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marble nymphs in suburban twickenham

The Naked Ladies, York House Gardens

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Twickenham · Twickenham
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A startling group of nude marble nymphs climbing a waterfall in a free riverside garden in Twickenham.

Getting there. In York House Gardens by the river in Twickenham, a short walk from the station.
Free garden statues
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Twickenham · Twickenham
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The lowdown

In the peaceful riverside gardens of York House in Twickenham, a cascade of larger-than-life naked marble women clamber over rocks and a waterfall, an extraordinary sight to come upon in suburban south-west London. Locally nicknamed the Naked Ladies, the statues are Oceanids, sea nymphs, probably carved in Italy and bought by a flamboyant Indian businessman in the early 1900s.

Quite how they ended up here is part of the fun, and they have delighted and faintly scandalised Twickenham ever since. The gardens are free to wander, a lovely quiet spot by the Thames, with the glistening marble nymphs as their unforgettable centrepiece.

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The insider tip

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The statues are tucked in a corner of the gardens across a small bridge, so follow the paths to find the waterfall. The wider York House Gardens run down to the Thames, making a lovely free riverside stroll.
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