Chiswick Old & New

This is an amended version of our popular Historic Chiswick ride, taking in some more modern sights in Chiswick and enjoying the recent improvements in cycling infrastructure, as well as doing some sightseeing around the historic areas of Chiswick.

We ride across Ealing Common and down past Acton Town towards Chiswick, taking a detour to admire the artist Carrie Reichardt’s amazing Mosaic House before riding through the modern Chiswick Business Park area to reach Chiswick High Road. Here we enjoy the temporary (but let’s hope it becomes permanent!) segregated cycle track along the main road, turning off it briefly to look at the Turnham Green Mural which displays the history of Chiswick and the many artists who have lived here.

Then we head down to Chiswick House & Gardens where we can enjoy refreshments at the café and a stroll around the beautiful gardens.

Turning down towards the river, we investigate more historic sights: the churchyard at St Nicholas Church, where we will see the impressive tomb of the famous painter and Chiswick resident William Hogarth, the Fuller’s Brewery, and the strange sign on Chiswick Square claiming to be the location of events from Thackeray’s Vanity Fair. We ride on alongside the river, through the peaceful green space of Duke’s Meadows, where it’s hard to believe there were once industrial gravel pits and a shoe polish factory. When we leave the river path for the roads, we will enjoy the recent traffic restrictions and cycle path improvements back to Kew Bridge, where we return to Ealing with the option of a short detour through Gunnersbury Park.

Exploring historic parts of Chiswick, modern developments, and recent improvements in cycling infrastructure

Quiet back roads, segregated cycle tracks, traffic free shared paths in parks; some busier roads

A ride with lots of sight-seeing, and a cafe stop at Chiswick House & Gardens

Hand sanitiser, face covering (unless exempt), money for cafe (card), lock for bike

First-timers welcome!