Gunnersbury Park is home to a museum, a pitch and putt course, a play area, some ponds, and in the…read morewinter some football and rugby pitches with changing rooms. Because of all these facilities, the actual space left for walking is comparable to nearby Walpole and Lammas parks, with Gunnersbury being a lot more open. The park hosts the Mela Festival, described as the 'Asian Glastonbury' in August. There has been a bit of controversy recently regarding the south end of the park. The park is run jointly by Ealing and Hounslow councils, and in order to pay the bills they have been secretly discussing selling off some of the park to build private mansions.

Although this building is a little further out of town and not really open to the public as a…read moremuseum, it is worth a visit as it is absolutely on of the architectural jewels of london, and something you might often pass on the A40 into town. Designed in 1933 by the cream of the Art Deco movement - Wallis, Gilbert & Partners - it has been given a Grade II* listing and remains one of the most symbolic exemplifications of the art deco movement. Although Tesco now owns it, they worked closely with English Heritage in the restoration project and you can clearly see this this if you pop in here for a box of teabags! It is also rented out as offices, not too shabby a place to have to work. As such an iconic part of architectural history, it's worth a look in.

You may know of The London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, one of the very best museums in…read moreLondon, but do you know about its Acton Depot site? If not, then you should, this is a storage/restoration facility for historic buses, underground trains, signal gear, ticket machines, booths, signs and other artifacts. It is absolutely stuffed to the gills and beyond with fascinating objects and staffed by delightful and highly knowledgeable volunteers. If you have even a passing interest in London's public transport history, you absolutely must visit. You need to pre-book unlike the Covent Garden site and it is so worthwhile doing so. Cannot wait to return again soon.

Are you a great big old transport anorak? Then you should be all about the London Transport Museum…read moreDepot. It's easy to get to from Acton Town tube station - just cross the road and follow the green path all the way to the top of the hill. Once you see the Museum roundel, you've arrived. I arranged a tour for a group of 10 people (which costs £100), and the visit is scheduled to last 2 hours. We were warmly greeted and given an introductory talk about the Depot Museum, which was useful and interesting. They do open days and other tours at the weekends, which are probably more likely for Yelpers to do. Then we got led into the depot itself. Our tour was guided by a very nice volunteer, who was very enthusiastic about buses. Unfortunately it was all a bit too mechanical for me - I would rather have heard about the social implications of the buses, or some general factoids. He was also a bit softly spoken, which was difficult for a few of the members of my group, as they were all OAPs. After an hour, we'd managed to look at around 15 buses, a trolleybus and a tram. Bearing in mind the Depot is mahoosive, at this point I took my leave, so I didn't get to see the trains and other ephemera that I'm sure was to follow. If you have a special interest in such things, I'm sure this is a very enjoyable time. If you've only a passing curiosity, try for one of the open days.

The Musical Museum in Brentford, Borough of Hounslow, London, offers a substantial and spectacular…read morecollection of (mostly) "mechanical," self-playing musical instruments such as player pianos, a Mighty Wurlitzer cinema organ (which is also used for screenings of silent films with live music accompaniment), orchestrions and even a mechanical violin-playing machine. The exhibit is arranged over three floors of a detached building and includes a fairly large concert hall that's also a cinema (for sound films, too). There is a guided tour several times a day (11.30, 13:30 and 15:30 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), which I strongly recommend - for not only do the knowledgeable guides have many stories to tell about the relatively brief period in which these instruments were popular at the homes of the middle and upper classes, they can also operate these machines so you can hear the tunes from the piano rolls etc. You can ask these guides anything about the exhibit, too. Almost all of the instruments at the museum are in working order! The tour in included in the entry fee. The Musical Museum is a 15 minute bus ride from South Ealing underground station (Bus No.65) and has its own parking lot. Alternatively, you can arrive by train from London's Waterloo Station to Kew Bridge. You can nicely combine the visit with one to the nearby London Museum of Water and Steam, which is completely different of course but similarly interesting. The Thames river banks of Richmond with their cafés are only a short walk away, they are nice for a Sunday out. On the ground floor there is a also a small but cute collection of toy instruments which you might remember from your own childhood - i.e. if you happen to be a hundred. Audio guides to the collection are available in English, French, German and Polish at all times and are included in the admission fee. You leave the building through the small museum shop where you can buy not only books and leaflets but authentic vintage piano rolls - hey cost just a couple of UKP each and all the money goes into the costly upkeep of the old instruments. Of course you won't be able to play them unless you have a player piano at home, but maybe you will find a nice memento of your favorite classical or salon piece. Please see my photos to get a better impression of the museum.

This shop has a pin-up girl silk scarf for 70.00. It has these tastefully topless girls on playing…read morecards. I would have bought it were it not for the price. Lord knows. The modern art in this shop is also really appealing. I liked this one vase that was white and looked like an old ladies hat where you stick the flowers in little pots. I think this shop makes affordable art but I can afford nothing except a crap poster from Woolworths in the closing down sale. It was Little Britain but you know, the budget is just "so high class".

A really nice shop for both buying prints and getting frames made…read more They have tasteful posters and prints, some famous, many British, some local to Ealing. I picked up one of Hoxton artist Jon Carmichael's dog prints there, as well as an ultraviolet photo of Ealing's Walpole Park from Alex Arnaoudov. We've had a couple of custom frames made here, and they came out very nicely. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable.

Wow, what an incredible venue. I got the opportunity to visit Wembley for a Harry Styles concert…read moreand it was remarkable. Never been to a concert at a venue that large before. We were in the middle of a heat wave, so they made waters half price which I thought was great. Plus, in comparison to American venues, the drinks were reasonable priced. Some male bathrooms were flipped to women for the show too which definitely helped with lines and overall, it was clean! Great show, too!

Going to Oasis at Wembley was amazing. The acoustics and sound was clear and strong from our seats…read moreat the back end facing the stage. Entry was easy, as based on your ticket, you entered through the specific color zone and the security process. You had easy direction to the right level and where the section your seats were located. There are a few drink vendors offering a variety of options such as beer, Pimm's cups, and spritzes. Food options were a little more limited, especially in the gluten free area. They also have bar and restaurant options which are nice as well as a champagne lounge. Bathrooms are plentiful and has no issues accessing with little queue wait. Exiting following the show, it was a little frustrating because they weren't letting people use the escalators and directing people down the stairs that were a little claustrophobic and made you feel someone was going to take a tumble. But once you were out, there are plenty of routes to ensure you get to your destination... unless you are taking the Tube, which in that case, you may need to have patience. But watching shows there are great.

I wish I had planned a bit better because it took so long to get over to Kew Gardens and it's…read morereally beauty that needs about a half day to walk around in, so we ended up having to cancel our plans to see a second play to fully enjoy it. Don't buy your Kew Gardens tickets through Get Your Guide. You have to wait in the same line as purchasing regular tickets so it saves you no time and actually costs you more time than just buying them through their website. You're able to bring in food and water, which is fantastic if you're planning to stop by Ginger Pig and make a picnic out of it, which we did. The space is really pretty and their hot houses are delightful so make sure to bring your walking shoes and enjoy yourself!

This was a beautiful opportunity to get close to nature and enjoy quality time with my family where…read morethere was something for everyone. Kew Gardens- yeah I know - Metropolitan Ave, right between Forest Hills and Richmond Hill/Jamaica and 22 minutes from New York city; well this is the original, the Kew Gardens 22 minutes from London in the United Kingdom with a 22 pound( that's 30 dollars US )admission for adults and $8 US equivalent for kids up to age 15 , which I thought was awesome and so worth it. What we enjoyed - 37 acres of nature- wildflowers, tall grasses and beautiful trees. Shaded walkways as we witnessed gorgeous butterflies and dragonflies in their natural habitat. Comfy shoes please!!!!!!!! Suggestion- hire a tour guide for 20 pounds for the group ( that's $26 US) - worth it as they know which sites are popular, busy and their knowledge about the history of the trees and flowers is precious. Maximize your time here!!!! Then on to the Alpine House where we loved seeing some of the most resilient plants in an Artic induced environment. The best part of the day - the Hive - a recreation of a real beehive with the real sound that is 63 feet high( photo) with over 1500 LED lights and music symphony responding to the sounds in C- the very key the bees buzz in. You have to also get to the top of the 160 feet Great Pagoda for some nice photos. Thank you Kew Gardens for being open year round and having so much for the grandkids who are still buzzing ( fun pun) about it. You will need the full day to experience every awesome aspect here. They are open from 10-7.( The Hive closes at 6). Please buy your tickets online to save time. Furthermore get the subway or tube day or 3 day pass to avoid the lines or US credit card processing delays at the machines at the stations. Public transportation especially the tube or subway here in London is absolutely stellar. Parking here is crazy and expensive. So yes take the tube or taxis are $68-70 from Central London. Great day here! Fully recommend Kew Gardens as a must stop.

This is a lovely little museum, privately run (And thus, not free of charge). If you're AT ALL…read moreinterested in large-scale steam engines - and, frankly, which small or large boy isn't - you should visit this place located in Brentford, London - close to the Richmond river banks of the Thames. The location enables you to catch two interesting museums - this one, and the close-by Musical Instruments Museum (see my review) - and later take a stroll by the banks of the river and enjoy the small pubs and restaurants. Kew Bridge rail station is near, but you can also go by bus from South Ealing station. Opening times are: Mon - Fri 11:00 - 16:00 and Sat & Sun 11:00 - 16:00. The Museum of Water and Steam manages to squeeze a lot of intriguing exhibits into a rather smallish building (see my photos). There's also a lot of information tables to read while you're exploring the museum. This place is great, of course, for families. A small shop and café are included, naturally. The building used to be the old Kew Bridge Pumping Station, which dates back to 1838. The present museum was opened in 1975. In 1997 the Museum was awarded an Engineering Heritage Award by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and Britain's Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). A second IMechE Engineering Hallmark was awarded in 2008 for the restoration of the Bull engine, making the Museum one of only 12 sites to achieve more than one of these awards. There are demonstrations of the largest steam engines for the small fry, and some entertaining accompanying info "performances". Check the hours. Expect to spend around 1-1.5 hours at this place, and about the same amount of time at the Musical Instruments Museum, if you're visiting both. That, and a visit to some small café on the Thanmes banks, and half a day of your London time will have been spent usefully. Suffice to say that both these places are "hidden gems," so don't expect queues or crowds. You can even hire these premises for weddings or birthdays. Private, non-flash photography is allowed.

The museum is a cathedral of steam powered pumping, and you won't fail to be impressed by the grand…read morescale of the engines, especially if you get the chance to see some of them working in steam. There are exhibitions about water supply and sewerage and the use of water in the home over the years, and many other attractions.

My favorite part of visiting the UK are the free museums. Much to my surprise and delight...when I…read morewas looking for things to do in Richmond...this museum pops up. I was super excited to try it. I could tell it was not going to be a London museum experience when I was lead to this nondescript biding and had to climb the stairs up a few floor to get to it. This is a tiny museum and basically across just a couple of rooms and has info regarding the local history during the war and BC times as well. The elderly volunteer was super nice.

I am so pleased to have discovered this museum. Living so near London, I am slightly spoilt by the…read moreendless choices of museums that we have on our doorstep. Practically every moment of history is well documented somewhere across London. Having been used to the vast spaces of say, the Tate Modern, I forgot that museums can be small venues, and yet be just as informative. I found the Museum of Richmond on the top floor of the Old Town Hall, which is the large Victorian building that slopes down to the riverside. I had only popped in because there was a sign outside which read 'Charity Christmas cards for sale'. I had no idea that inside this building sat Richmond Library, and on the top floor Richmond Museum. I was the only visitor in the museum, bar the staff, who could not have been more helpful and informative. In fact, they guided me through the various sections, explaining the history as they went. The most fascinating thing that I learnt was that Richmond used to have a Palace, it sat on what is now Richmond Green and was occupied by Henry VIII until he moved down the road to Hampton Court Palace. They have a model of how the Palace was laid out which I spent about half an hour gazing at. Other sections included Wartime Richmond, the slave trade connection, the railway age, information about the Royal Parks, and a section about the Carthusian Monks and their connections with neighbouring Sheen. It was one of the most informative afternoons that I have had in a long while, and it won't be long before I go back. Admission is free, by the way.

Having spent the afternoon celebrating the Year of the Rooster in ChinaTown we were looking forward…read moreto our visit to The Magical Lantern Festival. However the heavens opened and many saved days of rain poured out of the sky. Were we dispondent? NO WAY. The gardens had been transformed into a fairyland which took us back to childhood. A childhood where rain mattered not. Footpaths, with direction signs, laid out so nothing was missed. Beautiful, artistic exhibits with well signed descriptions. Wonderful. Along the way, places to drink and eat. I felt sorry for the guys in those stalls because the rain made people walk past. Likewise the entertainment area at the end. A fantastic evening out for, we felt, a very reasonable price. A tip.....wear waterproof boots as the way can get rather muddy.

The first Chinese Lantern Festival in the UK? Seems hardly believable, especially in such a…read morecosmopolitan city such as London where everything seems to be given it's time in the limelight. Well there is an old saying that "the first is the best" and if this festival is anything to go by it does seem "best-worthy" as the thousands of Chinese lanterns, both life-size and bright in vibrant colours are a breath-taking sight when taken in their entirety. The area is well cordoned off with a path to lead you through the grounds where you will be surrounded by lanterns round every corner. If you are like me and like to take photos of anything beautiful (which was basically every lantern) then you can find yourself walking for a good 2 hrs whilst taking in the displays.  The only thing I would have liked in addition to the lanterns would be some form of introduction, labelling or backstory, but I realise that it would be difficult and time-consuming to put in place. It's like if you have a museum full of wonderful pieces of art to admire perhaps you don't need any written descriptions? P.S. There is also no audio here so coming to this Lantern Festival is purely a visual spectacle but one created to the highest quality. It is important to note that whilst the entrance time is designated, there is not a time limit to your visit, so you can enjoy it at your leisure. However there is not much to eat there except at the entrance there is a burger stall and a waffle stall and within the park you can roast some mashmellows if that should tickle your fancy. All-in-all it is a feast for the eyes, an honour to be able to experience in London and well worth a visit if you like colour, lights and a walk in the park - which let's face it, who doesn't?