Does London have a beach?

Ruislip may only be 14 miles away from the heart of Central London but it couldn’t be more different. The area is home to quiet residential streets and is very green. Not surprisingly it is popular with commuters and families.

One of the most incredible things about this part of the London Borough of Hillingdon is there is a beach. Many people are surprised to learn this because the capital is situated a good distance from the coast. Ruislip Lido is primarily a reservoir but it also has an artificial beach. It is very popular on warm days.

The reservoir at Ruislip Lido was first opened in 1811. It was intended as a feeder for the Grand Union Canal but this plan didn’t work out. Instead the water became too contaminated and the link to the canal was closed in 1851. Development into a lido came in 1933. This brought more people to the site to enjoy swimming, sailing and water sports.

Sadly poor management resulted in financial ruin for the lido. This saw admissions fall dramatically and the water level was lowered to a point where sailing was not permitted. Pollution also made swimming unsafe. Luckily, regeneration came in 2010. This saw the water quality improved and plans launched for swimming and boating to be reinstated.

The housing mix in Ruislip attracts all kinds of buyers. There are roads of tree-lined Victorian terraces as well as a number of new builds. There are even some larger Grade II listed homes.

Ruislip Tube station is on the Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines, providing good connections across London. There are also stations at Ruislip Manor and Ruislip Gardens.

The area is also home to good schools, some fantastic shops, and a number of restaurants and bars. This mix further attracts commuters and families.

If you are considering investing in the area Finefair can help. We work with people who are looking at buy to let and other opportunities. As a notable lettings agent Hillingdon investors can trust, we can offer full support.

To find out more about what we can do for you, please get in touch with our team.