Capital spot is really worth a try

May 31 2009 by Andrew Mernin, Sunday Sun

ANDREW MERNIN finds out why the heartland of English rugby is an ideal base for a trip to the capital . . .

I’VE NEVER been drawn to the egg-shaped ball and so Twickenham – the home of English rugby – has never been on my radar as a place worthy of a visit.

However, regardless of your sporting persuasions, the leafy corner of quintessential England acts as an ideal base-camp for a weekend in the capital.

Actually, the town is hardly a backwater itself. Sweeping around the impressive national stadium is a bustling high street peppered with pubs as English as oak trees alongside rows of plush residences and lots of green.

But, while there’s no doubt the town has its own attractions, perhaps as a spot to enjoy a cool glass of cider in one of its many beer gardens, its best asset is its close proximity to the sights and sounds of London.

For little over a fiver, a half-hour train ride brings you into the beating heart of the centre of London.

A weekend break in Twickenham means you can dip in and out of the cultural riches of London while avoiding the drawbacks of the capital bemoaned by many a Londoner – congestion charges, Tube delays and over-priced accommodation.

At around £120 a night, the new Marriott hotel Twickenham – which actually forms part of the famous stadium – is a fairly reasonably-priced option for culture vultures and sports fans alike.

And, for well-heeled rugby lovers, six suites actually offer pitch-side views . . . although the concierge tells me these are currently under construction.

Our room offers everything you could ask for after a sleep-inducing trundle on the East Coast mainline followed by the usual chaotic flurry of Waterloo station.

The ridiculously big king-size bed – coupled with an expansive TV screen – makes it hard to pull yourself away for a night on the tiles.

But once you do, there’s plenty on offer.

A late arrival meant we were confined to the hotel cuisine, but it didn’t disappoint.

The Twenty Two South Chophouse prides itself on its British grain-fed beef, while the Side Step Bar seems a busy hangout for rugby fans, players and their families late into the night.

A short walk from the stadium in seemingly any direction also brings more restaurants

Of course there’s no escaping the fact that rugby is in the air . . . and there’s certainly something novel about sleeping in a sports stadium.

Ahead of our visit to oval ball heartland, we hadn’t anticipated wasting too much of the whistle-stop tour soaking up rugby-related culture.

After all, why would we? As a football fan too uncouth to understand the complexities of the gentleman’s game with a better half who thinks of shoe-shopping as a national sport, it was pretty low on our agenda.

However, with two high-profile tournaments being played out a stone’s throw from the hotel, we couldn’t help but get swept along.