Car Hire Barnes

Barnes curves gently along the Thames, tucked between Hammersmith and Putney and just off the A306 and South Circular. It’s an easy drive in, especially if you’re aiming to swap city bustle for something slower. It’s a home to about 21,000 souls.

The best time to visit? Late spring or early autumn—when blossom hangs over the walls and early mist settles on the pond. Parking’s easier near the wetlands and riverfront. Between the seasonal markets, book festival and old-town feel, there’s plenty to fill a few quiet hours.

Attractions In Barnes

Barnes offers a quiet blend of green space, riverside paths and unexpected corners where history and nature cross over. It’s the kind of place where you might follow birdsong through a nature reserve, then stumble across a piece of music history or a centuries-old tomb tucked behind a churchyard.

Barnes Green

Set just off Church Road, Barnes Green is where everything seems to slow down. We walked through early one morning, coffee in hand and watched the dog walkers loop past the pond. With benches scattered under mature trees and a clutch of cafés close by, it’s easy to spend a quiet hour here. The green is open at all hours.

WWT London Wetland Centre

Queen Elizabeth Walk brings you to one of the most surprisingly serene corners of the capital. We followed the wooden walkways through reedbeds and spotted herons just feet away. It’s open every day from 10am to 4:30pm, with onsite parking—especially handy if you’re coming from Chiswick or nearby areas.

Marc Bolan’s Rock Shrine

A quiet memorial tucked into the trees on Gipsy Lane, this tribute to the T. Rex frontman is easy to miss unless you’re looking. We stopped in just before sunset—the shrine is accessible daily from 8am to 10pm.

Barnes Bridge

There’s something satisfying about watching the trains cross while standing below on the towpath. The bridge offers public access all day and night and the views along the Thames don’t disappoint.

Leg O Mutton

Despite the name, this nature reserve is all waterbirds, reeds and gentle loops. It’s a short detour from Lonsdale Road and open to visitors from 9am to 5pm on weekdays—closed at weekends, so plan ahead if you’re arriving from Wimbledon or beyond.

Riverside Gallery & Framing

We wandered into this spot on Barnes High Street after a rain shower and found a rotating collection of local prints and artworks. It’s open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, with shorter hours on Saturdays.

Fulham Palace

We crossed the river just for this—a peaceful garden, historic rooms and a riverside café. It’s open daily from 10:30am to 4pm and well worth the short drive for those visiting from Fulham.

St Mary’s, Barnes

The bells started just as we arrived—you hear them before you see the spire. This peaceful churchyard is open from 9:30am to 5pm and is a lovely place to take a breather after browsing the nearby shops.

Dukes Meadows Bandstand

Over the bridge in Chiswick, this bandstand has seen everything from jazz sessions to open-air plays. We caught a rehearsal on a warm evening—it’s open all day and night, an ideal detour from Acton if you’re in the area.

Barnes Fine Art Gallery

Tucked between a bakery and a florist on Church Road, this gallery mixes framing with curated exhibitions. We popped in midweek—they open from 9:30am to 5pm most days, with a Sunday window between 10am and 4pm.

Richard Burton’s Tent Tomb

A short drive toward Mortlake brought us to this curious monument, quietly placed in a churchyard. If you’re heading in from Clapham, it’s a worthwhile detour. The site keeps weekday hours, 9am to 3pm.

Stopping Points Worth Knowing

Barnes has no shortage of independent spots to pause and refuel. For breakfast or a mid-morning break, Orange Pekoe on White Hart Lane serves a strong pot of tea alongside homemade cakes in a space that always feels quietly busy. We had a late lunch at Rick Stein Barnes—formerly The Depot—where riverside views pair with seasonal seafood and crisp white wine.

There aren’t many hotels directly within Barnes but nearby Hammersmith offers smart options like the Brook Green Hotel—a boutique stay with a classic pub downstairs, ideal for those arriving from Battersea or planning to explore wider west London.