Twickenham Green

The Green itself is a proper ribbon of open space running through Twickenham, with the river doing most of the work to make it feel separate from the town sprawl. It's not vast - you can walk it end to end in under an hour - but it serves up decent views of the Thames and gives you a genuine sense of being away from the suburban clutter. Walkers will appreciate the straightforward riverside path. Birdwatchers might spot herons and the occasional cormorant if they're patient. Kids get a kick out of watching the water traffic, though there's not much in the way of formal attractions to keep them occupied for hours.

The real value here is as a breathing space between Twickenham proper and Walton-on-Thames. If you're based at Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site just down the road, it's an easy leg-stretch without needing to drive anywhere. Spring and summer are your best bets - the riverside path can get a bit bog-heavy in winter. The open grassland is free to wander, and there's no entrance fee to speak of. Bring binoculars if you're into that sort of thing, and decent shoes for the towpath. It won't make your holiday, but it'll do nicely as a half-morning walk before you head into the town proper for lunch. For families after a gentle outing, it works. For serious naturalists expecting a wild reserve, you'll be disappointed.