Barnes

Barnes is located south of the River Thames, in the west part of London, to the south of Hammersmith, and mostly in the western side of that peninsula bounded on three sides by the Thames.

It is a wealthy area, with large, mansion houses. Many of these are over three floors, and have six or more bedrooms.

It is popular with media types, as the BBC studios are within easy reach across Hammersmith Bridge.

The eastern part of the peninsula has recently been converted to a nature reserve, primarily for wading birds, it was previously a reservoir, marked on the maps as Barn Elms.

Barnes Village is a beautiful oasis in the middle of drab suburbia. It is hard to find by car, but good navigators are rewarded with specialist shops, fine restaurants and a lovely village green, complete with duckpond.

Just to the south of the village is Barnes Common. It is an area of wild, common land where dogs are walked and children can run, play and climb trees.

As you walk across Barnes Common from Barnes Village, you arrive at Barnes station, from where you may catch a train that takes you directly in to Waterloo station in about 15 minutes (on a good day).