BARNES, S.W. LONDON [The village on
the river]
‘Do you know
where you’re going to?
Do you like
the things that life is showing you?’
As sung by
Diana Ross
13th August 2016
Today’s walk in London was a fairly quick one, as I had to
get back for my hairdresser’s appointment.
Barnes, South West London, is a little known area with so much
to offer. Described as a ‘quintessential
English village’, one can imagine being
in the countryside, rather than the big city.
It is surrounded by 120 acres of green space, including
Barnes Common, which is a conservation area, and the Wetland Centre, 20 minutes
from Waterloo in central London. The
main railway station is Barnes Bridge and it’s easily accessible by bus as well,
centred in a bend in the River Thames.
I walked across the Common from Upper Richmond Road, in
Putney and then took a right turn past the train level crossing and Vine Road
Recreation Park. I got a bit lost but
walking along Beverley Road, I found Station Road, to the left, and where there
is a Station Road, it generally leads to a train station!
Walking down Station Road, which leads into Church Road and
Barnes High Street, I stumbled across the travel agency an ex-work colleague
from Qantas Airways owns and runs ;[I peeked in and saw him working away – hello
Barry!].
Just before Church Road on the right is Barnes Green which
has a village pond, with ducks and swans, and a protected area of wildflowers. Families were out picnicking by the side of
the pond. I felt transported to the
countryside.
Opposite the pond is The Sun Inn – a mid-18th
century Grade II listed pub which has fantastic reviews.
If you carry on down Church Road, this brings you to Olympic
Studios where The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin recorded
Walking on past The Sun Inn, down Station Road brings you
out to The River Thames, and the Thames Walk.
Swing a right and you walk along the river down to Putney. Swing a left, and it brings you out to Barnes Bridge
which is a pedestrian bridge, and Barnes Bridge Train Station. Either way, beware of runners and cyclists as
they will knock you down rather than give way.
Barnes is a beautiful area of London with fabulous houses
and gardens, much green space for relaxing, and a favourite spot for watching the Oxford/Cambridge annual boat
race. Too soon it was back to reality
and I had to take the train home.
Until next time – happy wonderings!
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