Bedfont, Feltham and Hanworth are three neighbourhoods, which make up the west of the borough and one of the greenest parts of Greater London – 30 minutes into central London.
Visit 1: Spend a fun day out with the kids
Take a morning out to the Urban Farm https://hounslowurbanfarm.co.uk/ where you can come up close to a whole range of farm animals and birds of prey, plus exotic animals such as snakes and reptiles and rescued from being smuggled, imported and abused. Make sure you time your visit for a meet and greet with a pig, or a close animal encounter with a lamb or kid.
Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway https://hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk/ https://hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk/whats-on/kempton-steam-museum/ Step back in time and visit the magnificent Kempton railway and enjoy the unique experience of steam travel. Discover the fascinating history of how railway and the great pumping engines at Kempton Steam Museum helped to provide clean drinking water to London in the early 20th century. Enjoy countryside picnic tables and a great children’s play area with a static train.
It is also home to the world’s largest working triple-expansion steam engine https://hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk/whats-on/kempton-steam-museum/ Look out for special event days including classic car exhibitions, model boats, steam rollers, arts & crafts and much more.
If you want a nice break for lunch, try the Green Man Public House. This 400-year-old pub was once used by highwaymen from Hounslow Heath and has a secret room hidden behind the inglenook fireplace. Watch out while visiting as it’s rumoured that it is haunted.
Visit 2: Spend a day out in Feltham Town Centre
The Centre, Feltham https://www.thecentrefeltham.co.uk/ is the main shopping centre for the west of the borough with a focal point of the High Street being the large village pond and green. Visit the memorial garden for Freddie Mercury who spent his formative years in Feltham from 1964 to 1968, studying in nearby Isleworth at West Thames College. Brian May, Queen’s guitarist is also from Feltham and unveiled the Blue plaque for his good friend, Freddie Mercury.
Leisure West Feltham https://www.cineworld.co.uk/cinemas/london-feltham/8047#/buy-tickets-by-cinema?in-cinema=8047&at=2021-07-10&view-mode=list is best for an evening visit. It features a large leisure complex, complete with a 15-screen cinema, including London’s only Super Screen used to host red carpet Bollywood film premiers, complete with the stars. There is also an 18 lane bowling alley with tenpin https://www.tenpin.co.uk/our-locations/feltham/ Buzz Bingo https://www.buzzbingo.com/club/feltham.html and many fast food restaurants with plenty of parking.
Feltham Arts Centre https://www.felthamarts.org/ Feltham Arts Association is a charity offering a year-round programme of local community arts in Feltham, Hanworth and Bedfont.
Visit 3: Check out Feltham’s parks and leisure centres
Bedfont Lakes County Park https://www.bedfontlakes.co.uk/ is a half-day out exploring an incredible 180-acre site, featuring wildflower meadows, woodlands and wetlands. It has an excellent children’s play area and is brilliant for blackberrying in the autumn and features the borough’s highest point with fantastic views of the South Downs, Windsor Castle and the City of London.
Hanworth Park https://www.hanworthparkhouse.london/ was once a Royal hunting lodge. https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/HanworthParkHouse/ See where Aston Martin had its first UK factory, see where a Graf Zeppelin landed, see where London had its first airport, from which Heathrow grew, see from where Gloucester Gladiator planes flew into battle in WW1 before the RAF was formed, all now set in fantastic grounds in which to walk. Look out for visiting funfairs as Feltham has excellent links to the showman community.
Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre & Library https://lamptonleisure.co.uk/centres/hanworth-air-park-leisure-centre/ is also home to an excellent swimming pool, gym and tennis courts.
Transport links:
Hatton Cross, Piccadilly underground line
Feltham Railway station, with excellent bus link interchange
