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.

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.

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.

If you love modern things then this high tech musem with a totally new selection of fantastic and…read moreinteractive displays as well as exhibition galleries is worth a visit. It is free entry and there is lots to see and do.

Alex was great. The Harry Potter facts along with historical facts and nuance were greatread more

Rosie Potter is a fantastic guide! We loved visiting the real sites filmed in the Harry Potter…read moremovies

I'm not one to post feedback unless something was really fabulous - I highly recommend booking a…read moretour with Nicky. Four of us had a stopover in London and wanted to check out the main attractions (Abbey, Parliament, Tower of London, etc...). We booked a private tour which turned out to be a highlight of our visit. Nicky is not only well versed in the history of London, but has a fabulous sense of humor and the ability to bridge the past and present by weaving in modern day tidbits tied to historical relics. It amused the 4 of us in our 50's and I'm sure would make history fun for today's youth.

From the owner: Tailor made and private London tours for groups, families or individuals. We can include a private…read moreWestminster Abbey tour, the Tower of London or the British Museum. If you visit the Abbey with me we'll skip the long entrance lines. Your tour of London can be tailored to your interests and time available. Only registered guides like myself are allowed to guide in Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. I can meet you at your hotel and we can spend the morning, afternoon or a whole day together We can use public transport, walk or a combination of both. I know the short-cuts, quick routes and hot tips for get you around London to experience this fabulous city. I can also help you with your planning for the rest of your stay.