West Drayton might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of a day out โ but this unassuming corner of West London has more going on than most locals realise. From medieval barns to canal walks, community art groups to hidden gardens, here are ten things worth knowing about.
1. Explore a 600-Year-Old Medieval Barn
Tucked behind a pub in the village of Harmondsworth โ just a short bus ride or drive from West Drayton โ sits one of England’s most remarkable medieval buildings. The Great Barn at Harmondsworth was built in 1426 by Winchester College and is the largest surviving medieval timber-framed barn in the country. At nearly 60 metres long, with 13 massive oak trusses holding up the roof, it was described by Sir John Betjeman as the “Cathedral of Middlesex.”
It’s Grade I listed โ putting it in the same bracket as the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey โ and over 95% of the structural timbers are original. Managed by English Heritage, the barn is open on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from April to October, and entry is free. There’s a free car park behind the barn, and the neighbouring Five Bells pub is there for the inevitable post-visit pint.
Where: Manor Court, High Street, Harmondsworth, UB7 0AQ
Getting there: Buses U3 and 350 from West Drayton, or a 10-minute drive
2. Walk the Grand Union Canal
One of West Drayton’s best-kept secrets is the Grand Union Canal towpath, which runs right through the area and offers miles of flat, peaceful walking and cycling. Head south from the High Street bridge and you can follow the canal all the way through the Colne Valley Regional Park, past lakes, meadows, and the occasional narrowboat.
For a longer walk, the Slough Arm of the canal connects West Drayton to Slough โ roughly 10km point to point โ passing under the M25 and through some surprisingly scenic countryside. You’ll even pass a couple of WW2 pillboxes and a London Coal Duty Post along the way. It’s flat, easy-going, and a world away from the busy roads just minutes away.
Start point: High Street bridge, West Drayton โ the canal entrance is on the west side of the bridge
3. Try an Art Class at Southlands Arts Centre
Southlands Arts Centre is one of those places that people walk past for years before realising what’s inside. Set in a Grade II* listed Queen Anne house on The Green, it’s been home to West Drayton’s creative community since 1965 โ and the range of what’s on offer might surprise you.
There are regular weekly groups covering life drawing, painting, digital art on iPads, crochet, sewing, knitting, creative writing, photography, yoga, meditation, chess, and even a monthly jigsaw puzzle afternoon. Most sessions cost between ยฃ2 and ยฃ15, several are free, and beginners are welcome to almost everything. There’s also a community cafรฉ, a walled garden, and a regular programme of live music, exhibitions, and craft fairs.
If you’ve ever fancied trying life drawing but never quite got round to it, or you want to pick up crochet in a room full of friendly people rather than from a YouTube video, this is the place.
Where: 75 The Green, West Drayton, UB7 7PW
More info: southlandsarts.co.uk/groups-classes
4. Visit St Martin’s Church
St Martin’s Church on Church Road is a proper piece of West Drayton history. Parts of the current building date back to the 15th century, though a church has stood on this site since at least 1181. The interior was once decorated with painted banners hanging from the roof, alongside helmets, coronets, gauntlets, and spurs โ remnants of medieval armour that were recorded by antiquarians before being lost over the centuries.
There are still traces of wall paintings behind the altar, and the churchyard itself is a quiet, leafy spot worth a wander. For anyone interested in local history, the church and its surroundings offer a tangible connection to West Drayton’s past that most people drive straight past.
Where: Church Road, West Drayton, UB7 7PT
5. Have a Coffee in a Walled Garden
The community cafรฉ at Southlands Arts Centre is the opposite of a chain coffee shop. It’s volunteer-run, the cakes are homemade, and on a decent day you can take your cup outside into a walled garden that feels like it belongs in the Cotswolds rather than 15 minutes from Heathrow. There’s usually art on the walls inside, and the atmosphere is genuinely warm โ the kind of place where people actually talk to each other.
It’s open on weekends, and it’s the sort of spot that converts first-time visitors into regulars. If you’re looking for a quiet, independent alternative to the usual high-street options, it’s worth the walk.
Where: Southlands Arts Centre, 75 The Green, West Drayton, UB7 7PW
6. Discover the Colne Valley Regional Park
Most people in West Drayton know the name, but fewer have actually explored it. The Colne Valley Regional Park covers over 40 square miles of farmland, woodland, rivers, and lakes stretching from Staines to Rickmansworth โ and West Drayton sits right on its eastern edge.
It’s a proper green escape: ideal for birdwatching, cycling, fishing, or just a long walk through landscape that feels nothing like Zone 6. The park is laced with footpaths that follow the River Colne, the Grand Union Canal, and the various lakes that dot the valley. There are several circular walks starting from West Drayton or Yiewsley that take in waterside paths, woodland, and open meadow โ all flat and accessible.
More info: colnevalleypark.org.uk
7. Catch a Show at The Beck Theatre
The Beck Theatre in Hayes โ a short bus ride from West Drayton โ is a proper 600-seat venue that punches well above its weight for a suburban theatre. The programme runs year-round and covers everything from touring West End productions and stand-up comedy to live music, pantomime, and community shows.
It’s the kind of local theatre that people forget about until they go once and wonder why they haven’t been going for years. Tickets are usually very reasonably priced compared to central London, and there’s free parking.
Where: Grange Road, Hayes, UB3 2UE
8. Explore Stockley Park on Foot or by Bike
Stockley Park is primarily known as a business park, but beyond the office buildings lies a surprisingly pleasant landscape of lakes, mature trees, and manicured grounds โ originally designed as a country park. The paths are well-maintained and mostly flat, making it ideal for a lunchtime walk, an after-work jog, or a family cycle ride.
You can walk there from West Drayton station via the canal towpath in about 30 minutes, which makes for a satisfying circular route: canal one way, park paths the other. It’s particularly nice in spring and autumn when the trees around the lakes put on a show.
Getting there: Follow the Grand Union Canal towpath south from West Drayton High Street
9. Find the Gothic Revival Church on The Green
St Catherine’s Catholic Church sits right on The Green in West Drayton, and it’s a building that catches the eye even if you’re not looking for it. Built between 1868 and 1869 in the Gothic Revival style, it was designated a Grade II listed building in 2016 โ making it the only listed Catholic church in the entire Borough of Hillingdon.
The church was built to serve the growing Catholic community in the area, many of whom were Irish migrants working in the local market gardens. Its architecture, its setting on The Green opposite Southlands, and its historical context make it worth a closer look โ even if it’s a building you’ve walked past a hundred times without stopping.
Where: The Green, West Drayton, UB7 7PL
10. Walk to Harmondsworth Village
If someone told you there was a proper English village with a medieval church, a 600-year-old barn, a village green, and two pubs โ all within a 15-minute bus ride of a Zone 6 Elizabeth Line station โ you might not believe them. But that’s Harmondsworth.
The village is a conservation area and an archaeological priority area, with a concentration of heritage buildings that feels completely incongruous this close to Heathrow (you can hear the planes, which somehow adds to the charm). St Mary’s Church dates to the 12th century, and together with the Great Barn it forms one of the most impressive medieval heritage clusters in Greater London.
Combine a visit to the barn and church with lunch at the Five Bells or the Crown, and you’ve got a genuinely memorable half-day out โ the kind of thing visitors from other parts of London find hard to believe exists.
Getting there: U3 or 350 bus from West Drayton, or a pleasant 3km walk
Getting to West Drayton
West Drayton station is on the Elizabeth Line, putting it within easy reach of Paddington (under 25 minutes), Liverpool Street, and Canary Wharf. There’s also good local bus coverage and parking in the area.
If you’re already in Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Hayes, Yiewsley, or any of the surrounding areas, most of these are within a short drive or cycle.
Looking for More?
Southlands Arts Centre runs a packed programme of events, groups, and workshops throughout the year โ from live music and craft fairs to literary festivals and exhibitions. It’s the beating heart of West Drayton’s creative community, and most of what happens there costs less than a round at the pub.
๐ See what’s on at Southlands Arts Centre
This post was written by the team at Southlands Arts Centre, West Drayton’s community arts centre since 1965. We’re a registered charity (No. 1173801) and everything we do is powered by volunteers, supporters, and people who believe the arts belong to everyone.
Author: LukeAdmin
Web designer at FAS Media