I think it has changed a bit since you lived there, Inter. There have been some naice deli/posh cheese/tea pig type places popping up all over to balance out the poundshop empires. What they call Hanwell Village has W7 which is pretty lovely for your Parma ham/cappuccino/courgette cake triumvirate. There is also a new bakery/cake shop opening on the high street, which is going to have all the yummy mummies falling over their Phil & Teds.
If you are looking to buy, the area round by the Fox pub (terraces and maisonettes) is really nice, with a strong, family based community vibe. They've also just opened some allotments, where you can grow courgettes to make your own cakes...
West Ealing and Northfields are also worth a look. Lovely parks, naice shops, brilliant takeaways and Parkers, an old fashioned bakery that has queues out the door on Saturdays. And they have a brilliant farmers market every Saturday that has an incredible array of food for the Bag for Life brigade . This includes nice bread. There is even a Waitrose over the Uxbridge Rd that sells John Lewis kids clothes. You can imagine my heady middle class joy!
In terms of safety, it is really safe. I have left my staggering drunkenly home days behind me so don 't know what it is like late late. But i've done a fair bit of walking about in the dark and have never felt worried.
I have lived all over and this really is a great place. Just normal families, no drama, and thankfully because it isn't trendy, no twats in trilbies or with wacky facial hair . It is super family friendly and is so genuinely mixed that it makes me really proud to be a Londoner.
Anyone would think I work for the Ealing Tourist Board...