Close to Richmond but not quite as pricey, St Margarets is pleasantly suburban and offers large Victorian family homes, red bricked mansion flats, Victorian terraces and new developments of flats and town houses

East Twickenham / St Margarets
Twickenham really took off in the eighteenth century when grand villas began to appear along the riverfront. In 1710 Orleans House was built for James Johnston, Joint Secretary of State for Scotland under William III; and in 1723 Henrietta Howard, the "exceedingly respectable and respected mistress" of the Prince of Wales set about building Marble Hill House with the £11,500 given to her by her suitably besotted lover. No fool she, Henrietta decided that what with her husband Charles working at the royal court life could become a bit tricky and a place of her own was a definite necessity.

As Twickenham blossomed into a fashionable place to escape from life at court further grand projects were built: Pope's Palladian villa with its famous grotto was started in 1718, and Horace Walpole turned up at Strawberry Hill in 1748 to build his great gothic edifice. More low key residential developments followed: Montpelier Row, a "well-mannered, well-proportioned terrace" was built in 1720, and Sion Row was finished in 1721.

But it was later, in the nineteenth century, that the current contours of the place were laid down. As usual it was the railway, which reached Twickenham in 1848, which heralded major residential developments. A tram service from Shepherds Bush was set up in 1902, and in 1933 Twickenham Bridge was opened, both of which added to its attractions as a residential area particularly convenient for well-off commuters. Not surprisingly, most of the housing stock dates from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, though there is still a smattering of gracious Georgian, and a substantial selection of 30s semis.

In terms of price and prestige, the most expensive corner is to the east, south of Richmond Road on the borders of Marble Hill Park. Here you'll find Georgian terraces and cottages (Montpelier Row is here) as well as substantial Edwardian family homes, all beautifully located close to the park and within a stones throw of the river. The riverside area also has mansion blocks and newer luxury developments with fine views over the Thames and fine prices to match. Eel Pie Island, down river from here opposite the Embankment, was popular with boating parties in the nineteenth century and later became a bit of a rock and roll enclave and home to artists and eccentrics. Now it's covered in expensive bungalows and connected to the land by a bow-shaped bridge.

On the other side of Marble Hill Park, in the direction of Richmond, St Margarets nestles in a bend of the Thames. This is generally a little cheaper than Richmond but is now well established and certainly still pricey. Properties include large Victorian and Edwardian family homes, red bricked mansion flats, Victorian terraces and cottages and new developments of flats and town houses. This is good hunting ground for flats, both conversions and mansion blocks, especially around the station. Some of the most expensive properties lie close to the river, notably on Duck's Walk, and on the streets surrounding the secluded private parkland known as 'The Trust Grounds' (St Peters Road, St Margarets Road, St Georges Road).

Twickenham is not the best in the world for shops and restaurants, but St Margarets has an attractive collection of specialist outlets, restaurants and bars around Crown Road, close to the station. For those who want to do more serious damage to their bank balance, Richmond and Kingston have plenty to tempt; and nearby Teddington has plenty to keep gastronomes happily fed.

Green space, in the immediate vicinity and in the borough as a whole, is abundant and includes exceptional parks and beautiful riverside walks.

Travel facilities include a rail link to Waterloo from St Margarets and Twickenham stations ( approx. 25 minutes) and quick access to Heathrow airport.

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