The Middlesex Travel Guide outlines various places of interest, local attractions for visitors and highlights tourist information for travellers. The historical county is no longer a county council; much of historical Middlesex has been absorbed in to Greater London and the neighbouring counties of Hertfordshire and Surrey. Middlesex is still used as both an area name and a postal code. The Middlesex area includes areas to the north and west of central London. Middlesex areas close proximity to central London mean some use it as commuter area to work in London but live in the suburbs enjoy the greater space and rural environment in comparison to London city. Middlesex is well known for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) based at Lord’s cricket ground in St John’s Wood, North London.
Overview and Attractions
The historical county of Middlesex once consisted of the area from Sunbury-on-Thames in the south to Potters Bar in the North and Uxbridge in the West to Brentford in the East. The county was among the smallest in England and was home to many well connected and affluent residents with the City of London so close by.
The historical Middlesex county includes a number of areas and towns in North and West London that visitors may not be familiar with. The area is not as well known as a tourist destination as areas such as central London, there are however a number of areas and attractions of interest for visitors.
Twickenham is located in West London and is well known for Twickenham Stadium, the home of English rugby. The area has a number of historic period houses and affluent areas, including St Margarets where there visitors will find a range of shops and cafes and tree lined residential areas. Historic attractions here include Strawberry Hill House.
The town of Brentford is a suburban town that also contains places of interest for visitors. Syon Park includes a historic house and park and is the London home of the Duke of Northumberland. Boston Manor House is a historic Jacobean Manor House renowned for its impressive plasterwork ceilings. Gunnersbury Park Museum is located in the area and is the local museum for both Ealing and Hounslow; there are a number of archaeological finds in the museum dating back to Viking and Roman times along with a range of displays and artefacts of local interest.
Wembley in north west London is synonymous with Wembley Stadium, one of the best known football stadiums in the world. Wembley Arena is also located here; the indoor arena stages a range of events each year including musical, sporting, cultural and entertainment.
The areas of Harrow and Harrow-on-the-Hill have a number of leafy suburban resident and commercial areas along with the prestigious Harrow School.
The compact nature of the historical county of Middlesex means the local attractions are located relatively close together making it convenient for visitors to see a number of attractions.
The Middlesex area has a range of scenery including urban towns and developments with commuter towns close to London and more open green spaces with parkland and smaller towns. The close proximity of Middlesex to London means the huge range of attractions and entertainment venues in the capital are easily assessable.
One of the best known attractions in the county is Syon Park. Visitors can see an impressive historic house, gardens and a surrounding park. The house is rich in history and culture, with a number of impressive collections on show. The Great Hall & State Dining Room forms the highlight of any visit, with their ornate decoration, adding to the grandeur and splendour of the rooms. The gardens contain a range of rare plants and trees, whilst the park was landscaped back in the 18th century by Capability Brown.
Other attractions located close by include Legoland Windsor in the neighbouring county of Berkshire. Legoland is among the top 5 visited attractions in the UK; there are a range of activities for the whole family to enjoy including a wide range of exciting rides, amusements, live shows and workshops. It is located in 150 acres of scenic English countryside; the close proximity to the hotel makes it possible for guests to enjoy a day trip or a weekend break at Legoland.
Kew Gardens are a firm favourite among visitors. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are internationally renowned; here visitors will find a huge variety of shrubs, plants, landscaped gardens, glasshouses, water features and historical buildings. Set in over 325 acres with a tranquil River Thames setting, the gardens offer an interesting and fascinating insight into horticulture.
The Strawberry Hill House is located in Twickenham and features a historic house dating back to the 17th century. The house is a fine example of Georgian Gothic architecture, the rooms inside include the Great Parlour, Holbein Chamber and the Round Room among others featuring impressive and ornate decorations and finishing. The impressive gardens surround the historic house and provide peace and tranquillity and impressive views.
Boston Manor House is among the best kept secrets in Middlesex. The impressive historic house is located in Brentford and dates back to the 17th century. The house is a fine example of a Jacobean manor house; inside the impressively grand state rooms and dining rooms provide a highlight for visitors with their fine ornate decorations and splendour. The historic manor house is surrounded by parkland that includes ancient trees and an ornamental lake. There is also a nature trail for visitors to follow.
Osterley Park is located in Isleworth, with a historic house dating back to the 18th century. The impressive mansion is a redbrick Tudor house, inside the entrance hall provides an imposing entrance area, the long room is 130 feet in length with a range of historic collections and furniture and the tapestry room provides a great spectacle with its impressive collections, furniture and notable ceiling. The gardens and parklands surrounding the house cover of 350 acres including lawns, lakes, a range of shrubs and historic trees provide a scenic and peaceful setting for visitors to enjoy.
The London Motor Museum contains a collection in excess of 100 classic and custom built cars dating from the 1950s to the 1980s. The museum is located in Hayes, Middlesex and provides a place for car enthusiasts and aficionados to indulge in their passion. There are a number of famous film cars on display including those from Back to the Future from the 1980s and Starsky and Hutch from the 1970s.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum in London is located in Collingdale inside a former aerodrome. The museum is currently the only national museum in the UK dedicated to aviation. Visitors to the museum will find in excess of 100 aircraft on display at the museum; there are a number of exhibition halls charting the history of aircraft, with a range of historic and modern aircraft collections. There is a Battle of Britain Hall that outlines one of the first decisive battles with aircrafts. Visitors can see a range of aviation artefacts and memorabilia collected over the years.
Wembley Stadium is the home of English football and among the most famous football stadiums in the world. The stadium is located in Wembley Park in Middlesex; the current stadium was re-built in 2007 over the previous historic stadium that staged the 1948 Olympic Games, 1966 World Cup final, Euro 96 final and numerous FA Cup and international matches. The stadium is also a multi-purpose venue having staged many famous concerts over the years including Live Aid in 1985.
Stadium tours for Wembley Stadium are available offering visitors an insight in to the great history and tradition of the stadium. Visitors can climb up the famous trophy winners’ steps, see the changing rooms and see a range of football artefacts and memorabilia, charting the history of the stadium and football.
Alexandra Palace is a multi event venue located in North London. It is some 7 acres in size and is located within nearly 200 acres of parkland. On site here is an ice rink, boating lake, pub and restaurant, cafes and a pitch and putt course. The venue has become well known for staging a number of music, sporting and cultural events over the years, attracting a range of artists and performers.
For fans of the theatre, the Compass Theatre in Ickenham, Uxbridge offers a range of theatrical performances. Over the years the theatre has played host to a range of productions and has a traditional pantomime every Christmas. The varied programme includes music, drama, dance and theatrical productions.
For dining, Charlotte’s Place is a restaurant visitors can try. Here diners can try a range of meat, fish and vegetables dishes and a range of tempting desserts. The cuisine served in British and modern European, the family run restaurant has been long established in the area and has built up a fine reputation among diners. The restaurant prides itself on using fresh, seasonal ingredients for its dishes. There is an à la carte menu along with an early dinner, set lunch and Sunday menus. The Lunch menu contains a selection of lighter meals with the full à la carte menu also available.
There is an extensive wine list to choose from to enjoy with your food including wines from the old and new worlds.
The Beaufort Pub and Dining is located in Beaufort Park in Hendon close by to the RAF Museum. The Gastro pub offers diners a range of drinks including a choice of soft drinks, juices, beers, wines, spirits and cocktails. Diners can choose from a choice of light snacks, sides and main meals on offer with a choice of dishes including choices for vegetarians. The breakfast menu includes favourites such as the full English breakfast, there are platters to share along with a Sunday roast and lunch menu.
Address: The Beaufort Pub & Dining, 2 Heritage Avenue, Off Grahame Park Way, Hendon, London, NW9 5TW. Telephone: +44 (0)20 8205 6198.
The Electric Ballroom is a music venue that has been established for over 70 years. Located on Camden High Street, the famous menu attracts a range of artists and a mix of people. There are different genres of music catered for including nights for rock and alternative, pop, hip hop and R’n’B. Clubbers can dance the night away on the dance floors, there are also a number of bars on site serving a choice of drinks.
The county of Middlesex contains a number of attractions for visitors to explore, including Syon Park, the RAF Museum London and famous Wembley and Twickenham Stadiums. The close proximity to central London and other home counties mean there are good transport links making possible to get to from other areas of the UK by rail and road, making it a place that is worth exploring further.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.