South West London is home to many picturesque places and fun things to do. From Royal Parks, to kids activities, and stunning River walks and activities.
We really do have it all.
Living in the South West London means you can walk along the Thames, explore the region’s past and hike through parks filled with natural beauty.
But if you’ve got back pain – then it becomes tough (and almost impossible) to enjoy all that South West London has to offer.
Just the other week we had 4 people ring the clinic telling us their back pain has ‘flared up’ AGAIN!
And it’s not uncommon that we hear that these flare-ups mean activities and family days out, that have been planned for a while, have to be rain checked and put aside for another day…
…until their back pain goes away.
Which is very unlikely it will go away alone, and even if it does, it usually means it’ll flare up again.
Anyway, here’s 7 great places to see in South West London(that a lot of our patients have told us they can’t, because their back is so bad, they’re scared it’ll put them out).
Richmond Park
Escape to the great outdoors in Richmond Park with its wide open spaces, grasslands and deer herds
Discover the Isabella Plantation woodland gardens, refuel at Pembrooke Lodge tea rooms and enjoy distant views of St Paul’s Cathedral from King Henry’s Mound.
Try your hand at power kiting, horse riding or golf, or hire a bike for some off-road cycling along the Tamsin Trail.
Riverside Walk – Between the bridges. Chiswick. Barnes Bridge and Hammersmith Bridge to Putney
The views across the river towards Chiswick are glorious – look out for the historic houses on Chiswick Mall, the tiny island of Chiswick Eyot and the church where Hogarth is buried – and the scenery on the Barnes side is almost totally rural. Roughly half way between Hammersmith and Barnes bridges you can take a detour off the tow path to find the Leg o’Mutton reserve.
Beyond Hammersmith Bridge the stretch of river between Barnes and Putney becomes livelier as it is overlooked by mansion flats and the magnificent Harrods Depository.
The walk from Barnes to Hammersmith Bridge takes around 35 minutes and if you want to stroll further extending your journey towards Putney Bridge will add another 25 minutes. The good news for walkers is that there is sustenance to be had at either end of the walk.
Wetland Centre
The WWT London Wetland Centre in Barnes is a real haven in the middle of London. Run by the charity the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, it has 100 acres of natural riverside marshland habitat and is home to over 180 species of birds.
It’s a great place to visit whatever your age. There are brilliant children’s facilities and activities, but it is also a must-visit place for keen ornithologists who have been known to catch sight of the rarest of bird species from the covered hides at the Centre.
Barnes Trial
The 2.3 mile Trail, and the 3 mile Extension, have been designed to show Barnes at its best. The route is circular, so it doesn’t matter where you start – just follow the silver ‘Barnes Trail’ discs set in the ground. If you walk quickly, you can complete the Trail in under an hour – but why not take your time, soak up the surroundings, and enjoy the shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants as you go. Even better, use the Trail as a starting point to explore more of Barnes.
The oar signs en route tell you what to look for. Four ‘introductory’ oars guide visitors at the main public transport locations – the north- and south-bound Red Lion bus stops on Castelnau/Rocks Lane, and Barnes and Barnes Bridge railway stations.
Putt in The Park Wandsworth
While it definitely shouldn’t be confused in the kids’ minds with adventure of crazy golf (it’s not, it’s every bit real golf, but in miniature) this course is actually so nicely set out they’ll hardly notice the difference, with bridges to cross and island holes surrounded by water as well as scenic landscaping and dramatic rockeries. You’ll hardly believe you’re standing the middle of London!
There are a couple of differing putter sizes so even the smalls can join in and most kids who understand the principles involved can get to grips with the simple course. Naturally however there are sneaky hole in one attempts to be had if you recognise the pro options around the holes, so show off it you must or take it easy if you fancy. Your choice!
Fulham Palace
During the 17th century Bishop Compton imported several new plant species to the gardens at Fulham Palace and cultivated some flora and fauna found in Britain today- including the Magnolia. Many of the trees in and around Fulham Palace remain from this time and visitors can still see the herb garden and Wisteria which survive in the Palace’s walled gardens.
The grounds originally covered more than thirty acres- though only twelve remain property of the Palace. Fulham Palace is secluded from the Thames by a thicket of trees and has remained an attraction that is unsullied by a huge influx of tourism- despite the sites fascinating history.
Relatively recent excavations by the Fulham Archaeological Rescue Group have revealed the remains of several former large scale buildings and even evidence of Neolithic and Roman settlers. Part of the nineteenth century section of the Palace houses the Fulham Palace Museum which exhibits many paintings which adorned the walls of the palace. Visitors can also tour Bishop Howley’s dining area and the Porteous Library. There are also other historical and guided garden walks. There is no admission fee for the grounds or the museum.
Kew Gardens
Explore over 300 acres at Kew Gardens and uncover tropical rainforest, treetop adventures and woodland creatures.
To burn off some energy, children will love Climbers and Creepers. At this unique interactive indoor and outdoor play area, children can wiggle through tunnels like a field mouse or slide down our giant pitcher plant. Suitable for children aged 3 to 9, during school holidays you can also join in with free children’s activities.
Suitable for kids aged from 3 to 11, Treehouse Towers is Kew’s woodland themed outdoor play area! The area features giant swings, zip wires, scramble nets, slides and a mountaineering ramp for families to enjoy, whilst also offering educational opportunities for children to learn about and appreciate trees.
Don’t miss the Treetop Walkway, which allows you to climb high up into the treetops, 18 metres above the ground: a fantastic way to see Kew as you never seen it before and walk amidst the tops of lime, sweet chestnut and oak trees.
Kew also features tropical glasshouses full of jungle and desert plant life, and a fascinating small museum which explains all the many uses of plants.
So there you have it. 7 Great things to do in South West London to stay fit and healthy…….If you’ve got back pain – a bad back that’s flared up, has come on out of the blue, or if you’ve been suffering for a while that it’s just become a normal part of your daily life – that doesn’t have to be the case.
If you need some advice and would like to talk to a Physiotherapist on the phone first about your problem or to help you make a decision on your next steps. Feel free to call us on 020 8747 4029 or email me at….. leslie@bodiesunderconstruction.com
Leslie is a Master Trainer for the world renowned Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute(APPI). He is regular key note speaker at conferences and travels internationally to present on modified exercise for rehabilitation.
Leslie is the founder of Bodies Under Construction Clinics situated in Berkshire and London. A specialist Private Physiotherapy Practice for People of all ages, but especially those in their 30’s. 40’s, 50’s and 60’s and beyond, who want to keep healthy and active.
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