One of my favorite things about London is that the city is comprised of a series of villages. Each has its own personality, and one of my favorites is Barnes. Located in the Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, this part of southwest London is beloved for its pretty streets, independent shops, and natural beauty. Right on the river, it’s a great place to discover a local part of London most visitors (and many locals) miss. Read on for my guide. I’ve included a map, too.
Barnes, London
Barnes is one of the prettiest London villages. Nestled in a horseshoe bend in the Thames between Fulham, Hammersmith, and Chiswick, this part of the UK capital flies under the radar.
There are no big landmarks here, and you won’t find major tourist attractions. It’s a quiet corner of the city that happens to be a beautiful place to live, explore, and discover.
From shops and restaurants to ponds and wetlands, Barnes has a lot to offer. Whether you’re in the mood for a meal or a walk, you’ll find something to love about this neighborhood.
How to Get Here
If you want to explore Barnes, you can get here by rail, bus, bicycle, scooter, or on foot. There’s no tube here, but you can take a train right to the heart of the village. Services depart from Waterloo and arrive at Barnes Bridge station in 25 minutes.
You can also get here by rail from Richmond and other places. There’s even a second train station in Barnes that might work better for you depending where you want to start your exploration.
Additionally, there are local buses that come from other London areas. They’re convenient if you’re already in southwest London neighborhoods like Putney, Mortlake, and Roehampton.
If you’re north of the river, you can get here on foot or by bicycle or scooter via one of two bridges. The first is Hammersmith Bridge, one of the world’s oldest suspension bridges.
The second is Barnes Bridge. Along with Hungerford Bridge and Fulham Railway Bridge, it’s one of only three bridges in the city to combine pedestrian and rail use.
Barnes Village
Once you’re here, the best place to start a day in Barnes is on the high street. It’s lined with high-end boutiques and little cafes, not to mention bakeries and cheesemongers.
It’s a great place to pick up picnic supplies for warm-weather grazing on Barnes Green, a pretty park at the end of the road.
Barnes Green itself features a picturesque pond, and along its northern edge runs Church Road. This street is lined with attractive brick houses. It’s also home to The Sun Inn, one of the most beloved pubs in Barnes.
Farther down you’ll find more local shops. From bakeries to cafes and greengrocers, there’s a lot to get excited about here.
Barnes Common
Another highlight of visiting Barnes is exploring the common. This place is a local nature reserve. Together with Barnes Green, it’s one of the largest areas of common land in London.
Barnes Common is a great spot to get into nature. Flat and easily walkable, it features areas of broadleaf woodland, scrubland, wetland, and grassland.
The common is home to sports fields, courts, and playing areas. It’s also where you’ll find the historic Barnes Cemetery and Marc Bolan’s Rock Shrine, a memorial to the 1970s glam rock musician.
London Wetland Centre
Another natural highlight of Barnes is the London Wetland Centre, a large nature reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT).
Comprised of four disused Victorian reservoirs, this place aims to restore and preserve wetland nature areas. It’s a popular spot with visitors, especially families with children.
Thames Path
On the west side of Barnes, the area along the river is an ideal place for a stroll. The Thames Path offers a raised walkway right on the waterfront near the high street.
This stretch offers sweeping views of the Grade II-listed Barnes Bridge and the historically significant 18th-century houses along The Terrace.
It continues on either side of the high street. To the west it splits off from The Terrace by the White Hart pub near the roundabout with Mortlake High Street. Right on the water, it’s a popular place to walk and cycle by the river.
To the east it will take you up past Leg O Mutton reservoir and park, around the top of the bend in the river, and down to the London Wetland Centre and Barnes Common.
Pubs
When it comes to pubs, there are plenty to get excited about in this part of London. The aforementioned Sun Inn is one of the most famous, but there are others dotted throughout the neighborhood.
Highlights include riverfront pubs like the White Hart, The Waterman’s Arms, and the Bull’s Head, one of the first jazz venues in Britain. They all overlook the Thames, and they’re great places to enjoy a drink or meal with a view.
Other good local pubs in Barnes include The Crossing, The Brown Dog, The Red Lion, The Bridge, and the Coach & Horses. There are plenty more tucked away in the neighborhood, too.
Markets
Back by the high street, another highlight of Barnes is the markets. Barnes Farmers Market takes place outside Essex House Surgery on Station Road every Saturday.
One of the oldest farmers’ markets in London, it offers a range of award-winning meats, fresh fish, produce, baked goods, cheeses, and homemade drinks.
Barnes Collectors Market is another highlight. This open-air number takes place the first Saturday of the month (weather permitting). You can find it on Barnes Green next to the pond and across the street from the farmers’ market.
This one offers everything from antiques to home goods and bric-a-brac. It’s a fun place to browse and buy on a trip to the area.
Cultural Institutions
Barnes is home to cultural attractions, too. Local galleries in the area offer rotating displays of contemporary fine art.
Additionally, the OSO Arts Centre is a 130-seat theater housed in a former postal sorting office. It hosts theater productions, fairs, exhibitions, and classes. It’s a great place to get into the local scene in Barnes.
Side Streets
No trip to Barnes would be complete without exploring the side streets. They’re where the area’s charm fully reveals itself.
The cluster of streets between Station Road and Cleveland Gardens is full of pretty houses with picturesque details.
There are paths and passageways to walk down, too. From Beverly Path to Long Walk and Thorne Passage, they’ll show you local parts of the neighborhood.
Harrods Village
If you love architecture as much as I do, Harrods Village is another place worth seeing. A collection of Grade II-listed buildings, this area by the Thames was originally home to a soap factory.
In 1894, The Harrods Furniture Depository was built here. It was used as a storage site for large items that couldn’t be taken to the famous department store in Knightsbridge.
The buildings that can be seen today were designed by architect W. G. Hunt. and built in 1914. The main riverfront building is called the William Hunt Mansions. While the area is now a residential housing development, original details can still be seen here.
Rowing
If you want to time your visit to coincide with a big sporting event, you can come to Barnes to watch a rowing race. The horseshoe bend of the Thames surrounding the neighborhood is part of the Championship Course.
The main national head races, or Head of the River Race (HORR), take place here. This set of against-the-clock rowing races is held annually in March (this year it’s March 22, 2025). They run from Mortlake to Putney, and hundreds of boats participate.
You can also come for the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. This set of rowing races takes place in March or April each year (this year it’s April 13, 2025).
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race runs from Putney to Mortlake. The riverfront area in Barnes is a great place to spectate. The William Hunt Mansions are a key point along the route, and the Mile Post is located next to the London Wetland Centre.
Annual Fairs & Festivals
Another fun annual event is the Barnes Fair. It’s held each year on Barnes Green on the second Saturday of July. Hundreds of vendors offer clothing, accessories, gifts, and home goods for sale. There are also food and drink stalls from local restaurants.
There’s plenty of entertainment, too. From Live music on the bandstand to a funfair and a traditional Punch & Judy show with original Victorian puppets, there’s something for everyone.
Another fun annual event is the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival. The largest of its kind in the UK, it takes place for a weekend each summer.
Walk in Barnes
If you want to get some exercise while exploring the area, you’ll love the Barnes Trail. This 2.3-mile (3.7-kilometer) trail with a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) extension is a great circular walk in the area.
Created to show the best of Barnes, it will take you along the river, down shopping streets, and through the heart of the village.
The Barnes Trail is marked by silver discs set in the ground, so it’s easy to follow (you can pick it up from outside Barnes Bridge station). There are oar-shaped signs along the route with QR codes that will give you information about the area.
Blue Plaques
There are lots of little details that are worth seeking out when you’re in Barnes, too. One is the blue plaques, markers that celebrate links between notable historical figures and the buildings where they lived and worked.
A plaque dedicated to Henry Fielding can be found at Milbourne House on Barnes Green (it’s the oldest home in the area, with parts dating to the 16th century). This blue plaque commemorates the novelist and magistrate, who lived here in the 18th century.
Two other plaques can be seen on the historic houses on The Terrace. One is dedicated to composer Gustav Holst, the other to dancer Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet.
Barnes Station
Another highlight is Barnes station. It was originally built by architect William Tite, who was famous for designing the stunning Royal Exchange in the City of London. The station is the last remaining brick gothic-style station on the Richmond line.
Olympic Studios
Another noteworthy place in Barnes is Olympic Studios. This building on Church Road once housed an independent recording studio. It’s often regarded as being as important as Abbey Road Studios in St John’s Wood.
Olympic Studios is known for being where famous artists like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Queen, The Who, B. B. King, The Eagles, Prince, Eric Clapton, and Adele recorded their music.
Barney
Another unique thing to see in Barnes is “Barney”, one of London’s oldest and largest plane trees. It’s thought to have been planted between 1660 and 1680.
You can find the tree in Barn Elms, which runs along the southern border of the London Wetland Centre. The tree is visible from outside an enclosure.
Where to Stay
With so much to do and see in Barnes, it’s worth spending a night here and living like a local. There are lots of places to stay in Barnes, from pubs with rooms to houses and flats.
My top pick is the The Bridge Pub & Rooms. Located near the Thames, this spot has a handful of classically-designed guest rooms. You can book one here.
If you’re after something different, you can take a look at a number of other options and find a place that fits your style here. There are lots of good ones to choose from in Barnes.
Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive map of all the places I mentioned in this blog post. You can see it here. I hope it helps you get a feel for where things are in relation to one another so you can plan your own visit to the area.
Barnes
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Barnes. It’s one of my favorite places in the southwest of the UK capital, and I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do when you go.
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