During a visit to London one might wish to visit some of the lesser known gems…

Article first published as The lesser known London on Technorati.

The list of attractions in London is long, but once in a while it’s fun to visit some of the more unusual places. Two very different proposals of this kind could be Little Venice in the north west of London and Chiswick House and Gardens in West London.

Little Venice lies in a quiet corner of London, where you can stroll along the canals or sit at a café by the water and watch the colorful houseboats chug past. You can even take a boat trip and experience how wonderfully tranquil it is to sail on the canals, where there is no traffic jams or city noises.

There is a small park by the canal, and here – in the “Rembrandt Gardens” at Warwick Avenue – the annual festival is being held, and the otherwise peaceful area is turned into an orgy of color and celebration. 150 freshly painted and polished boats are decorated with flags and flowers, and the best decorated boat will be rewarded, while children and adults are entertained with puppet shows, music and dance.

Chiswick House is a historic house with a wonderful garden, which can be visited every day year round. The house dates from the 1700s, and the garden was originally designed by the garden designer William Kent. His design caused quite a stir at the time, when the natural landscape style was very innovative, but since then the garden has given inspiration to many other famous gardens.

A large lawn leads down to the artificial river with waterfall, and from here there are views to the elegant house. The garden at Chiswick is a wonderful place to walk and the “official” route leads you to the greenhouse, the temple sphinxes and the romantic bridge from 1774. There are also long avenues with plenty of viewpoints and a wealth of small secret paths that lure to discovery.

The house and the garden have just been renovated in great style, and sixteen hundred trees have been planted for the enjoyment of future generations. At this time of year the camellia festival is being held, because the beautiful white greenhouse contains one of the oldest camellia collections in the world.

The kitchen garden has been restored and brought back to past glory, and in this walled space the local school children are growing and harvesting flowers and vegetables among the fruit trees. The kitchen garden is normally closed to the public, but it will be kept open on special occasions.

Both house and garden provide a framework for a host of activities. Lectures, exhibitions and wine tasting are held, and every summer visitors flock to watch the outdoor movie screenings or hear operas and outdoor concerts. But first and foremost, the garden at Chiswick is an oasis of tranquility and a wonderful place to enjoy the sight of old trees and beautiful flowers, when you need a break from the hectic city life.

Little Venice is a few minutes’ walk from Paddington station and Chiswick House are within walking distance from Chiswick station.

Photo: © BasPhoto