RAF Northolt, on the western edge of the area, is the oldest operational RAF airfield, flying since 1915, and Polish fighter pilots flew from here in the Battle of Britain. A memorial to them stands at the junction just up the road. Northolt itself is a suburb of estates, parks and schools strung along the A40, with an old village green and church at its heart. Minibus hire Northolt customers book is mostly Heathrow runs, school sport and trips, and family events.
Northolt sits in the north-west of Ealing borough, between Greenford, Ruislip, Hayes and Harrow, with the A40 and the A312 meeting at the Target roundabout. From our base in SE1, it's about fifty minutes to an hour outside the rush hour, along the Westway and the A40.
Minibus hire Northolt for Heathrow runs
Heathrow is about twenty to twenty-five minutes from Northolt outside the rush hour, straight down the A312 to the A4. Families flying out, relatives arriving, crews heading to early shifts and groups of friends going on holiday book us for the run, and for a family with a lot of luggage, one minibus saves two or three cars and a long-stay car park.
Give us the terminal and the flight time, and we'll suggest a pickup. For arrivals, the driver will be waiting when the group lands. Luton is around forty-five minutes north, Gatwick an hour south and Stansted an hour and a quarter east. Many Northolt families fly to Poland, Somalia or India, and relatives coming to stay are collected together from arrivals.
Fixtures across Ealing, Hillingdon and Harrow
Northolt's secondary schools and primaries book us for sports fixtures, swimming galas, athletics meets and tournaments across Ealing, Hillingdon and Harrow. Players, staff and kit go together, and the driver waits through the match.
For a term of fixtures, the dates and venues can be sent through in one go and booked together. Museum days, theatre outings and residential weeks make up the rest of the school calendar. Summer sports days at athletics tracks across west London need runs for several classes, and we can plan a shuttle. Allow about fifty minutes for the South Kensington museums.
Northala Fields and the parks
Northala Fields, beside the A40, has four tall grassy mounds built from the rubble of the old Wembley Stadium, fishing ponds and play areas, and the view from the top of the highest mound takes in most of west London. Belvue Park and Northolt Park have sports pitches and open space, and the Grand Union Canal's towpath runs along the edge of the area for walks towards Hayes.
Schools use Northala Fields for cross-country running and nature trips, and youth groups use it for kite flying and picnics. The vehicle pulls into the car park off the A40 and returns at the time you choose.
Northolt village and family events
Northolt's old village green, with St Mary's church on the hill above it, has survived the growth of the suburb around it, and St Mary's dates back to the twelfth century. Grand Union Village, built beside the canal, has towpath walks towards Greenford and Hayes. Families book us for weddings, christenings and big birthdays, with guests collected from homes across Northolt, Greenford and Yeading and taken to the ceremony, the reception and home again.
Northolt has a large Polish community, along with Somali, South Asian and long-standing west London families, and community groups and churches book us for outings, retreats and conventions. Polish Saturday schools in the area book trips for their pupils too, and the Polish churches in Ealing and Northolt host weddings and first communions.
RAF Northolt and the Polish memorial
RAF Northolt is a working airfield used by the RAF and for government and private flights, and it's not open to visitors, though aviation groups watch from the public roads nearby. The Polish War Memorial, at the junction of the A40 and West End Road, honours the Polish airmen who flew with the RAF, and Polish community groups from across London hold remembrance services there.
Groups visiting the memorial book us for the run, and the driver will drop at a safe point on the slip road or nearby.
The A40 and the Target roundabout
The A40 is Northolt's main route into London and out to the M40, and it's slow at peak times, especially at the Target roundabout and the Polish War Memorial junction, which are among the busiest in west London. Mandeville Road and Church Road carry buses through the estates, with parked cars narrowing them in places. Minibus hire Northolt families book for an early Heathrow flight is usually quick, because the A312 south is clear at that hour, but for a central London trip we'll allow time for the A40.
For minibus hire in Northolt, call 020 7183 0567.