherstone Sports Centre is a fantastic place with two gyms equipped with all the latest equipment. The main gym has 85 stations, while the second one, a women-only, includes 32 stations. The venue also offers various fitness classes designed for all kinds of needs and requirements.

5. Food In Southall

If there is something residents of Southall are always well catered for, it's dining out locally. With its strong Indian roots, it's not surprising that Southall has a large number of Indian restaurants.

Grapes Tandoori on Uxbridge Road is a favourite spot for both tourists and locals alike, racking admirably high ratings on reviewing sites like Tripadvisor. It serves up a varied menu of authentic Indian aromatic sides, spicy balti dishes, and curries, while gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options are available as well.

Photo credit: Grapes Tandoori

Mehfil is another choice if you want to be served with excellent Indian food. This award-winning restaurant was established in 2003 and has been one of the most sought after destinations for fine dining in Southall ever since. Its authentic Indian cuisine, outstanding flavours, and delightful aroma, mainly thanks to the freshest and finest ingredients, is accompanied by warm hospitality.

Meanwhile, The Broadway hosts a wide selection of Pakistani restaurants, including takeaways. Gifto's Lahore Karahi is probably the most notable one, with a menu full of freshness and flavours inside a venue decked out with plush furniture. The Boardway is also home to numerous grocery shops that sell not just bread and milk but also exotic fruit, curry pastes, herbs, and spices.

L’oro di Napoli is another local gem. This gourmet Italian restaurant serves pasta and wood-fired pizzas in a cosy setting. The nearby Ealing Broadway station is also surrounded by an abundance of great food: from juicy burgers at Honest Burgers, fresh pizza at Franco Manca, to Caribbean meals at Turtle Bay and delicious teppanyaki at Wagamama.

Southall is also a gateway to London's West End, meaning you are not far from some of the capital's ritziest and swankiest restaurants either, such as The Bloomsbury, Annabel's and The Ritz.

Photo credit: Simon via Flickr

6. Shopping In Southall

Even though Southall Market hasn't got any new coat of paint for many decades, it's still a popular place on Saturday thanks to its cheap vegetables and fruits on top of various stalls for cutlery, shoes, clothing, and jewellery. You can find pretty much everything you need here, from snooker tables to string vests. Before 2007, even horses were available for sale at this market. The Southall Market is called the last proper market in London by many as it retains a distinct feel from the gentrification that has overtaken other markets in the capital.

There is nothing like the colourful and vibrant atmosphere of the Broadway, where you will encounter a string of grocers, bazaars, market stalls, jewellers, and clothing shops. This seemingly-endless array of shops and stores is a great place to take a stroll as you can browse interesting displays while inhaling lingering aromas from sizzling food in nearby Asian restaurants.

Both Ealing Broadway in West Ealing and Westfield London in Shepherd's Bush are just around the corner. Ealing Broadway is home to many retail stores such as H&M, Boots, and TK Maxx and salons like Bhavi Beauty. Westfield London, the biggest shopping centre in Europe with 2,600,000 square feet of retail floor, is not far from Southall's centre. It features about 320 stores, including high street names like Apple, Zara, and Apple and high-end brands like Versace and Gucci. This shopping centre also has almost 100 eateries, a Vue cinema and department stores such as John Lewis.

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7. Culture and Entertainment In Southall

Visiting Osterley Park and House will give you a trip back to the time when most period dramas are set in. It was built to serve as a country retreat for London's wealthy families. This Georgian country estate is located just 15 minutes away from Southall's town centre if you decide to drive there. Spanning over 140 acres of land, this is one of the biggest open spaces in West London, even though the M4 motorway runs through it.

Wembley Stadium, the home ground of England national football team, is easily accessible from Southall. In addition to huge sporting events, it's usually among the first places the biggest music acts consider when they want to host a concert in London.

Sitting near this stadium is the SSE Arena. Opened in the 1930s, it is the second-largest indoor area in London, where you can get to see many well-known performers, comedians, and musical artists. The list of artists that have performed here includes the Spice Girls, Madonna, Britney Spears, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie.

Diwali is an annual festival of lights celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and Hindus. With its huge Indian community, Southall hosts one of the greatest fireworks displays in the UK whenever it celebrates this festival.

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8. Living Cost Of Southall

The cost of living in Southall is pretty standard for a suburb of London.

• Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course: £46.50
• Domestic Beer (0.5-litre draught): £4.00
• Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment: £120.28
• Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult: £61.67
• Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat: £10.00

9. Transportation In Southall

The Southall railway station, the main station of the town, is on the Great Western Main Line. It provides routes to and from London Paddington, Oxford, Reading, and Heathrow Airport. Southall doesn't have any Tube station. If you want to get on an underground route, you will need to get to Osterley station, which is 2 miles away and on the Piccadilly line. There are many buses connecting Southall with Heathrow Airport and the neighbouring suburbs, including express services between Southall, Birmingham, and Leicester.

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10. Explore The UK From Southall

Hitchin

Unlike other commuter towns, Hitchin is a stunning place that can serve as your escape at the weekend. This town has many beautiful lavender fields stretching towards the horizon. Come to Hitchin during the flowering season, and you can pick blooms while staying at an outdoor cinema or a summer music festival.

Box Hill

This place gets its name from box woodland overlooking the River Mole. There is a small village on the eastern part of Box Hill, while the National Trust owns and manages the other part of the hill. It's an ideal place for picnics, woodland walks, butterfly-spotting, and kit-flying. The Zig Zag Road in Box Hill is a popular Olympic-level trail for cyclists too. In fact, it was one of the most challenging stages of the 2012 Olympics cycling events.

Cambridge

Cambridge is not a trendy name, but spending a day in this charming university city is always worth it. The city is compact, so walking is a decent option to admire its lovely college buildings. The Botanic Garden of the Cambridge University is open to visitors, while you will find various Egyptian paintings, weaponry, illuminated manuscripts, and relics in the Fitzwilliam Museum.