Where's nice (and not so nice) in West Drayton

[Expectingfirstbaby]

I'm a FTB and have just bought a property in West Drayton. Are there any locals who know the area and can recommend places to visit/restaurants. Similarly, spots to avoid in West Drayton. Also, has the area changed at all in the last 5 years?

Bumping this :)

West Drayton Middx or Notts?

West drayton in Middlesex x

What made you choose West Drayton? Are you from LBH originally?

There maybe other posters who live nearby currently but in my time there we would be out at Uxbridge, Watford, Westfield for shopping, Black Park, Windsor, Virginia Waters for places to visit and restaurants frequented were mainly Uxbridge, Windsor and Iver direction.

Uxbridge has an outdoor pool, look on Better Gym website for details. There’s also an art gallery near the Green.

West Drayton has changed immensely over the years, Bell farm and Wise Lane estates were either rough to some or friendly to others - Glebe the same. The old NATS building is now a huge housing estate that may have added to resource pressures in GP’s & schools etc.

I don’t live there now but it’s amazing when you go on holiday or visit places in the UK there is always someone there from the same area!

I was born in Hillingdon, then lived in Burnham and then in Acton. We were quite open when it came to location when we were looking for our first house, we just wanted it to be big enough for the two of us plus a baby - and maybe another baby in a few years. We found it really difficult finding something the right size and it took over a year of looking - almost weekly viewings - to find this.

I'd love to know where would be good to walk the baby around when she comes, and avoid any not great areas. Do you think west drayton has improved with crossrail?

Have you actually moved in yet?

Yep we've moved in now :)

I agree completely with everything said by @Painochocolay. The thing about WD is there isn't actually anywhere to go other than Southlands Art Centre. I can't even think of a nice place to go for a walk other than the walk to it! That area is the nice part of WD as far as I remember. Obviously I don't know exactly where you live so it's hard to suggest less nice areas to be careful of. The estates pp mentioned can be intimidating but unless you live there you probably wouldn't have any reason go there. WD has great Transport connections, the train to Paddington, the M4, M25, the airport! Windsor is easy to get to by car train or coach (from airport). Uxbridge not bad for shopping and eating out. Denham country park is nice, Black Park (especially if you are a film lover as lots filmed there). The important thing is you have your house and new baby. WD is definitely not exciting and can seem unfriendly but once you start getting involved in baby groups and meeting other mums you will be fine.

I lived in West Drayton all my live, up until 18 months ago.
The estates mentioned above had a bad reputation years ago, however they have improved.
I can’t think of any areas I would avoid walking, however I didn’t feel comfortable walking into Yiewsley in the evening.
The area has changed a lot over the last 5 years with the new builds, Crossrail etc.
Uxbridge is great for restaurants or if you want to stay local Sipson Tandoori or Go Sing, however that can be hit and miss.
If you are looking for places to take your little one, West Drayton library had rhythm and rhyme which my kids enjoyed when they were babies, also St Martins Church and Cherry Lane children’s centre had some baby-toddler events, which were good places to meet other mums.
hope this information helps.