Built around an historic London village, Eastcote is a picturesque town in the southern Borough of Hillingdon. Historically, Eastcote was a major part of the parish of Ruislip, and its name is derived from its eastern proximity to the parish. Since the 1900s, the town has experienced a significant population grown, going from a mere 600 inhabitants to an impressive 12,000. Hundreds of new properties have been built in the Eastcote area, including detached and semi-detached houses, flats and apartments, and bungalows.
Many of these complexes have been built on the sites of former stately homes. Highgrove House is a Grade II listed building in the centre of Eastcote. Built in 1750, the house was destroyed by a fire and had to be re-built in 1881. After being bought by the council in the 21st century, the house was used as a temporary lodging space for the homeless. In 2007, plans to turn the house into a 12-home complex were announced.
There is always plenty to do in Eastcote. Tours of the beautiful Eastcote House Gardens are organised regularly, providing a wonderful day out. Although the house itself has sadly been demolished, the gardens continue to be a thriving green space, brimming with beautiful flowers and glorious foliage. The garden has stood for more than 500 years, with many of its bricks dating back to the 17th century. The estate’s coach house and walled garden all survived the demolition and are currently being restored in a £1,000,000 project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Pinner Memorial Park on the Pinner River offers tranquil scenery and is the perfect backdrop for a leisurely, Sunday morning stroll. Pubs in the area include the Ascott Pub, named in remembrance of the town’s former name. Transport links in the area are abundant; the Eastcote Underground station runs through the town and is serviced regularly by the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines.
