Locale Acton
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- Postal District: W3
- Local Government authority: [London Borough of Ealing]?
Acton comes from the Anglo-Saxon, meaning Oak Town. Acton was a village before the urban sprawl of the early twentieth century, when many people including property developers and builders moved into the area. The area is mainly residential and serves as a commuter location for residents travelling into London. Due to its residential nature, Acton has a number of popular and diverse restaurants including the only Nepalese restaurant in the W3/W4 area. One of the most popular venues is the George and Dragon pub which hosts quizzes and the occasional local art show.
What Acton is famous for
- Soapsud Island
In the 1920s, Acton became famous for being a centre for launderies. This provided employment for the area, later to be supplanted and replaced by engineering firms.
- Site of an aerodrome
What is currently the Park Royal leisure complex (aka [Acton Park Warner Village]?), and the Concorde Way industrial park, was a very important air field in WWI. In 1910 it was the take-off point for the first ever air mail (flown by Claud Graham-White) to Birmingham.
- BBC people
Being situated midway between Ealing studios, and Shepherd's Bush, many BBC types lived (and still do live) in Acton.
Also, Acton has been used as a film shoot location for Minder, Only Fools and Horses, Eastenders and Monty Python.
Stations
There are four tube stations and three surface stations with Acton in the name:
- North Acton, East Acton, West Acton - Central line
- Acton Town - Piccadilly and District lines
- Acton Central, South Acton - Silverlink North London line
- Acton Mainline - [Thames Trains]? service to Paddington and Ealing Broadway
Pubs
Acton has many pubs, but very few good pubs.
Recommendations: --IvorW
- The King's Head - Fullers
- The Red Lion and Pineapple - Wetherspoons
Acton Websites
- AJK's site has photographs and information on the history of Acton
- http://www.actonw3.com
- London Acton a guide to Acton history and entertainment.
Neighbouring locales: Ealing / Park Royal / Shepherd's Bush / [Harlesden]? / Chiswick / Hammersmith