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 . . .

London Irish, Harlequins and a host of youth teams from around the world were all playing in the vicinity of what I now know is nicknamed the cabbage patch, and the town that day was awash with colour.

There seems to be an ancient gentlemanly code woven into the fabric of rugby which means rival fans pack out the same bars without a hint aggravation, making for a warm atmosphere.

And even for those, like us, who were just making a pit stop before we headed into London, it was difficult not to get caught up in the electricity.

For those with more than a passing interest, stadium tours are available while Twickenham is also home to a rugby museum.

Meanwhile, Twickenham’s location means there are a multitude of nearby cultural hotspots waiting to be tapped into.

A short train ride away is Kew Gardens . . . a vast land of flower beds, botanical glasshouses and numerous attractions including a Japanese garden and Chinese pagoda.

There’s also plenty to keep children occupied as well as the wide open spaces.

If the worryingly wobbly treetop walkway – which does exactly what it says on the tin – doesn’t capture the imagination of your youngsters then the chance to walk through prehistoric plant life surely will.

Should the weather turn nasty, there is also an array of indoor delights including Kew Palace, the Marianne North Gallery and The Water Lily House, to keep you busy while you keep dry. The park exit brings you out on to the banks of the Thames and from here you can take a walk into picturesque Richmond or a boat trip along the river towards the Houses of Parliament.

At Richmond, next to the oldest surviving bridge which spans the Thames, the riverside seems a popular spot for relaxing and watching the murky waters roll by.

Obviously, there’s no shortage of things to do on a Sunday afternoon in London and our thrifty choice was a free visit to the Science Museum.

The chance to meet Wallace & Gromit in the flesh, an exhibition on how the technology behind F1 has changed our world and numerous shiny space-age relics make for an eye-opening couple of hours.

There’s also enough to capture even the youngest of minds with loads of interactive games and displays.

And, if you’re head isn’t hurting from being force-fed too much mind-blowing information, the Science Museum sits within a cluster of other top vaults of treasures.

The Natural History Museum – also free to enter – and the Victoria and Albert, which looks impressive from the outside at least, are both a short walk away.

Fact file

A TWIN room at the Marriott Twickenham costs around £120-a-night, although prices may vary depending on availability or the time of the year.

ENTRY into Kew Gardens costs £13 for adults, £11 for concessions and free for under-17s who are accompanied by an adult.

5 Things to do

SPEND an afternoon exploring exotic flowers and plants at nearby Kew Gardens.

TAKE a trip in time to where Henry VIII would have regularly dined and where Shakespeare performed with a visit to Hampton Court Palace.

CATCH the train into London and meet Wallace & Gromit at the Science Museum.

TAKE a tour of Twickenham’s world-famous rugby stadium.

RELAX in the parks and gardens of Marble Hill Park.