Landmarks
Chiswick House and Gardens
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 classical gardens, although much reduced from their original size, are the perfect complement to the house.
Boston Manor House
A Jacobean manor house built in 1622, it is a pleasant and informative place to while away an hour or two, particularly during the summer when the extensive open parklands to the rear of the building make for a delightful stroll.
The Civic Centre
Opened in 1979, The architecture of the sprawling, red brick building has attacted a lot of comment.
Ealing Town Hall
Victorian gothic building built in 1888 still in use as town hall.
Windsor Street
Take a stroll along this historic street.
Parks
Lammas Park
Ealing Common
Ealing Green
Ruislip Lido
A man made lake surrounded by woodland, the Waters Edge Pub/Resturant, a sandy beach No swimming allowed, narrow guage railway rides around the lake.
Syon Park
The stately home of the Dukes of Northumberland for 400 years, Syon House and its 200-acre estate are located between Brentford and Isleworth. The main house was built to a design by the English architect Robert Adams, the grounds laid out by Capability Brown. The Great Conservatory, commissioned to be built in 1826, was featured in the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore film Bedazzled, and is a popular local wedding venue; Syon House itself has appeared in a vast number of period dramas. Well worth a visit.
Walpole Park
Relaxing experience. There is a small pond and an ice cream stall. There are also great playground facilities, and even a miniature zoo!
Fassnidge Park
Osterly Park
Museums
Gunnersbury Park Museum
Local history museum for Ealing and Hounslow, housed in the former home of the Rothschild family.
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 purchase of an entry ticket permits limitless further visits throughout the following year.
The Musical Museum
Something of an undiscovered gem. The recently reopened museum 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.
PM Gallery & House
Houses Pitzhanger Manor House and an art gallery.
Although not as concentrated as Central London, West London's attractions are many:
For Arts Sake
Modern British printmaking as well as ceramics and jewellery.