London is one of the most vibrant cosmopolitan centers—with something always on and visitors always on the go! But sometimes travelers need a break from the nonstop city scene to recharge or reflect. NewYork Habitat offers the best of both worlds with vacation rentals in Barnes, a neighborhood close both near the sights of the city and next to a nature reserve.
Barnes is nestled within a loop in the Thames, giving residents amazing river views and easy access to the Barnes Commons, 120 acres of grassland, woodland, wetland and scrub (designated Metropolitan Open Space and Land). It is also home to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust – London Wetlands Centre, an award-winning site and sanctuary for wildlife and ecological conservation within an urban setting.
There are guided tours, free daily events, plenty of activities for children, and scenes of landscape and wildfowl that can be exceptionally beautiful in a snow-filled winter or during the baby boom of the early spring.
Within the London Wetlands Centre, there are various ecosystems to observe, such as reed beds, marshes, ponds, a central lake and sheltered lagoon, all of which are home to a variety of bird species that most of us have never even heard of before, let alone had the chance to see! Visitors can even “adopt” a bird, baby chick or gosling to help with the centre’s conservation costs and receive a certificate of adoption as a souvenir.
But this bird paradise is not the only attraction Barnes has to offer—the neighborhood also boasts eighteenth and nineteenth century villas. Some of London’s oldest houses can be found on the Terrace—a road lined with Georgian mansions dating back to 1720.
However, Barnes is also on the Hammersmith and City subway line, so in twenty minutes you can be in the heart of modern London, enjoying “wild” life of an entirely different nature.
To enjoy your stay in a totally unique and eco-centered section of the city, we suggest a comfortable and convenient New York Habitat vacation accommodation in London, such as:
• A sparking clean second-floor studio apartment in Barnes – Castlenau (LN-679) near Hammersmith station. The studio has a spacious feel, and a distinct design sense with sloped ceilings, modern tiled bath and open plan kitchen.
• A sweet, sunlit studio vacation rental in Barnes – Castelnau (LN-618) over Hammersmith Bridge. This second-floor studio with double bed has been recently redecorated and refurnished with laminate wood floors, central heating and a Jacuzzi bath. What’s not to love?
• A charming, medium-sized studio accommodaiton in Barnes – Castlenau (LN-601). This ground floor studio has large windows, wooden floors and a lovely yard with lots of greenery. It’s like an English country cottage in the city!
Visit the London Wetlands Centre and nature sanctuary—and stay in a sanctuary of your own: a New York Habitat vacation accommodation in Putney and Barnes. Frankly, anything else is for the birds.
Let us know what species you see, or of other eco-friendly spots in London, with a comment below.
London is full of gardens and parks. Hyde Park I believe is the most famous one. From anywhere in London you can have nature patches with in walkable distance!!
A great Park is the Greenwich Park located in the Southeast of the city. You can take a boat ride from Westminster to the shore of the park. There is a little restaurant and a little museum explaining the Greenwich Meridian History. So you can enjoy the outdoor and learning some thing at the same time.
London is such a great city. I have never been to the Barnes part of London, but I actually have heard a lot about it. I think the next time we are planning to go to London, we will add Barnes into our itinerary. The nature and calmness will be a completely different atmosphere than that of the city and the kids I am sure will love the change of pace that they are offered.
This is a great little writing on the area of Barnes. I rented an apartment there about a year ago for months and it just offers such a great change of pace from the more populated parts of London. It isn”t that London is the most hustle and bustle of cities, but having the nature and openness at your feet everyday helps to be more calm and collective in life. I highly recommend this area, and the apartment that I found through NY Habitat was nice and cozy, too!
As I plan my trip to London it is really helpful to find out this information about the Barnes area. Sometimes you just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and reconnect with nature. Thanks to New York Habitat not only do I have affordable rental accomodations, I also have a place to relax and take in the scenery.
When in London we’re always at the disposal of Mother. Afternoon tea at Harrods and theatre, theatre at the old Vic. Oh, how i long for the comfort of the country and back to nature. Barnes it is.
I’ve just finished reading Jane Austin’s Pride And Prejudice, that great story that frolic in the beautiful countryside of England. I’ve made a choice to visit London this summer and Barnes seems like an easy acess for a quick run out from the hustle of the city. An escape into my fantacy of being Mr.Darcy for a day or two.