Community Guide for residents and visitors of Brentford TW8, with News, Forums, Events, Businesses, Directory, Chat, Polls and local area information.
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  Local Guide Back  
A guide to the local area, with information about local attractions, services and facilities.
  Kew Gardens
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
  Syon Park

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

  The London Butterfly House (Part of Syon Park)

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

  Kew Bridge Steam Museum

"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 - 11.95

Email : info@kbsm.org
Web : www.kbsm.org

  Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre

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

  Brentford Football Club

Local Football club and home to what are affectionately called the BEES.

Address
Braemar Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 ONT
Tel : 020 8847 2511
Fax: 020 8568 9940
Email: enquiries@brentfordfc.co.uk
Web : www.brentfordfc.co.uk

  Watermans

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

  Boat Trips from Kew Pier to Richmond and Hampton Court
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
  Gunnersbury Park & Museum
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
  Musical Museum
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
  Osterley Park House
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
  Boston Manor House
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