STEPHEN WEBB enjoys a rural escape right on the edge of London

STAYING at a hotel on the fringes of London, the temptation is to use that as a base and head for the nearest Tube station bound for the bright lights of the big city.

But that would be a shame when staying somewhere like Chiswick.

Although busy and bustling, it is possible to wander its streets and find somewhere peaceful to dine, drink or simply read a newspaper.

And a whole day can be spent at Kew Gardens, just over the River Thames and about half and hour’s walk away from the centre of Chiswick, where there are also plenty of interesting shops and restaurants to while away a few hours.

We had an overnight stay at the Chiswick Moran Hotel, which is conveniently placed to explore – it’s also convenient for anyone travelling from Swindon, situated on the western edge of London, just a few minutes from the M4.

An agreeably early check-in at the hotel gave us a sunny Saturday afternoon to look around. And 10 minutes after walking out of the hotel – and almost by accident – we found ourselves by the River Thames. It was strange to think that we were still in London at this point – this could have been the Thames in rural Oxfordshire or Berkshire. The throbbing metropolis was just a few minutes downstream, yet this section was almost a rural idyll.

Any thoughts of going to that Tube station and heading for the West End or Leicester Square were soon banished as we strolled along the riverside, admiring the diverse architecture – the houses were like cottages and helped give this location a unique charm.

We nipped into a lovely pub – the Bell and Crown at Strand On The Green – and whiled away a pleasant couple of hours gazing at the river and watching people stroll by. What appeared to be a mariachi band stopped for a few minutes, performed a couple of tunes and collected pound coins in a tambourine.

And yes, that was dancer and Celebrity Masterchef 2014 contestant Wayne Sleep who bumped into the back of my seat before joining a group of people at a nearby table.

Chiswick, apparently, is good for celeb spotting. A brochure at the hotel said so, adding that Ant and Dec could sometimes be seen frequenting the bars of Chiswick. That did it – my wife went online and discovered that as well as the inseperable TV presenter duo, Chiswick is, or has been, home to actors Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern, comedian Dara O’Briain and TV presenter Kate Humble.

So back at the Bell and Crown, my wife was peering intently at a couple sitting at a table outside.

“Who was that footballer? Used to play for Manchester United… was on the telly a lot during the World Cup” she said. “Rio Ferdinand?” I replied. “Yes! Isn’t that him sitting over there?”

I glanced in that direction and then looked at my watch. It was nearly four o’clock.

“Er, no,” I said. “At this moment he is a couple of miles in that direction (I pointed vaguely east) playing for Queens Park Rangers.”

“Oh,” she said, pouting slightly as she continued to scour the pub for other famous faces.

So after a couple of pints there, and then a big meal and good night’s sleep at the hotel, something a little more strenuous was needed the next day. The fresh air and sensuous delights of Kew Gardens beckoned.

We could have made a short Tube journey. We could have taken the car. But no, despite some slightly threatening clouds in the distance, we decided to walk – a pleasant experience in itself once we had traversed the river at Kew Bridge.

And on this side of the river too it was like a village. There was even a “village green” with a Sunday morning game of cricket taking place, looked over by more cottage type properties (although these were considerably larger and the values of which no doubt stretched into seven figures).

It wasn’t long before we were at the gates of Kew Gardens. And once inside, where to start? Well that’s one of the good things about this great London park – you are given a map on arrival, but otherwise stride out and you will come across myriad delights. The Palm House is home to a selection of fascinating plants from the rainforests of South America, Africa and Asia. Not too far away is a section devoted to Japan, featuring the Gardens’ famous Pagoda.

And the Treetop Walkway is a must. Strolling one of Kew’s many pathways, you come across a cluster of trees – and suddenly we could hear voices amid them; not at ground level, but high up in the branches. We glanced up and there was a structure, a path through the trees.

“I’m having some of that,” I said, and within a couple of minutes we were ascending a steep staircase (there is a lift if you are feeling less energetic) and soon found ourselves high above ground, literally level with the treetops, occasionally getting a glimpse of the London skyline through the branches.

Time, a short but drenching shower and a peacock which forced my ornithophobic wife back to the Gardens’ shop and café meant we didn’t see all that Kew Gardens has to offer – plan a day there and it will be a rewarding experience. Much like our weekend by the river in Chiswick.