London Borough of Hillingdon Tourist Information

Location:

The London Borough of Hillingdon is on the extreme west of Greater London, adjoining The London Borough of Hounslow, The London Borough of Ealing and The London Borough of Harrow.

Facts and Figures:

Hillingdon is the second largest borough by area, covering 115 km. It is also London's least populated borough with a broad swathe of Green Belt land including 800 acres of woodland and 200 parks.

The borough has a total population of 243,000 with 21% being under the age of 16. Ethnically it is 79% White and 21% of Black and Mixed ethnicity.

Hillingdon's main claim to fame is that it is the home to one of the world's busiest airports, Heathrow. It also has the highest ratio of vehicles at 1.4 per household.

Famous residents include Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, footballer Glenn Hoddle and actress Jane Seymour.

Brunel University is in Hillingdon and is the location for many films and TV series including The Sweeney and the Inbetweeners.

Description:

The london Borough of Hillingdon was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as being a group of rural villages. It now has a huge and diverse population which could never have been imagined.

Although it was labeled by writer Sir John Betjeman as “Metroland”, The London Borough of Hillingdon has managed to retain its attractive villages and gives a real taste of rural life, despite being just 30 minutes by train from the heart of London.

North Hillingdon is predominantly suburban, with one of the highest average incomes per capita in the UK. South Hillingdon is home to large industrial units. Some of the borough's main companies include British Airways Head Office, Cadbury Schweppes, BAA and several other major airlines.

As well as Heathrow, RAF Northolt Aerodrome and RAF Uxbridge are also situated in Hillingdon.

Borough Attractions:

One of the borough's most underrated attractions is its network of canals and waterways, including the Grand Union Canal which links London with Birmingham. Many of the canals were repaired and improved in the 1940s and now provide miles of walks along the towpath and the opportunity to ride in a brightly coloured narrowboat.

The Colne valley was once part of the Great Union Canal and was a major trade route. It now offers quiet country walks accompanied by the sound of songbirds and the occasional fish jumping.

You may be surprised to know that Hillingdon has its own Lido at Ruislip. The 60-acre reservoir has a sandy beach and paths for walking around the lake. The Ruislip Lido railway runs from the beach through the woods to a local pub for refreshments.

Other attractions in Hillingdon include the London Motor Museum at Hayes and Hounslow Urban Farm.

Getting There:

Hillingdon is served by the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines on the London Underground. The borough also has several overground trains including regular trains to Heathrow Airport.