This west London neighbourhood is one of the most colourful parts of the capital, and many say it’s as close to India as you can get without taking a plane. Credit: Shutterstock and Kim Bansi One of the best things about living in a city like London is that you don’t always have to jump on a plane to experience another culture, with there being so many different ways to immerse yourself right here in the capital. Take Southall, for example; it’s an area of west London perched on the Elizabeth Line between Ealing and Heathrow that rarely gets a spotlight, but is quite the hidden gem. The area is full to the brim with Indian clothing stores, authentic eateries serving food from different parts of India and even places of worship from religions native to that region. So, if you ever need to get your hands on a sari or just want some very good food, a little trip to Southall could be just what you’re after. Little India in Southall When you arrive at Southall station, you’ll immediately notice the Punjabi Gurmukhi script underneath the station sign, which is one of the few dual-language roundels in London’s transport network. The sign honours the Punjabi community who reside in the area, which is the largest Punjabi community outside India. A quick walk from the station is the heart of it all, Southall Broadway. Here, you’ll find an array of shops selling everything from fabric to be tailored into Indian outfits from stores like New Rainbow Textiles, jewellery and other accessories, including bindis and tikkas, and ready-made outfits like lenghas, saris and salwar kameez (a traditional three-piece outfit consisting of trousers, a tunic top and a scarf). The shops range from boutiques, such as Frontier Raas or Mongas, where you’ll find higher ticket items like bridalwear, to buzzing bazaars where you can haggle down to a good price. Amongst all that, you’ll also find stores selling Indian musical instruments, for example Jas Musicals, and fresh produce. You will also find many Hindu temples, mosques, and Gurudwaras (Sikh temples). The most prominent and well-known for its beautiful architecture is Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, the largest Sikh Gurdwara institution outside of India. Authentic eats and market stalls The real star of the show is the food that’s on offer in Southall. It’s home to many spots with long histories, including Brilliant Gastro by Dipna Anand whose story started in the 1950’s in Nairobi in Kenya where Dipna’s grandfather started his restaurant called “Brilliant.” Last year, Brilliant marked its 50th year in Southall, and you’ll find the Indian Gastro pub just a six-minute walk from the station. Another historic restaurant is Madhu’s, serving Punjabi food with Kenyan flair, and it has been in the family for four generations. They now have six restaurants, including the location in Southall and another in Mayfair. As well as restaurants, you can also pick yourself up some traditional indian sweets, including jalebis, the best place for these are Jalebi Junction, where they make them fresh outside the shop. You can also buy other sweets such as mithai and, my personal favourite, gulab jaman. Street stalls also sell things like corn, mangos and nuts. Next time you fancy some authentic Indian food, now you know you don’t have to travel far to find some.
