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| A guide to the local area, with information about local
attractions, services and facilities. |
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The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is situated on
the banks of the River Thames on the opposite side to Brentford
over Kew Bridge. The Gardens comprise 132 hectares, most
of which is intensely managed, and includes a very extensive
arboretum, water features, herbaceous bedding, some of the world's
largest
and most famous
botanical glasshouses, and many historic buildings. The
Gardens are "royal" because
for many years before Kew became a national botanical institute
kings and other members of the royal family either lived on or
owned the
land and buildings at the present site. The plural form, "gardens",
is correctly used because two separate parts of the royalty owned
adjacent plots of land - the Richmond Estate and the Kew Estate
- which were
combined into a single area around 200 years ago.
Web :
www.kew.org |
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Immediately across the River Thames from Kew Gardens
is Syon House, London home of the Duke of Northumberland. Syon's magnificent
18th century interior was designed by Robert Adam, the parkland was
landscaped by Capability Brown and the Great Conservatory provided
the architectural inspiration for Crystal Palace.
Email :
info@syonpark.co.uk
Web : www.syonpark.co.uk
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| The London Butterfly House (Part
of Syon Park) |
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Stepping into this large, undercover garden
is like stepping into a tranquil, jungle oasis. There are pools, waterfalls
and tropical
flowers - but the main attraction is the fluttering of
over 1,000 colourful butterflies. A beautiful, peaceful retreat.
Address: The Gardening Centre, Syon Park, Brentford, TW8
Telephone: 020 8560 7272
Open: Mon-Sun, 10am-3.30pm (Oct-Apr), 10am-dusk (Apr-Oct)
Cost: Adults £4.95, childrn £3.95, OAPs £4.25, families £15
Web : www.butterflies.org.uk
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"A steam engine you can walk through
while it's working, in a building like a cathedral. That's just
ONE of
our engines!"
An old Victorian riverside pumping station now houses this museum
of water supply and the history of the steam engine. There are
nine steam pumping engines and a working water wheel dating back
to the
early nineteenth century, and various interactive water-related
exhibitions. Take a ride on the mini steam railway, see the exhibition
on the
history of water usage from Roman times to present day, or step
back in time to the to the sewers of medieval England
Address
Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, Middlesex. TW8 0EN.
Tel : 020 8568 4757
Fax: 020 8569 9978
Open: Mon-Sun, 11am-5pm
- Weekdays (engines static)
Adults - 3.60,
OAPs and Students - 2.70,
Children - 1.50, Family ticket - £8,
- Weekends
and Bank Holiday Mondays: (Engines in steam)
Adults -
4.60, OAPs and students - 3.70, Children - 2.50, Family ticket
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11.95
Email : info@kbsm.org
Web : www.kbsm.org
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| Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre |
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Opened in 1987, the Brentford Fountain Leisure
Centre is Hounslow Borough's largest sports centre offering a wide
mix of sports and recreational opportunities. The centre has two
pools, a leisure pool, which includes a 40m slide and a 25m fitness
pool.
Address
658 Chiswick High Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0HJ
Tel: 020 8 994 9596
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Watermans presents a dynamic programme of events
which include cinema, children's theatre, drama workshops for young
people and Asian comedy, theatre, music, playwriting workshops and
conferences
Address
40 High Street, Brentford, TW8
Tel: Box office: 020 8232 1010
Open: Mon-Sun 12noon-11pm; Cinema Mon-Thurs 5pm-11pm,
Fri-Sun 12noon-11pm
Cost: Gallery free, call for details
Disabled facilities: Access, toilets, hearing loops
and lifts
Web : www.watermans.org.uk
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| Boat Trips from Kew Pier to
Richmond and Hampton Court |
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Westminster Passenger Service Association are the
only riverboat company operating a scheduled service from Westminster
to Kew, Richmond and Hampton Court. From the heart of London, following
the Royal Barge Route of King Henry VIII and British monarchs, passing
the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, and historical Richmond you will
transit the locks as the river winds and twists to the Royal Palace
of Hampton Court, which has stood on the banks of the river for more
than 500 years.
Web : www.wpsa.co.uk |
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| Gunnersbury Park & Museum |
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Dating from 1835, the former country residence of
the Rothschild family now houses a local history museum with exhibitions
charting local history from prehistoric times to the present. The grounds
make for a pleasant walk, with Japanese and Italian gardens cultivated
by the Rothschilds in the nineteenth century, and the large open space
of Gunnersbury Park.
Address: Popes Lane, W3
Telephone: 020 8992 1612
Open: Oct-Apr, Mon-Sun 1-4pm; Apr-Oct, Mon-Sun 1-6pm
Cost: Free
Disabled facilities: Wheelchair access |
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The Musical museum is small, unusual and noisy
to say the least! Here you’ll find every automatic or self-playing
instrument known to humankind, all played and explained during an hour-and-a-half
demonstration and guided tour. Some of the more unusual pieces include
a self-playing band, an original Steinway grand piano like the one
played by Gershwin and an Art Deco Wurlitzer cinema organ. Eccentric,
enlightening and definitely good fun.
Address: 368 High Street, Brentford, Middx
Telephone: 020 8560 8108
Open: Apr-Oct, weekends 2-5pm
Cost: £3.20; £2.50 concs
Web : www.musicalmuseum.co.uk |
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A beautiful old house full of antique treasures.
Try to find the secret door hidden in the wall paneling of the grand
entrance hall, then climb the staircase to the bedroom and dressing
room suites, furnished with antique ebony furniture and rare Chinese
wallpaper, and the dining room, with its decorative marble table and
ornate tapestries. Tea, coffee and light lunches are available in the
Stables tea room, and there’s also a souvenir shop.
Address: Osterley Park House, Isleworth, TW7 4RB
Telephone: 020 8232 5050
Open: House - Wed-Sun, 1pm-4:30pm; Park 9am-7pm (or sunset, if earlier)
Cost: Adults £4.40, children 5-16 yrs £2.15, children under free
Disabled facilities: Limited wheelchair access; braille guides and guides for
the deaf available
Web : www.osterleypark.org.uk |
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Jacobean manor house built in 1623. Set back from
Boston Manor Road in Brentford, the three-storey building in parkland
with a lake and ancient cedar trees. 17th
century State Rooms on the first floor, together with the Dining Room and
Library on the ground floor Around the wall hang more than eighty paintings
from the
London Borough of Hounslow’s local collection - mostly historic views
of Brentford, Chiswick and lsleworth.
Address: Boston Manor Road, Brentford TW8
Telephone: 020 8583 4535/020 85700622
Open: April - Oct, Sat, Sun and Bank Holiday Mondays, 2.30 to 5pm
Cost: Free
Web : www.ealing-web.com | Friends of Boston Manor |
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