Editing Hounslow

{{Short description|Town in the west of London, England}}
{{About|the town in Greater London|the borough whose administrative centre it is|London Borough of Hounslow}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                   = England
| region                    = London
| coordinates               = {{coord|51.4668|-0.375|display=inline,title}}
| os_grid_reference         = TQ140760
| london_borough            = Hounslow
| population                = 103,337
| population_ref            = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]])<ref>Hounslow is made up of 8 wards in the London Borough of Hounslow: Cranford, Heston Central, Heston East, Heston West, Hounslow Central, Hounslow Heath, Hounslow South, and Hounslow West. {{cite web|url=http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |title=2011 Census Ward Population Estimates &#124; London DataStore |access-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202755/http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |archive-date=22 February 2014  }}</ref>
| post_town                 = HOUNSLOW
| postcode_area             = TW
| postcode_district         = TW3–TW6
| dial_code                 = 020
| constituency_westminster  = [[Brentford and Isleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Brentford & Isleworth]], [[Feltham and Heston (UK Parliament constituency)|Feltham & Heston]]
| constituency_westminster1 = [[Hayes and Harlington (UK Parliament constituency)|Hayes and Harlington]]
| charingX_distance_mi      = 10.7
| charingX_direction        = ENE
| static_image_2_name       = Hounslow High Street.1.JPG
| static_image_2_caption    = High Street
| constituency_westminster2 = [[Twickenham (UK Parliament constituency)|Twickenham]]
}}
[[File:Building at bottom of Hounslow High Street.jpg|thumb|Junction of Bell Road and High Street]]
[[File:Grasslands - Hounslow Heath Nature Reserve (37203144216).jpg|thumb|Hounslow Heath Nature Reserve]]
[[File:ASDA Store and Apartments at The Blenheim Centre in Hounslow - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[ASDA]] store with apartments at the Blenheim Centre]]
[[File:London Bus route 235 Hounslow High Street.jpg|thumb|High Street]]
[[File:Hounslow Railway Station.jpg|thumb|[[Hounslow railway station]]]]
[[File:Hounslow East tube station 2.jpg|thumb|[[Hounslow East tube station]]]]
'''Hounslow''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|aʊ|n|z|l|əʊ}} {{respell|HOWNZ|loh}}) is a large suburban district of West [[London]], England, {{convert|10+3/4|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=off}} west-southwest of [[Charing Cross]]. It is the administrative centre of the [[London Borough of Hounslow]], and is identified in the [[London Plan]] as one of the 14 metropolitan centres in [[Greater London]].

It is bounded by [[Isleworth]] to the east, [[Twickenham]] to its south, [[Feltham]] to its west and [[Southall]] to its north.

The Hounslow [[post town]] covers the [[TW postcode area|TW3, TW4, TW5 and TW6]] postcodes. Most of the post town is in the London Borough of Hounslow, but parts fall within the [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] and the [[London Borough of Hillingdon]], notably including [[Heathrow Airport]].

== History ==

=== Etymology ===
In old records, Hounslow is spelt 'Hundeslow' which points to the Anglo-Saxon phrase '''Hundes hlāw''<nowiki/>', translating to 'the Hound's barrow' or more accurately 'the barrow of a man named or nicknamed Hound'.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

=== Hounslow Town ===
Hounslow was centred around the Holy Trinity Priory founded in 1211.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45431 Daniel Lysons, 'Heston', ''The Environs of London'': volume 3: ''County of Middlesex'' (1795:22–45):] accessed 6 August 2010.</ref> The priory developed what had been a small village into a town with regular markets and other facilities for travellers heading to and from London. Although the priory was dissolved in 1539, the town remained an important staging post on the Bath Road.

The construction of the [[Great Western Railway]] line from London to Bristol from 1838 reduced long-distance travel along the Bath Road. By 1842, the local paper was reporting that the 'formerly flourishing village' (which used to stable 2000 horses) was suffering a 'general depreciation of property'.<ref>Quoted in Acworth, WM 'The Railways in 1843' in Morgan, B (1963) Railway Lover's Companion, [[Eyre & Spottiswoode]], P90</ref> The Hounslow Loop Line was constructed in 1850 - which prompted new development. [[Hounslow Hospital]] opened in 1876 and closed in 1978. [[Hanworth Road drill hall, Hounslow|Hanworth Road drill hall]] (now the Treaty Lodge Hotel) was built for the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment.

The construction of the Great West Road (a by-pass for the Bath Road, around Brentford, Isleworth and Hounslow town centres) in the 1920s attracted the building of factories and headquarters of large companies and led to a great deal of housing development. After a decline in the 1970s, offices largely replaced factories and further expansion in hotel and housing stock started to take place.

=== Hounslow Heath ===
[[Hounslow Heath]] has a continuous recorded history dating back to the [[Norman conquest of England|Norman]] period, in which it lent its name to the hamlet of [[Heathrow (hamlet)|Heathrow]]. It was infamously known for the numbers of [[Highwayman|highwaymen]] and [[footpad]]s in the area,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hounslow Heath - Highwaymen and Highway Robbery|url=http://www.stand-and-deliver.org.uk/hounslow_heath.htm|access-date=6 May 2018|website=Stand-and-deliver.org.uk}}</ref> who targeted wealthy individuals and noblemen.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 January 2017|title=When Hounslow Was The Most Dangerous Place In Britain|language=en-GB|website=Londonist.com|url=https://londonist.com/london/history/when-hounslow-was-the-most-dangerous-place-in-london|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref>

The Heath once had strategic importance as its routes acted as a throughway from London to the west and southwest of Britain. The present northern boundary of the Heath - Staines Road - was the [[Roman roads in Britannia|Roman Road]] later known as the [[Devil's Highway (Roman Britain)|Devils Highway]]. There are several historic references to Roman camps surrounding the Heath. Both Oliver Cromwell and James II used the heath as a military encampment.

In 1784 the first accurate measurements were made on the heath to establish the base line for the Ordnance Survey trigonometrical survey of Great Britain. The event was attended by [[George IV|King George IV]] and [[Joseph Banks]], president of the [[Royal Society]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Tim |last2=Pilbeam |first2=Elaine |title=Ordnance Survey, Map Makers to Britain since 1871 |date=1992 |publisher=Ordnance Survey/HMSO |location=Southampton/London |isbn=0-31-900249-7|page=6}}</ref>

In 1793, the [[Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow|Cavalry Barracks]] were constructed and were extended with the [[Beavers Lane Camp]]. Between 1914 and 1920 the heath became [[Hounslow Heath Aerodrome]].

[[Hounslow Heath Aerodrome]] was a grass airfield and was operational from 1910 to 1920. It was in the London borough of Hounslow, and in 1919 was where the first scheduled daily international commercial air services began.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/hounslows-forgotten-airports-vital-role-11143221|title=How Hounslow's forgotten airports helped win the world wars|last=Cumber|first=Robert|date=6 April 2016|website=Getwestlondon.co.uk|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/hounslow/|title=Hounslow - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK|website=Abct.org.uk|language=en|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref>

== Emergency services ==
The [[territorial police force]] is the [[Metropolitan Police]]. Hounslow Police Station is located on Montague Road, adjacent to the High Street.

The [[Statute|statutory]] [[Fire department|fire and rescue service]] in Hounslow is the [[London Fire Brigade]] (LFB), with the nearest fire station in [[Isleworth]] on London Road.

The nearest accident and emergency hospital is [[West Middlesex University Hospital]], in Isleworth, which is part of the [[Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust]] and a teaching hospital of the [[Imperial College School of Medicine]]. [[London Ambulance Service]] provides emergency ambulance services.

== Governance ==
Hounslow forms part of the London Borough of Hounslow, governed by [[Hounslow Council]] based at [[Hounslow House]] at 7 Bath Road. As part of Greater London it is also covered by the [[London Assembly]] and [[Mayor of London]] for certain strategic functions.

The original settlement of Hounslow grew up on the boundary between the [[ancient parish]]es of [[Heston]] and [[Isleworth]], both in the [[Isleworth Hundred]] of [[Middlesex]]. Hounslow was made its own [[ecclesiastical parish]] in 1835, whilst continuing to straddle Heston and Isleworth for [[civil parish|civil purposes]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=19356|page=309|date=16 February 1936}}</ref>

In 1875 a [[Local board of health#Local Government Act 1858|local government district]] was created covering the whole of the two civil parishes, governed by an elected local board. The district was initially divided into three [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral wards]]: Heston, Hounslow and Isleworth.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (Abingdon, &c.) Act 1975 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/38-39/176/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=18 April 2024}}</ref> Such local government districts were converted into [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] under the [[Local Government Act 1894]].<ref name=sr>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22269 |title=Parishes in the medieval hundred of Isleworth, with map |editor=Susan Reynolds  |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |date=1962 |work=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3|accessdate=27 October 2014 }}</ref>

A referendum of local electors was held in 1927 on whether to change the urban district's name from Heston and Isleworth to Hounslow. A significant majority of those who voted supported the change of name (6,778 in favour, 3,775 against), but it was vetoed by [[Middlesex County Council]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A change of name |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=19 April 2024 |work=The Citizen |date=30 June 1927 |location=Gloucester |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ealing News |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=19 April 2024 |work=West Middlesex Gazette |date=9 July 1927 |location=Ealing |page=2}}</ref> The urban district was incorporated to become the [[Municipal Borough of Heston and Isleworth]] in 1932.<ref>{{cite web |title=Heston and Isleworth Urban District / Municipal Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10213526#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref><ref name=HICP>{{cite web |title=Heston and Isleworth Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10183959#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cranford Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10183285#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref>

The borough of Heston and Isleworth was abolished in 1965. Its area was transferred from Middlesex to Greater London and merged with the abolished [[Municipal Borough of Brentford and Chiswick]] and [[Feltham Urban District]] to become the London Borough of Hounslow.

== Geography ==
Hounslow is separated from Twickenham by Hanworth Road (A314) Nelson Road, Hounslow Road (B361) and Whitton Dene/ Murray Park.

Hall Road, Bridge Road, the Hounslow Loop Line, Thornbury Park, Worton Way, the Piccadilly Line, Stucley Road and Osterley Park separate Hounslow and Isleworth.

The Norwood Green estate and Industrial area in North Hyde, separate Hounslow and Southall whilst the River Crane and Cranford Park form a natural boundary between Hounslow and Hayes

Historically, Hounslow's traditional western boundary followed the River Crane; however, it now extends to the Bath Road (A4), Duke of Northumberlands River and Great South-West Road (A30) and back to the river (to include Heathrow Airport).

== Demography ==
The suburban district of Hounslow, including its localities [[Cranford, London|Cranford]], [[Heston]], [[Hounslow West]] and [[Lampton]], was 103,337 in the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]], whereas the wider borough had a population of 254,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20110/open_data_and_information_requests/1322/census_2011/2|title=Census 2011|last=Ali|first=Sorriya|website=Hounslow.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''2011 Census Homes'''
|-
!Ward !!Detached  !!Semi-detached!!Terraced!!Flats and apartments!!Caravans/temporary/mobile homes!!Shared between households<ref name=ons>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Key Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population Density] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ |date=11 February 2003 }} 2011 census ''[[Office for National Statistics]]''</ref>
|-
|Hounslow Central||	257	||	1,455	||	930	||	2,687	||	3	||	52
|-
|Hounslow Heath||	285	||	1,522	||	1,128	||	1,886	||	7	||	87
|-
|Hounslow South||	223	||	2,155	||	967	||	588	||	0	||	11
|-
|Hounslow West||	248	||	1,526	||	799	||	1,344	||	5	||	23
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''2011 Census Households'''
!Ward !!Population !!Households !!% Owned outright !!% Owned with a loan!!hectares<ref name=ons/>
|-
|Hounslow Central||	15,169	||	5,384	||	19	||	19	||	174
|-
|Hounslow Heath||	14,727	||	4,915	||	17	||	27	||	279
|-
|Hounslow South||	11,408	||	3,944	||	33	||	42	||	179
|- 
|Hounslow West||	12,658	||	3,945	||	23	||	24	||	162
|}

Hounslow has a high proportion of people who identify themselves as [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|BAME]] (Black, Asian and minority Ethnic), and it is the borough's most diverse town. In seven of Hounslow's eight [[electoral ward]]s, the BAME proportion is above 70%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-profiles-and-atlas|title=Ward Profiles and Atlas – London Datastore|website=Data.london.gov.uk|access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref> The town has a large [[British Asian]] and [[Somalia|Somali]] community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukandeu.ac.uk/inside-the-british-asian-brexit-vote-and-why-it-contains-a-few-surprises/|title=Inside the British Asian Brexit vote – and why it contains a few surprises|last=Ehsan|first=Rakib|date=18 February 2017|website=UK and EU}}</ref>

== Economy ==
Hounslow is an economic hub within the west of the capital city, with it having a large shopping centre which adjoins its [[high street]] and many restaurants, cafés and small businesses,<ref>[http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/town/Hounslow Restaurants guide] Squaremeal.co.uk Retrieved 24 December 2013</ref> many of which are associated with product assembly, marketing, telecommunications and [[Heathrow Airport]], which has many businesses and public sector jobs in and around it to which the local population commute.  The settlement is also partially employed in the [[London Commuter Belt|Commuter Belt]] with access between 45 and 60 minutes from most of [[Central London]].

[[DHL Air UK]] has its head office in the Orbital Park in Hounslow.<ref>"[https://onlineshipping.dhl.com/wsi/SubmitCountryServlet?moduleKey=Login&countryCode=GB Online Shipping] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111140434/https://onlineshipping.dhl.com/wsi/SubmitCountryServlet?moduleKey=Login&countryCode=GB |date=11 January 2016 }}." [[DHL Air UK]]. Retrieved on 23 April 2014. "DHL International (UK) Limited Registered Office: Orbital Park, 178-188 Great South West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW4 6JS"</ref>

Hounslow Town Centre is a busy predominantly retail centre, with a small number of commercial offices and civic buildings. There is a large shopping centre called the [[Treaty Centre]] which opened in 1987,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://treatyshoppingcentre.co.uk/|title=Treaty Centre - Hounslow|website=Treatyshoppingcentre.co.uk|language=en|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref> containing JD, Next, H&M and many large branches of [[chain stores]] found in British high streets. It includes a food court along with over 50 shops. There is a large [[Asda|ASDA]] superstore located within the Blenheim Centre complex (which was completed in 2006)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hwa.uk.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/HSQ-Final-Proof-Alistair-Parker42105264_1.pdf |title=LONDON BOROUGH OF HOUNSLOW (HOUNSLOW HIGH STREET QUARTER) COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER 2015|website=Hws.uk.com|access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref> along with [[B&M Bargains|B&M]], a [[Barnardo's|Barnado's]] charity shop, a local health centre, a gym run by [[The Gym Group]] and Jungle V.I.P (a children's indoor play area).

A new retail area, the High Street Quarter, will be located near Hounslow High Street and is set to contain a 27-storey residential tower along with many shops, restaurants, and a ten-screen [[Cineworld]] cinema multiplex.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/hounslow-high-street-quarter-multiplex-14232855|title=Hounslow High Street Quarter development takes major step forward|last=Patel|first=Salina|date=2 February 2018|website=Getwestlondon|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hounslowhighstreetquarter.com/|title=High Street Quarter, Hounslow {{!}}|website=Hounslowhighstreetquarter.com|language=en-GB|access-date=6 May 2018|archive-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322093219/http://hounslowhighstreetquarter.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Culture and community ==
[[Hounslow Heath]] is a large public open space and local [[nature reserve]] to the west of Hounslow, a London borough. It now covers about {{convert|200|acre|ha|-1}} and is only the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that once covered over {{convert|4000|acre|ha|-2}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/hounslow-heath/|title=Hounslow Heath - Hidden London|website=hidden-london.com|language=en-GB|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref>

[[Bell Square]] is an outdoor performance space next to the Bell pub. [[Hounslow Community Land Project]] was a community garden and sports area on a derelict piece of land on Hanworth Road.

=== Twinning ===
Hounslow is [[sister city|twinned]] with the following settlements around the world:

* [[Issy-les-Moulineaux]], France<ref name=chronicle-twinning>{{cite news| title=Council to revive links with Palestinian town| last=Cumber| first=Robert| publisher=Hounslow, Heston & Whitton Chronicle| date=17 December 2010| url=http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2010/12/17/council-to-revive-links-with-palestinian-town-109642-27845665/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223115012/http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/west-london-news/local-hounslow-news/2010/12/17/council-to-revive-links-with-palestinian-town-109642-27845665/|archive-date=23 December 2010}}</ref>
* [[Lahore]], Pakistan<ref name=chronicle-twinning />
* [[Ramallah]], [[Palestine]]<ref name=chronicle-twinning />
* [[Jalandhar]], India<ref name=chronicle-twinning />

The London Borough of Hounslow also has a sister district agreement with [[Leningradsky District, Krasnodar Krai|Leningradsky District]] in [[Krasnodar Krai]], Russia.<ref name=chronicle-twinning />

== Landmarks ==
One of the earliest surviving houses in the town is The Lawn, in front of the former [[Hounslow Civic Centre|Civic Centre]] with its public tennis courts, in brown brick with three double-hung [[sash windows]] set back in [[reveal (carpentry)|reveal]]s with flat arches, roof with [[parapet]] and porch of fluted [[doric column]]s, [[pilasters]], [[entablature]] and semi-circular traceried [[fanlight]].<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1080312|desc=Gate to The Lawn, The Lawn|access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref> The similar example of 44–50 Bath Road: also in brown brick and as is sometimes seen, has been painted.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1079602|desc=44–50 Bath Road|access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref>

Nearby country houses include [[Osterley House]], [[Syon House]], [[Hanworth Park|Hanworth Park House]] and Worton Hall.

== Transport ==
[[File:Qantas b747 over houses arp.jpg|thumb|A [[Qantas]] [[Boeing 747-400]] over [[Myrtle Avenue, Hounslow]] on approach to [[Heathrow Airport]] runway 27L<ref>{{cite web |url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Myrtle+Avenue,+Hounslow&hl=en&ll=51.463226,-0.426833&spn=0.000679,0.001742&sll=51.510238,-0.427437&sspn=0.173718,0.445976&oq=Myrtle+Avenue&t=h&hnear=Myrtle+Ave,+Hounslow,+Greater+London+TW14+9,+United+Kingdom&z=20&layer=c&cbll=51.463185,-0.426757&panoid=qOEaWcnARVDAyhZhSJbahg&cbp=12,347.73,,0,5.54 |title=Myrtle Avenue, Hounslow |publisher=Google Maps |access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref>]]

=== Major roads ===
There are three major roads in Hounslow. The east–west roads, the [[A4 road (England)|A4]] 'Great West Road' and the 'Bath Road' that connects Hounslow to [[Central London]] and [[Slough]], and the [[A30 road|A30]] 'Great South West Road' that connects it to [[Staines-upon-Thames]], which meet at Henlys Roundabout in Hounslow West. There is also the north–south road, the [[A312 road|A312]] 'The Causeway' and 'The Parkway', which connects Hounslow to [[Hampton, London|Hampton]] in the south and [[Harrow, London|Harrow]] to the north.

Additionally, A and B roads in Hounslow include the A314 'Hanworth Road' that starts in Hounslow and finishes in [[Hanworth]], [[Feltham]]. The historic A315 'London Road', 'Hounslow High Street', 'Hanworth Road', 'Grove Road' and 'Staines Road';  which starts in Central London and ends in [[Bedfont]], Feltham. In doing this, it connects Hounslow to towns and districts such as Kensington, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Brentford and Isleworth.

===East-west roads===
The [[A4 road (England)|A4 Great West Road]] joins with the [[A3006 road (Great Britain)|A3006]] Bath Road (from the A315) before Henlys Roundabout, which is in [[Hounslow West]]. From there a [[Boxing the compass|WNW]] route passes [[Heathrow Airport]], terminals 1 to 3 and terminal 5 as the ''Bath Road'' and a WSW route, the [[A30 road (Great Britain)|A30]], passes terminal 4, bypasses [[Staines]] and reaches the [[M25 motorway|M25]]; the remainder is a mostly-minor route to [[Land's End]], Cornwall.

The [[M4 motorway]] is two miles north; its nearest junction, J3, being northwest along the [[#Transport#North-South roads|A312]].

The A315 is the historic WSW road out of London, on which Hounslow's High Street is placed. To the east, it bisects [[Isleworth]], [[Brentford]] and [[Chiswick]]. To the west it bisects [[Feltham|North Feltham]] and [[East Bedfont|Bedfont]] before joining the A30.

===North-south roads===
The north–south [[A312 road (Great Britain)|A312]], ''The Parkway'', to the west of Hounslow leads south to [[Hampton, London|Hampton]] or north to [[Harrow, London|Harrow]] passing Waggoners' Roundabout (WNW of Henlys Roundabout in Hounslow West), [[Hayes, Hillingdon|Hayes]], [[Yeading]] and [[Northolt]].

Three minor roads converge on [[Heston]] from the A315 in parts of Hounslow, the A3063, A3005 and B363. The single road re-divides just north in [[Norwood Green]] into a northwest road to [[Southall]] (the A3005) and into the [[A4127 road (Great Britain)|A4127]] that passes by [[Hanwell]], briefly using the [[A4020 road (Great Britain)|A4020]] west before bypassing [[Dormers Wells]], passing [[Greenford]] to reach [[Sudbury, London|Sudbury]], the town immediately to the west of [[Wembley]] and [[North Wembley]].

For longer journeys north, the M4, A4 or A30 then M25 provides the best routes. For longer journeys south, Hanworth Road leads to the [[A316 road (Great Britain)|A316]] that becomes the [[M3 motorway (Great Britain)|M3 motorway]].

===Trains and Underground===
[[Image:Hounslow Central westbound.JPG|thumb|right|[[Hounslow Central tube station]]]]
There are three main London Underground stations in the town; [[Hounslow East tube station|Hounslow East]], [[Hounslow Central tube station|Hounslow Central]] and [[Hounslow West tube station|Hounslow West]], with all the stations being on the [[Piccadilly line]]. The [[District line]] used to operate services to Hounslow, and the town also has abandoned stations on the old line, such as [[Hounslow Town tube station|Hounslow Town]].

[[Hounslow railway station]], operated by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]], is on the line to [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]], or westwards to [[Reading railway station|Reading]], [[Weybridge railway station|Weybridge]], [[Woking railway station|Woking]] or [[Windsor & Eton Riverside railway station|Windsor]].  The line also offers services on the [[Hounslow Loop Line]], opened 1850, further around the loop to [[Twickenham railway station|Twickenham]] and [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]].<ref name=os>[http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=TQ1475 Grid square map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225114856/http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=TQ1475 |date=25 December 2013 }} [[Ordnance survey]] website</ref> It is situated a fair distance from the town centre and is used far less than the Underground stations.

===Bus services===
[[File:Hounslow Bus Garage 02-02-09.jpg|thumb|left|[[London United Busways|London United]] buses confined to [[Hounslow bus station]] during the [[February 2009 Great Britain and Ireland snowfall|2009 snowfall]]]]
[[Hounslow bus garage]] and an adjoining bus station are close to the [[High Street]]. In 1962, as a result of the final stage of the [[Trolleybuses in London|London trolleybus]] programme of conversion to motor bus operation, when [[Isleworth]] garage was closed, the staff from that depot (coded IH) were transferred to Hounslow. The property is owned by the [[RATP Group]], which took it over with the purchase of [[London United Busways|London United]] from [[Transdev]].

In addition to its frequent and regular daytime services throughout the surrounding areas, Hounslow is served by the [[London Buses route N9|N9 night service]] from [[Heathrow Airport]] to Central London.

== Education ==
{{main|List of schools in Hounslow}}
[[St Mark's Catholic School, Hounslow|St Mark's Catholic School]] is on Bath Road. [[Lampton School]] was previously Spring Grove Grammar School, in the area of [[Lampton]]. [[Kingsley Academy]] was formerly known as Hounslow Manor School and [[Hounslow Heath School]], formally known as Hounslow Heath Infant and Nursery School and Hounslow Heath Junior School before they merged, in Selwyn Close.

[[File:Holy Trinity Church Hounslow.JPG|thumb|upright|Holy Trinity Church before renovation of Hounslow High Street]]

== Religious sites ==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2022}}
Due to the town's large South Asian community, Hounslow has a large array of religious sites to cater to the large Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities as well as the Christian community.

Churches include Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Holy Trinity Church, Hounslow Methodist Church, Hounslow Spiritualist Centre, Hounslow Pentecostal Church, Maswell Park Church, Hounslow URC Church, St Paul's Church, St Stephen's Church, Hounslow United Reformed Church, St Michael & St Martin Church, Christian Community Church, Hounslow Pentecostal Church, Hounslow West Evangelical Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Hounslow Spiritualist Church, St John's Mar Thoma Church, Christ Embassy and Heston Methodist Church.

Gurdwaras include Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and Gurdwara Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha.

Mandirs include the Lakshmi Narayan Temple and Jalaram Jupadi.

Mosques situated in the area include Hounslow Central Mosque, Hounslow Muslim Center, Mosque of Jummah Prayer, Islamic Integration Community Centre, Al-Furqan Education Trust and Madina Islamic Mission.

== Sport ==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2022}}
A printed programme dated 7 July 1935 suggests that there may have been a motorcycle speedway race at a venue in Dockwell Lane, Feltham, branded as the Hounslow Speedway. Information suggests that more than one meeting was staged in conjunction with the Hounslow Motorcycle and Car Club.

In the late 20th century, [[Hounslow Hockey Club]] was successful at a national level but has since merged with Barnes Hockey Club. [[Hounslow Heath Golf Centre]], situated on the western side of the Heath, closed in 2016.

The 2002 film ''[[Bend It Like Beckham]]'' is set in Hounslow, depicting a fictional football team called The Hounslow Harriers.

The [[Irish Guards GAA]] club is based in Hounslow.

== Pop Culture ==

Alfred Doolittle from ''[[George Bernard Shaw]]'''s ''[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion]]'' is claimed to have been raised in Hounslow, by the protagonist Professor Henry Higgins.

The 2002 film ''[[Bend It Like Beckham]]'' is set in Hounslow, depicting a fictional football team called The Hounslow Harriers.

== Notable people ==
{{main|List of people from Hounslow}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|London}}
{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Nearest Settlements'''
|Centre    = Hounslow
|North     = (Across [[Heston]]) [[Southall]]
|Northeast = [[Osterley]], [[Isleworth]]
|East      = [[Isleworth]]
|Southeast = [[Twickenham]]
|South     = [[Whitton, London|Whitton]]<br />[[Hanworth]]
|Southwest = [[Feltham]]<br />[[Hanworth]]
|West      = [[Hatton, London|Hatton]]
|Northwest = (Across [[Harlington, London|Harlington]]) [[Hayes, Hillingdon|Hayes]]
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Citation |publisher = John Murray |location = London |title = Handbook to the Environs of London |author = James Thorne |date = 1876 |chapter= Hounslow |hdl = 2027/mdp.39015063815669?urlappend=%3Bseq=380 |chapter-url= http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015063815669?urlappend=%3Bseq=380 }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hounslow (town)}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070104123950/http://www.hounslowtw3.net/ Hounslow Online – www.hounslowtw3.net]}} Hounslow's local community website
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707081749/http://www.activhounslow.com/ Community Guide to Hounslow – www.activhounslow.com] Hounslow's online guide
*[http://brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk/local-history/places/the-history-of-hounslow-town/ History of Hounslow town]

{{LB Hounslow}}
{{London Districts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Hounslow]]
[[Category:Metropolitan centres of London]]
[[Category:Pakistani-British culture in London]]
[[Category:Places formerly in Middlesex]]