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Photo: Michael Coppins, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Maintained by English Heritage, Chiswick House is a famous and fine example of the 18th century Palladian style of British architecture. The third Earl of Burlington (1694–1753), who designed this elegant Classical villa close to the Thames, drew inspiration from his grand tours of Italy, while William Kent was employed to create sumptuous interiors to contrast with the pure exterior. The Neo-Classical gardens, although much reduced from their original size, are the perfect complement to the house.
Chiswick House is a Neo-Palladian style villa in the Chiswick district of London, England. A "glorious" example of Neo-Palladian architecture in west London, the house was designed and built by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington (1694–1753), and completed in 1729. The house and garden occupy 26.33 hectares. The garden was created mainly by the architect and landscape designer William Kent, and it is one of the earliest examples of the English landscape garden.
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Attractive riverside area, with many imposing listed buildings (including several pubs) alongside the River Thames. Be careful though, as the riverside path is liable to flooding at high tide.
"The Bees" play soccer in the Premier League, the game's top tier. They play at Brentford Community Stadium, capacity of 17,250. In 2022 the stadium hosted games in the UEFA Women's Euro Finals, postponed from 2021.
formerly known as 'Kew Bridge Steam Museum'
This museum of London's water supply is well worth a visit for anyone with an interest in the industrial revolution. Housed in the former Kew Bridge Pumping Station (a fascinating building in its own right), the Steam Museum possesses the finest collection of steam-pumping engines in the world. Different engines are to be seen working on different days, so it is worth checking the website before visiting if a particular engine is of interest. Themed days are a feature of the Steam Museum's calendar, and the purchase of an entry ticket permits limitless further visits throughout the following year.
Something of an undiscovered gem. It houses a vast collection of working automatic musical instruments, from barrel organs to player pianos and beyond. Tours with knowledgeable and highly enthusiastic guides are highly recommended, as is the opportunity to listen to the Mighty Wurlitzer (which rises from the floor in the main auditorium). In addition to its function as a museum, the venue also hosts occasional cinema screenings of classic films (preceded by music from the Mighty Wurlitzer, or - in the case of silent film - accompanied by it) and houses a popular cafe with Thames views. Among the unusual (and hard-to-find) items usually available in the gift shop are clocks made from 78 rpm shellac discs, and original player piano rolls.
A free park situated right next to Acton Central station. Acton Park feature green spaces, a playground, a café, tennis courts, a basketball/football court, a small pond, and a skatepark. A mini-golf course is also available but not free to access, with tickets costing £14.00 for a single adult.