Certainly one of my favourite issues about London is that the town is comprised of a collection of villages. Every has its personal persona, and considered one of my favorites is Barnes. Situated within the Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, this a part of southwest London is beloved for its fairly streets, unbiased retailers, and pure magnificence. Proper on the river, it’s an awesome place to find a neighborhood a part of London most guests (and lots of locals) miss. Learn on for my information. I’ve included a map, too.
Barnes, London
Barnes is without doubt one of the prettiest London villages. Nestled in a horseshoe bend within the Thames between Fulham, Hammersmith, and Chiswick, this a part of the UK capital flies underneath the radar.
There aren’t any huge landmarks right here, and also you received’t discover main vacationer points of interest. It’s a quiet nook of the town that occurs to be a good looking place to reside, discover, and uncover.
From retailers and eating places to ponds and wetlands, Barnes has quite a bit to supply. Whether or not you’re within the temper for a meal or a stroll, you’ll discover one thing to like about this neighborhood.
Easy methods to Get Right here
If you wish to discover Barnes, you may get right here by rail, bus, bicycle, scooter, or on foot. There’s no tube right here, however you’ll be able to take a practice proper to the center of the village. Providers depart from Waterloo and arrive at Barnes Bridge station in 25 minutes.
You may as well get right here by rail from Richmond and different locations. There’s even a second practice station in Barnes that may work higher for you relying the place you wish to begin your exploration.
Moreover, there are native buses that come from different London areas. They’re handy when you’re already in southwest London neighborhoods like Putney, Mortlake, and Roehampton.
In case you’re north of the river, you may get right here on foot or by bicycle or scooter through considered one of two bridges. The primary is Hammersmith Bridge, one of many world’s oldest suspension bridges.
The second is Barnes Bridge. Together with Hungerford Bridge and Fulham Railway Bridge, it’s considered one of solely three bridges within the metropolis to mix pedestrian and rail use.
Barnes Village
When you’re right here, the very best place to start out a day in Barnes is on the excessive road. It’s lined with high-end boutiques and little cafes, to not point out bakeries and cheesemongers.
It’s an awesome place to select up picnic provides for warm-weather grazing on Barnes Inexperienced, a reasonably park on the finish of the highway.
Barnes Inexperienced itself encompasses a picturesque pond, and alongside its northern edge runs Church Highway. This road is lined with engaging brick homes. It’s additionally house to The Solar Inn, one of the crucial beloved pubs in Barnes.
Farther down you’ll discover extra native retailers. From bakeries to cafes and greengrocers, there’s quite a bit to get enthusiastic about right here.
Barnes Frequent
One other spotlight of visiting Barnes is exploring the widespread. This place is a neighborhood nature reserve. Along with Barnes Inexperienced, it’s one of many largest areas of widespread land in London.
Barnes Frequent is a good spot to get into nature. Flat and simply walkable, it options areas of broadleaf woodland, scrubland, wetland, and grassland.
The widespread is house to sports activities fields, courts, and taking part in areas. It’s additionally the place you’ll discover the historic Barnes Cemetery and Marc Bolan’s Rock Shrine, a memorial to the Seventies glam rock musician.
London Wetland Centre
One other pure spotlight of Barnes is the London Wetland Centre, a big nature reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Belief (WWT).
Comprised of 4 disused Victorian reservoirs, this place goals to revive and protect wetland nature areas. It’s a preferred spot with guests, particularly households with youngsters.
Thames Path
On the west aspect of Barnes, the realm alongside the river is a perfect place for a stroll. The Thames Path gives a raised walkway proper on the waterfront close to the excessive road.
This stretch gives sweeping views of the Grade II-listed Barnes Bridge and the traditionally important 18th-century homes alongside The Terrace.
It continues on both aspect of the excessive road. To the west it splits off from The Terrace by the White Hart pub close to the roundabout with Mortlake Excessive Road. Proper on the water, it’s a preferred place to stroll and cycle by the river.
To the east it can take you up previous Leg O Mutton reservoir and park, across the prime of the bend within the river, and all the way down to the London Wetland Centre and Barnes Frequent.
Pubs
Relating to pubs, there are lots to get enthusiastic about on this a part of London. The aforementioned Solar Inn is without doubt one of the most well-known, however there are others dotted all through the neighborhood.
Highlights embrace riverfront pubs just like the White Hart, The Waterman’s Arms, and the Bull’s Head, one of many first jazz venues in Britain. All of them overlook the Thames, they usually’re nice locations to take pleasure in a drink or meal with a view.
Different good native pubs in Barnes embrace The Crossing, The Brown Canine, The Purple Lion, The Bridge, and the Coach & Horses. There are lots extra tucked away within the neighborhood, too.
Markets
Again by the excessive road, one other spotlight of Barnes is the markets. Barnes Farmers Market takes place outdoors Essex Home Surgical procedure on Station Highway each Saturday.
One of many oldest farmers’ markets in London, it gives a variety of award-winning meats, recent fish, produce, baked items, cheeses, and do-it-yourself drinks.
Barnes Collectors Market is one other spotlight. This open-air quantity takes place the primary Saturday of the month (climate allowing). Yow will discover it on Barnes Inexperienced subsequent to the pond and throughout the road from the farmers’ market.
This one gives all the pieces from antiques to house items and bric-a-brac. It’s a enjoyable place to browse and purchase on a visit to the realm.
Cultural Establishments
Barnes is house to cultural points of interest, too. Native galleries within the space provide rotating shows of up to date positive artwork.
Moreover, the OSO Arts Centre is a 130-seat theater housed in a former postal sorting workplace. It hosts theater productions, gala’s, exhibitions, and lessons. It’s an awesome place to get into the native scene in Barnes.
Aspect Streets
No journey to Barnes could be full with out exploring the aspect streets. They’re the place the realm’s appeal absolutely reveals itself.
The cluster of streets between Station Highway and Cleveland Gardens is stuffed with fairly homes with picturesque particulars.
There are paths and passageways to stroll down, too. From Beverly Path to Lengthy Stroll and Thorne Passage, they’ll present you native components of the neighborhood.
Harrods Village
In case you love structure as a lot as I do, Harrods Village is one other place price seeing. A group of Grade II-listed buildings, this space by the Thames was initially house to a cleaning soap manufacturing facility.
In 1894, The Harrods Furnishings Depository was constructed right here. It was used as a storage website for giant gadgets that couldn’t be taken to the well-known division retailer in Knightsbridge.
The buildings that may be seen right this moment have been designed by architect W. G. Hunt. and in-built 1914. The primary riverfront constructing is known as the William Hunt Mansions. Whereas the realm is now a residential housing improvement, authentic particulars can nonetheless be seen right here.
Rowing
If you wish to time your go to to coincide with an enormous sporting occasion, you’ll be able to come to Barnes to observe a rowing race. The horseshoe bend of the Thames surrounding the neighborhood is a part of the Championship Course.
The primary nationwide head races, or Head of the River Race (HORR), happen right here. This set of against-the-clock rowing races is held yearly in March. They run from Mortlake to Putney, and a whole lot of boats take part.
You may as well come for the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. This set of rowing races takes place in March or April every year.
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race runs from Putney to Mortlake. The riverfront space in Barnes is a good place to spectate. The William Hunt Mansions are a key level alongside the route, and the Mile Submit is positioned subsequent to the London Wetland Centre.
Annual Gala’s & Festivals
One other enjoyable annual occasion is the Barnes Honest. It’s held every year on Barnes Inexperienced on the second Saturday of July. Lots of of distributors provide clothes, equipment, items, and residential items on the market. There are additionally food and drinks stalls from native eating places.
There’s loads of leisure, too. From Dwell music on the bandstand to a funfair and a standard Punch & Judy present with authentic Victorian puppets, there’s one thing for everybody.
One other enjoyable annual occasion is the Barnes Kids’s Literature Competition. The most important of its type within the UK, it takes place for a weekend every summer time.
Stroll in Barnes
If you wish to get some train whereas exploring the realm, you’ll love the Barnes Path. This 2.3-mile (3.7-kilometer) path with a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) extension is a good round stroll within the space.
Created to point out the very best of Barnes, it can take you alongside the river, down buying streets, and thru the center of the village.
The Barnes Path is marked by silver discs set within the floor, so it’s straightforward to observe (you’ll be able to choose it up from outdoors Barnes Bridge station). There are oar-shaped indicators alongside the route with QR codes that will provide you with details about the realm.
Blue Plaques
There are many little particulars which can be price looking for out while you’re in Barnes, too. One is the blue plaques, markers that commemorate hyperlinks between notable historic figures and the buildings the place they lived and labored.
A plaque devoted to Henry Fielding will be discovered at Milbourne Home on Barnes Inexperienced (it’s the oldest house within the space, with components relationship to the sixteenth century). This blue plaque commemorates the novelist and Justice of the Peace, who lived right here within the 18th century.
Two different plaques will be seen on the historic homes on The Terrace. One is devoted to composer Gustav Holst, the opposite to dancer Ninette de Valois, founding father of the Royal Ballet.
Barnes Station
One other spotlight is Barnes station. It was initially constructed by architect William Tite, who was well-known for designing the gorgeous Royal Change within the Metropolis of London. The station is the final remaining brick gothic-style station on the Richmond line.
Olympic Studios
One other noteworthy place in Barnes is Olympic Studios. This constructing on Church Highway as soon as housed an unbiased recording studio. It’s typically thought to be being as essential as Abbey Highway Studios in St John’s Wooden.
Olympic Studios is thought for being the place well-known artists like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Queen, The Who, B. B. King, The Eagles, Prince, Eric Clapton, and Adele recorded their music.
Barney
One other distinctive factor to see in Barnes is “Barney”, considered one of London’s oldest and largest airplane bushes. It’s thought to have been planted between 1660 and 1680.
Yow will discover the tree in Barn Elms, which runs alongside the southern border of the London Wetland Centre. The tree is seen from outdoors an enclosure.
The place to Keep
With a lot to do and see in Barnes, it’s price spending an evening right here and dwelling like a neighborhood. There are many locations to remain in Barnes, from pubs with rooms to homes and flats.
My prime choose is the The Bridge Pub & Rooms. Situated close to the Thames, this spot has a handful of classically-designed visitor rooms. You’ll be able to guide one right here.
In case you’re after one thing completely different, you’ll be able to check out a lot of different choices and discover a place that matches your model right here. There are many good ones to select from in Barnes.
Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive map of all of the locations I discussed on this weblog submit. You’ll be able to see it right here. I hope it helps you get a really feel for the place issues are in relation to at least one one other so you’ll be able to plan your individual go to to the space.
Barnes
I hope you’ve loved my information to Barnes. It’s considered one of my favourite locations within the southwest of the UK capital, and I’m positive you’ll find it irresistible as a lot as I do while you go.
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