Eel Pie Island
the island where the stones played
A tiny, eccentric Thames island of artists' studios and 1960s rock history, open to the public only on rare free open days.
Free to visit · Twickenham · Twickenham · TW1 3DY
Opening: Open days only, roughly June & December
In the middle of the Thames at Twickenham lies Eel Pie Island, a tiny, ramshackle and gloriously bohemian enclave reached by a single footbridge. Once home to a famous hotel where the Rolling Stones, The Who and a young David Bowie played in the 1960s, it is now a private warren of artists' studios, boatyards and eccentric homes.
For most of the year it is closed to outsiders, but two or three times a year the artists throw open their studios for free open weekends, and you can finally cross the bridge and explore. It is free, wonderfully odd and well worth timing a visit for, a genuine slice of old riverside counterculture.
Getting there: Reached by a footbridge from the Twickenham embankment, near Twickenham station.
Best time to go: One of the twice-yearly open weekends, when the studios welcome visitors.
Insider tip: You can only properly visit on the artists' open weekends, usually in June and December, so check the dates before going. Any time of year you can walk to the footbridge and along the towpath for a look across at the island.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide