£51.50 (Non JG member)
Overview
Twickenham’s bohemian past and present, told on a stroll through historic Church Street and the Embankment, overlooking Eel Pie Island. The history of Eel Pie Island tells a fascinating and varied story. From the role it played in the RnB boom of the 60s to its historical boatyards, maverick characters and pioneering spirit of inventive creativity, these fabulous stories are told in the museum, not just on its walls, but also from the first-hand experience of some of its superb volunteers. Boatyards have been a major part of Eel Pie Island’s landscape for well over a century. With a cast of pioneering characters providing the backbone of resources and knowledge necessary in maintaining the Thames as a working river, the stories behind the island’s boatyards have remained largely untold up until now. We then have free time in Twickenham to get lunch before making our way to Marble Hill. The last complete survivor of the elegant villas and gardens that bordered the Thames between Richmond and Hampton Court in the 18th century. Inside the house, you can discover a taste of Georgian life with freshly conserved interiors and new displays that tell the story of Henrietta Howard, Marble Hill’s remarkable owner. Outside, explore over 60 acres of riverside parkland, with restored gardens, reinvigorated woods and even a nine-pin bowling alley.