As one of West London’s most desirable locations, and one of the capital’s biggest transport hubs, it’s perhaps not surprising that house prices in Ealing are at the higher end of the spectrum.
The area is home to some fine period housing and townhouses, wide-open green spaces, and a high street full of restaurants, cafes, shops and pubs.
But how do the prices – and the area – compare to 1994? Winkworth Ealing & Acton has taken a closer look.
“A lot has changed in Ealing & Acton – not least the property prices. We look at what’s changed in the last 28 years: from the local area to property availability,” the agency said.
“It’s July 1994: John Major is PM, Tony Blair is leader of the opposition, four pints of milk cost 84p, Four Weddings and a Funeral is at the top of the box office, Love is All Around will be number one for another eleven weeks – and you can buy your first flat in Ealing for under £76,000.”
The agency says a lot has changed in Ealing & Acton in the last 28 years, not least property prices. Like the rest of the UK, the area’s housing market has transformed significantly since the 1990s, with average property prices increasing by a massive 567%.
While a semi-detached home in the area in the mid-90s would set you back an average of £192,834, and a terraced house cost somewhere in the region of £140,000, fast-forward to 2022 and the same homes are fetching £2.4 million and £900,000 respectively. Meanwhile, the £76,000 flat in the mid-90s would now reach more than £400,000 if sold on today’s market – which, even allowing for inflation, is a huge increase in prices.
“Step inside those properties back in 1994 and you’ll find more differences than just the price tag,” the agency adds. “Conservatories were in as a way to add space to your property, while carpets were out, replaced by functional, easy-clean laminate and hardwood.”
“Interior trends were eclectic, including brightly coloured accessories, fake plants, stainless steel and the occasional lava lamp. Armchairs were either checked or, bizarrely, inflatable, and terracotta was the most popular paint colour for living and dining rooms. The memory foam mattress had only just been introduced, and IKEA was hitting its heyday – you’d be hard pressed to find a home without a Mammut kids chair or Smog table lamp.”
Winkworth says there has been plenty of changes in the local area as well, with new developments and conversions increasing the number of properties available in this part of London. It’s also more connected than it was 30 years ago, with the recent completion of the Elizabeth Line bringing Crossrail to not only Ealing Broadway, but West Ealing and Acton Main Line stations.
“Housing developments and transport links aren’t the only things that have changed the landscape of the area. The high street has seen tumultuous change, with 90s essentials like Woolworths, HMV and BHS disappearing in favour of the likes of Smiggle, Bubble tea stores and Amazon Fresh (the world’s first ‘Just Walk Out’ grocery store),” Winkworth added.
“Yet there are some things that haven’t changed. Fashion seems to have come full-circle – hello again, bucket hats and dungarees – and you’ll soon be able to catch a film again in the cinema on New Broadway, which closed in 2008 but has been part of a redevelopment that includes 200 homes and a Picturehouse cinema. You can also still find the same Winkworth Ealing & Acton Estate Agents, which has stood at the same spot on Uxbridge Road since it opened in the summer of 1994.”
Fiona Lee, the branch’s lettings manager, has been part of the Winkworth team since the start and has seen the area, and its property market, evolve considerably over the years.
“Yes, Ealing & Acton has changed, but its community spirit and personality is as strong as ever. It’s made Ealing an in-demand area for a those looking for both a London postcode and a neighbourhood with its own identity, and that hasn’t really changed since we opened our branch in 1994,” she said.
“We still see the same diverse mix of people attracted to Ealing & Acton for its character as much as the properties on offer – and although prices have clearly gone up since we started selling here, they are still competitive, especially when compared to other parts of West London.”