Leisure and Area Information
Twickenham
Twickenham is the main centre of the borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. It is famous as the home of Rugby Football Union, and Twickenham Stadium is only a short way from the school. Twickenham has plenty of shops, bars and restaurants in the town centre, within easy reach of the school.
Twickenham has a museum in the town centre and an Art gallery sited in a picturesque woodland garden by the Thames. The gallery and adjacent baroque Octagon Room by James Gibbs, c1720, have a fine permanent collection of topographical views and a lively programme of temporary exhibitions, including contemporary crafts.
The famous Eel Pie Island sits in the River Thames next to Twickenham. A short way down river is Marble Hill Park, an elegant 18th century villa. Marble Hill was built for the mistress of King George II. It's worth taking time to explore some of the surrounding 66 acres of beautiful parkland, or walk along the Thames Path, across the bridge from picturesque Richmond village.
Twickhenham, like all of London, has excellent public transport links to the centre of the city.
You can find out about Twickenham in depth in our Guide for students. Click here to read about Twickenham in the LAL London Guide.
London
It would be impossible to describe all London's attractions here: the city has some of the most famous sights in the whole world, but also an almost endless variety of less-well-known locations. Old streets, historic churches and grand state buildings contrast with cutting-edge (and controversial) modern architecture. Prestigious old museums compete with funky modern attractions such as the London Eye and the Tate Modern gallery. Centuries of tradition, from the uniformed guards outside Buckingham Palace to the 'mother of all Parliaments' beneath the chimes of Big Ben, are to be found in one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
Despite its size, it's easy to get round London thanks to its integrated transport network, with the famous red buses and the world's oldest Underground railway (known as the Tube) the most popular ways to get around - but river taxis are a great way to get around too, and mainline rail services run around the centre of London as well as out to the suburbs.
You can find out about London in depth in our Guide for students. Click here to read about London in the LAL London Guide.
LAL Leisure Programme
To help you get the most out of your time in London, we can advise you on places to visit. We also run events and excursions at reasonable prices. Below is an example leisure programme for 2011.
| Daytime | Evening | |
|---|---|---|
| MONDAY | Introductory Tour Showing new students the key places in Twickenham. |
Welcome Evening A chance for new and old students to get to know each other at a selection of local pubs. |
| TUESDAY | Hampton Court Palace King Henry VIII's palace close to Twickenham is a Tudor gem full of history. |
Pizza Night Enjoy a pizza and a chat at the school. |
| WEDNESDAY | River Cruise A sightseeing trip by boat down the River Thames to Kingston. |
|
| THURSDAY | British Museum Discover one of the world's best collections of artefacts from around the globe and spanning thousands of years |
Central London Explore the capital after the crowds have gone home. |
| FRIDAY | Orleans House View the collection's of Twickenham's fine art gallery. |
Bike Ride Take a bike into Richmond Park and enjoy the views over London. |
| SATURDAY | London Sightseeing A tour of the top highlights of Britain's capital and a chance for a photograph in front of iconic views. |
