If Heathrow airport was not a couple of neighbourhoods west, Isleworth could be happily described as a quiet and characterful residential town on the Thames

Isleworth's charming Victorian terraces make it the nearest thing Hounslow has to a village and, certainly along its riverside areas, it's fast becoming a rival to plusher neighbours St Margarets and Twickenham.

Whilst Syon House formed the backdrop to some entertaining scenes from the Royalty's scrapbook, Riverside estates built in the 18th Century made Isleworth a popular base for London's fashionable and wealthy. Two hundred years on, and a similar tale is unfolding, as moneyed classes clamour for a watery outlook.

With the riverside warehouses and factories at Brentford presenting urban residential developers with a profitable playground of opportunity, and big budget regeneration projects in the pipeline, it's not difficult to envisage a distinctly upmarket band of north Thames housing stretching all the way from Chiswick to Twickenham.

Prices in Isleworth have risen sharply over the past couple of years, particularly for the small Victorian cottages in the older part of town. But keep in mind the cost of stepping across the river to Richmond or Kew, and you're sure to find a bargain.

The cluster of roads below South Street is the place to start looking for Victorian properties: attractive two bed terraced cottages start at around £180,000. Turn-of-the-century houses are in ready supply nearer the station, with the largest and priciest options lining Linkfield Road and surrounding St Johns Gardens.

Amongst the newer properties are a number of gated apartment blocks, usually with a view over the park or river, for under £150,000. More exclusive riverside developments, like Heron's Place, will give you spacious town-house accommodation, fabulous views across the river to Kew, and not much change from half a million pounds.

North of station are avenues of large family houses with prices increasing towards Osterley. Sandwiched between the M4 and A4 Osterley sounds a noisy proposition, but the green spaces of Osterley Park keep things relatively tranquil and sizeable houses and a good community feel makes this a particularly sought after area. Away from the river, some of the costliest accommodation is to be found here.

Isleworth has a good selection of shops and restaurants, with the city near enough for bigger spending excursions, and the wider facilities of Richmond just across the river. There's plenty of parkland around, with Kew Gardens a short hop away and the local greenery of Osterley and Syon Parks.

Syon House itself is worth a visit, if only to see the interesting results of three centuries of architectural baton changing. The Thames, having largely retired as a working river, now offers pleasant recreational opportunities.

Excellent schools, both state and private, are available in the area. Renowned specialist and expatriate educational institutions are also nearby in Richmond. Isleworth Blue School started life as a charity school in 1630, whilst the 18th Century house at Holme Court was a Methodist boarding school with a rather unusual tutor on its staff. Living in Twickenham Road at the time, Vincent Van Gogh cut his teeth teaching here, before moving on to other body parts.

If you live north of the station, Osterley and Hounslow East provide underground access to the City. It's a fair hike otherwise, but Train links from Isleworth or St Margarets (to the south) are fairly speedy and frequent. The A4 and links to the A3 make it easy to get in and out of town, and the M4 is pretty much on Isleworth's doorstep. The proximity of Heathrow is a boon for frequent travellers, if something of a headache for those left behind.

 

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