Getting to know an area in London is a wonderful process. It involves spending time in the various neighbourhoods, sampling the very best food and drink providers that support them and watching how the community works together to create a certain charm, lifestyle and status all of its own. This discovery and exploration is often one of the most exciting parts of making a move to a new location and there are plenty of helpful resources, references and indeed people that can help along that journey.
However, the feeling of stumbling upon the more hidden gems that an area of the capital has to offer is a thrill that connects you to the place in a much more intimate way. It can charge you with an element of insider knowledge, an enhanced local understanding and above all, it signals one’s willingness to go beyond the surface levels of what may become your new home.
Here is our guide to a collection of some of the more unusual days out to enjoy in south west London.
Wimbledon Windmill Museum
The experiential history and local stories of the Wimbledon Windmill Museum are a genuine offbeat tourist attraction that delivers marvels of engineering alongside some marvellous cultural connections. With a prime place on Wimbledon Common, it was originally constructed as a working hollow-post corn mill and is now a prestigious Grade-II listed building that has seen so many changes in this part of the world.
The ground floor works as a history of these fascinating edifices through push button models charting the journey from the very first examples through to modern turbine-driven creations. One can even try their hand at milling their own grain. A former apartment on the upper floor is faithfully decorated as a Victorian Living Room with the opportunity to observe the living conditions of the time. And it is precisely through the windmill’s past as a residence that the most intriguing story of all reveals itself. For it was here that Sir Robert Baden Powell lived at the beginning of the 20th century, even drafting part of his famous Scouting for Boys book as he developed the UK institution of the Boy Scouts. Watching the sails spin on a sunny day has a charm all of its own too.
Eel Pie Island
This is an almost 9-acre tidal island on the River Thames at Twickenham that holds an enviable history comparable to any of the bigger attractions on this world-famous stretch of water. Part of the allure, mystery and intrigue here is the fact that it is only open and available to visit a few weekends every year, usually during early summer and December. A narrow footbridge from Twickenham station is the portal to what has been a ballroom, a jazz venue and even a hippy commune during the late days of flower power in the 1960s. What was once home to performances by Pink Floyd, The Who and Rod Stewart is now where 26 resident artists create their incredible works in this hidden bohemian enclave. There is a mix of painters, ceramicists, jewellers that are all connected amongst the sculptures, greenery and boats. It feels at once like an art installation itself as well as a living workshop and the artists are always happy to chat and even discuss any commission ideas that one might have. A ticket to Eel Pie Island may be one of the most coveted secrets in all of south west London.
Cannizaro Park
London has long been famous for areas of natural beauty that appear like a mirage in the ever-expanded urban landscape of this modern city. Cannizaro Park is one of the finest examples of how such a curated, protected and finely cultivated space once shaped by private wealth and ownership has found itself in the public domain. Fittingly, this is all located on the south-western edge of Wimbledon Common with 35 acres of botanical beauty just waiting to be ambled upon. There is no doubt that impeccable horticulture is the foundation that everything is built on in Cannizaro Park with ornamental lawns and formal rose beds sharing the same plot as woodland glades, ponds and some fantastic art and sculpture installations.
The history here is blooming with stories alongside the incredible views too. The place was named after the Sicilian Duke of Cannizaro, who once lived here and his wife Sophia, who remained on the premises after their separation in the 1800s. She herself became a staple of the south west London social scene and the estate has claimed a roster of notable guests since then, including Lord Tennyson, Oscar Wilde, The Duke of Wellington and even Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as he took exile here in the 1930s. Walking through impeccably manicured spaces in their very footsteps is a fine way to spend the day.
Buddhapadipa Temple
London would simply not be as interesting, successful or attractive without the influence of people, culture and input from all over the world. The Buddhapadipa Temple on Calonne Road in Wimbledon signified the very first Thai Buddhist temple that was ever built outside Asia when it was officially inaugurated in 1996 and it has been enriching the local community and its visitors ever since. Its traditional Thai temple architecture of bright gold and vibrant reds across a multi-tiered roof sits upon 4 acres of gardens, calming water features, fruit orchards and meditation paths that encourage quiet reflection as one strolls. Inside the temple are murals depicting the storytelling and life of Buddha with golden statues and sacred art to investigate and enjoy.
Such a haven of spirituality and wellness is difficult to find in this area. As a result, many like to pair a day’s visit with free meditation classes that take place on weekend afternoons to benefit from a full experience. If you are fortunate enough to be around in April or November, then events such as Kongran (Thai New Year) and Loy Krathong (Flower Floating) are a wonderful spectacle to be a part of.
Straying off the beaten path for days out and new experiences can be an exhilarating experience. It offers a new lens to view your surroundings and a fresh angle with which to shape your free time. Gathering family and friends together to take a chance on a few surprises around south west London is a great way to mark your calendar for this summer and beyond.
