The dominant style is 1930s (and later) semis, but period homes and modern blocks are numerous. Well-located five- and six-bed houses, including brand new properties, start at about £450,000, rising to about £700,000. The property mix also includes narrowboats.North, south, east or west?In The Grove, spacious detached houses on very large plots can sell for between £1m and £2m. The north contains the popular Northumberland Estate, with mostly 1930s semis. The southern part, towards Mogden, is less desirable, although there are some nice developments here too."What can I buy?Starting prices are about £100,000 for one-bed flats, £180,000 for two-bed flats near the tube or rail stations, and £200,000-to-£225,000 for three-bed houses. The blood service declined to reveal details of these cases to protect patient confidentiality.But in 1997 three patients were infected with the HIV virus by blood transfusions taken from an HIV-positive donor. One died from an unrelated medical condition."The only previous case in England arose in 1997 and was established following investigation of HIV infection in a blood recipient," an internal Blood Service report on the "HIV position" said.People who have had sex with high-risk groups - such as drug users - are already banned from giving blood along with people who have travelled to most African countries and had sexual intercourse there.But minutes of internal documents indicate that specialists in the blood service have warned the risk of an HIV-infected donation "entering the blood supply had doubled" because of the leap in infected donations.

With Kingston and Hounslow included in its shopping catchment area, there are plenty of opportunities to spend money."Isleworth is a town of two halves, divided by the London Road [A315], and the north is the more salubrious," says Mark D'Costa of Regents estate agents."The difference in price between the two areas can be as high as £100,000. The town's almshouses are architectural gems, and many of its roads are well suited to families with children or dogs. Liberally sprinkled throughout the town are playing fields and small parks and greens.In addition, many long roads are closed to through traffic, frustrating for visitors and rat-runners, but quiet and safe for locals. Especially pleasant are homes alongside Isleworth's other river, the Duke of Northumberland's (actually, "an artificial channel dug in Tudor times" joining the River Crane). Small and obscure, it is nevertheless a bona fide tree-lined waterway, a haven for birds and riverside walks.Isleworth also benefits from its neighbours and its geography.

Large green spaces abound: Syon Park (main picture) borders Isleworth, and Osterley and Richmond Parks and Kew Gardens are nearby. Exceptions are the charming riverside enclave, Old Isleworth, and The Grove, a conservation area near Osterley.But Isleworth has pleasant surprises and residential pockets of its own. You can easily spend a million pounds or more on a home in any of these areas except Isleworth, where the largest and dearest detached house is lucky to achieve £750,000. Even the town's numerous period homes come with baggage, tending to be isolated in small pockets, often near trading estates on busy roads. Isleworth's immediate neighbours are Osterley and St Margaret's Nearby are Twickenham and Richmond.