Hounslow, United Kingdom
Hounslow is a town of 66,292 people in England, United Kingdom.
Why visit Hounslow
Townapedia lists 33 museums and landmarks, 72 parks and trails, 268 places to eat, 17 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Orange Tree Theatre, Q Theatre, World Rugby Museum and Shot Tower.
Weather in Hounslow
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Hounslow
Hounslow is a large town in West London, England, 10+3⁄4 miles (17.5 kilometres) west-southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hounslow, and is identified in the London Plan as one of the 14 metropolitan centres in Greater London.
From the Wikipedia article Hounslow (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos of Hounslow
Things to do9
Orange Tree Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi
Theatre in Richmond, London, England
Q Theatre
Cinema and theater · 3.5 mi
Former theatre and cinema in Chiswick, Hounslow, London, England
Richmond Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.5 mi
Theatre built in 1899 in Richmond, London, England
Teddington Lock Footbridges
Bridge · 3.1 mi
Two footbridges on the River Thames in London
Watermans
Cinema and theater · 2.9 mi
Arts centre including a theatre and cinemas in Brentford, Hounslow, London, England
Whitton Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
Farm and orchard · 1.2 mi
77 High Street Whitton, Whitton
Museums and landmarks33
World Rugby Museum
Museum · 1.3 mi
Sports museum in Twickenham, United Kingdom
Whitton Road, Twickenham
Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 11:00-17:00; PH 11:00-17:00
Shot Tower
Monument and historic site · 1.9 mi
Su[1] 13:30-16:00
Osterley House
Museum · 1.5 mi
Historic house museum in London
Jersey Road, Isleworth
Bromhead Memorial
Monument and historic site · 3.3 mi
War memorial in Richmond Cemetery, London
Ham House
Museum · 2.6 mi
Historic house museum in Ham, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England, UK
Orleans House Gallery
Museum · 2.3 mi
Building and art gallery in Twickenham, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England, United Kingdom
South African War Memorial, Richmond Cemetery
Monument and historic site · 3.2 mi
War memorial to South African soldiers
Strawberry Hill House
Museum · 2.4 mi
Villa and house museum in Twickenham, London, United Kingdom
King Henry VIII's Mound
Monument and historic site · 3.3 mi
Mound in Richmond Park, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, UK
21 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds72
Twickenham Stoop Stadium
Sports field and stadium · 1.4 mi
Home of Harlequins rugby union and rugby league clubs.
Langhorn Drive, Twickenham
Crane Meadows
Park · 2.4 mi
Nature reserve in London, England, United Kingdom
Crane Park Island
Park · 1.9 mi
Island in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England, UK
Kempton Park Reservoirs
Park · 3.3 mi
Former reservoirs in London and Surrey, England
Carlisle Park
Park · 3.2 mi
Park in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, United Kingdom
East Sheen Common
Park · 3.7 mi
Public space in East Sheen, London, England
Ham Lands
Park · 2.8 mi
Nature reserve in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England, UK
60 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes268
Da Alfredo
Restaurant · Italian · 1.8 mi
58,60,62 The Green, Twickenham
Mo-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00
Shiuli
Restaurant · Indian · 1.9 mi
128-130 Heath Road, Twickenham
Fr-Sa 12:00-14:00; We-Sa 17:00-18:00
Soul
Cafe · Sandwich, Breakfast, Burger, Coffee Shop · 1.9 mi
149 Heath Road, Twickenham
Mo-Fr 07:30-17:30; Su 08:30-17:00; Sa 08:00-17:30
256 more on the map.
History
In old records, Hounslow is spelt 'Hundeslow' which points to the Anglo-Saxon phrase 'Hundes hlāw', translating to 'the Hound's barrow' or more accurately 'the barrow of a man named or nicknamed Hound'.
Hounslow was centred around the Holy Trinity Priory founded in 1211. The priory developed what had been a small village into a town with regular markets and other facilities for travellers heading to and from London. Although the priory was dissolved in 1539, the town remained an important staging post on the Bath Road.
By 1650 the town comprised 120 houses, of which a significant proportion operated as inns or alehouses to accommodate travellers. The expansion of scheduled coach services during the eighteenth century further stimulated the local economy as the town served as the final stop before, or the first stop after, London.
Read more of the history
The construction of the Great Western Railway line from London to Bristol from 1838 reduced long-distance travel along the Bath Road. Because the local economy was heavily reliant on transit the introduction of the railways during the 1830s and 1840s triggered an economic depression. By 1842, the local paper was reporting that the 'formerly flourishing village' (which used to stable 2000 horses) was suffering a 'general depreciation of property'. In 1847 the final stagecoach passed through Hounslow, marking the end of long-distance, horse-drawn coach services in the area due to increasing competition from the growing railway network.
The decline of the Hounslow's economy was mitigated by the arrival of a suburban rail line in 1850. The Hounslow Loop Line was constructed in 1850 – which prompted new development and stimulated the development of South Hounslow into an affluent residential district. Hounslow Hospital opened in 1876 and closed in 1978. Hanworth Road drill hall (now the Treaty Lodge Hotel) was built for the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment.
The construction of the Great West Road (a by-pass for the Bath Road, around Brentford, Isleworth and Hounslow town centres) in the 1920s attracted the building of factories and headquarters of large companies and led to a great deal of housing development. After a decline in the 1970s, offices largely replaced factories and further expansion in hotel and housing stock started to take place.
Hounslow Heath has a continuous recorded history dating back to the Norman period, in which it lent its name to the hamlet of Heathrow. It was infamously known for the numbers of highwaymen and footpads in the area, who targeted wealthy individuals and noblemen. Following their executions at Tyburn, the bodies of highwaymen were in 1802 still displayed on Hounslow Heath. They were hung from gibbets situated between Bath Road and Staines Road on the western outskirts of the town. Around 1809 the gibbets were taken down.
The Heath once had strategic importance as its routes acted as a throughway from London to the west and southwest of Britain. The present northern boundary of the Heath - Staines Road - was the Roman Road later known as the Devils Highway. There are several historic references to Roman camps surrounding the Heath. Both Oliver Cromwell and James II used the heath as a military encampment.
In 1784 the first accurate measurements were made on the heath to establish the base line for the Ordnance Survey trigonometrical survey of Great Britain. The event was attended by King George IV and Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society.
In 1793, the Cavalry Barracks were constructed and were extended with the Beavers Lane Camp. Between 1914 and 1920 the heath became Hounslow Heath Aerodrome.
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome was a grass airfield and was operational from 1910 to 1920. It was in the London borough of Hounslow, and in 1919 was where the first scheduled daily international commercial air services began.
From the History section of Hounslow on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Hounslow
Geography
Hounslow is separated from Twickenham by Hanworth Road (A314) Nelson Road, Hounslow Road (B361) and Whitton Dene/ Murray Park.
Hall Road, Bridge Road, the Hounslow Loop Line, Thornbury Park, Worton Way, the Piccadilly Line, Stucley Road and Osterley Park separate Hounslow and Isleworth.
The Norwood Green estate and Industrial area in North Hyde, separate Hounslow and Southall whilst the River Crane and Cranford Park form a natural boundary between Hounslow and Hayes
Historically, Hounslow's traditional western boundary followed the River Crane; however, it now extends to the Bath Road (A4), Duke of Northumberlands River and Great South-West Road (A30) and back to the river (to include Heathrow Airport).
Economy
Hounslow is an economic hub within the west of the capital city, with it having a large shopping centre which adjoins its high street and many restaurants, cafés and small businesses, many of which are associated with product assembly, marketing, telecommunications and Heathrow Airport, which has many businesses and public sector jobs in and around it to which the local population commute. The settlement is also partially employed in the Commuter Belt with access between 45 and 60 minutes from most of Central London.
DHL Air UK has its head office in the Orbital Park in Hounslow.
Hounslow Town Centre is a busy predominantly retail centre, with a small number of commercial offices and civic buildings. There is a large shopping centre called the Treaty Centre which opened in 1987, containing JD, Next, H&M and many large branches of chain stores found in British high streets. It includes a food court along with over 50 shops. There is a large ASDA superstore located within the Blenheim Centre complex (which was completed in 2006) along with B&M, a local health centre, a gym run by The Gym Group and Jungle V.I.P. (a children's indoor play area).
A new retail area, the High Street Quarter, will be located near Hounslow High Street and is set to contain a 27-storey residential tower along with many shops, restaurants, and a ten-screen Cineworld cinema multiplex.
Arts and culture
Hounslow Heath is a large public open space and local nature reserve to the west of Hounslow, a London borough. It now covers about 200 acres (80 ha) and is only the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that once covered over 4,000 acres (1,600 ha).
Bell Square is an outdoor performance space next to the Bell pub. Hounslow Community Land Project was a community garden and sports area on a derelict piece of land on Hanworth Road.
Hounslow is twinned with the following settlements around the world:
The London Borough of Hounslow also has a sister district agreement with Leningradsky District in Krasnodar Krai, Russia.
Education
St Mark's Catholic School is on Bath Road. Lampton School was previously Spring Grove Grammar School, in the area of Lampton. Kingsley Academy was formerly known as Hounslow Manor School and Hounslow Heath School, formally known as Hounslow Heath Infant and Nursery School and Hounslow Heath Junior School before they merged, in Selwyn Close.
From the Wikipedia article Hounslow, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Hounslow
Naomi ScottBritish actress and singer (born 1993)Photo: Danielle G. Campbell, CC BY-SA 4.0
M.I.A.British singer and rapper (born 1975)Photo: Interscope Records, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sophie Ellis-BextorBritish singer (born 1979)Photo: Ibsan73, CC BY 2.0
Jimmy CarrBritish comedian and humouristPhoto: Neal Brennan, CC BY 3.0
Katherine ParkinsonBritish actressPhoto: JaceMerlyn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ian McLaganEnglish keyboardist (1945–2014)Photo: Ron Baker (..., CC BY-SA 2.0
Rajiv Ousephbadminton playerPhoto: Vinqui, CC BY-SA 2.0
Dave CousinsEnglish musician (1940–2025)Photo: Lrheath, CC BY-SA 3.0- Patsy KensitBritish actress and pop singer
- Jill IrelandEnglish actress (1936–1990)
- Sone AlukoNigerian footballer
- Alistair OvereemDutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer
Born in Hounslow, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay17
Churches and places of worship97
Shopping48
Gas and EV charging14
Schools, colleges and libraries68
St. Michael and St. Martin Catholic Primary School
School · Roman Catholic · 0.8 mi
Belgrave Road, Hounslow
Healthcare29
Heart of Hounslow Centre for Health
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
92 Bath Road, Hounslow
Jade Pharmacy & Travel Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.7 mi
3 Crosslands Ave, Hounslow, Southall, Southall
Map of Hounslow
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Osterley 1 mi north, about 1 min by car
- Isleworth 1 mi northeast, about 1 min by car
- Richmond 2 mi east, about 4 min by car
- Cranford 2 mi west, about 4 min by car
- Hanworth 3 mi south, about 4 min by car
- Southall 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Brentford 3 mi northeast, about 4 min by car
- Kew 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- West Ealing 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Hampton 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Hounslow
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Hounslow High Street.1, KTo288, CC BY-SA 3.0
- London Bus route 235 Hounslow High Street (2), Maxwell Hamilton from Greater London, England United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- WH Smith Hounslow, KTo288, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 116 and 423 Buses in Hounslow High Street (5535365368), Maxwell Hamilton from Greater London, England United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- London Bus route 235 Hounslow High Street (1), Maxwell Hamilton from Greater London, England United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- London Bus route 235 Hounslow High Street, Maxwell Hamilton from Greater London, England United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- London Bus route 237 Hounslow High Street, Maxwell Hamilton from Greater London, England United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- Old post office, Hounslow 2, KTo288, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hounslow mosaics 2465, Patche99z, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hounslow mosaics 2468, Patche99z, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Hounslow Post Office - panoramio, Maxwell Hamilton, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hounslow mosaics 2471, Patche99z, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Flats near the Hounslow High Street - panoramio, Maxwell Hamilton, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old post office, Hounslow, KTo288, CC BY-SA 3.0
- TeddBridge, Motmit, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Questors Theatre, Ealing, Roger Green, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sport of Empire and the World Gallery, Algernon Rutter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Osterley Park House, London-25June2009-rc, Osterley Park House, London-25June2009.jpg : Jim Linwood derivative work: Snowmanradio ( talk ), CC BY 2.0
- Bromhead memorial with wreaths, Robert Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ham House, London, Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sir William Prescott Engine, Kempton Steam Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Orleans House Gallery, Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0
- Cenotaph with wreaths 2, Robert Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Strawberry Hill House from garden in 2012 after restoration, Chiswick Chap, CC BY-SA 3.0
- River Crane in Crane Park 2, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kempton Nature Reserve, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- All Saints Petersham, Stevekeiretsu, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Crane Park Island Nature Reserve, Twickenham, London. (3350016620), Jim Linwood from London, CC BY 2.0
- All Hallows Parish Church in Twickenham, Maxwell Hamilton, CC BY 2.0
- Twickenham Stadium aerial view 2014, brewbooks from near Seattle, USA; cropped by Blackcat, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The Stoop, aerial view, Cmglee , cropped by Blackcat, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Royal College Of Midwives Picket The West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth - London, Jim Linwood from London, CC BY 2.0
- The Church of St Augustine of Canterbury, Whitton, Anonymous, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The Shot Tower, Crane Park, early morning, CosmosDahlia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Exchange, Twickenham, Robert Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Borough Road College War Memorial, Isleworth, Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0
- Stade de Twickenham à Londres, https://www.flickr.com/photos/t_abdelmoumen Tijani59, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Beatrice Lewisohn Q theatre programme 1935, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Isleworth, Gumley House, AndyScott, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cranebank path, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Crane Meadows, JoshuaAnthonyGill, CC BY-SA 4.0
- GOC Richmond 213 Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond (14700706386), Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Richmond Theatre ceiling and chandelier, Gts-tg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Riverside Promenade in Waterman's Park in Brentford - panoramio, Maxwell Hamilton, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hounslow Heath Panorama1443, Patche99z, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, HandyHat, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, milhouse, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, HandyHat, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, dsmm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, RyanBush, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, milhouse, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, HandyHat, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, HandyHat, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, HandyHat, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, milhouse, CC BY-SA 4.0
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