Hotels near Twickenham stadium

Rugby

Just as Wembley is synonymous with football and Wimbledon instantly conjures up thoughts of tennis, Twickenham brings instantly to mind the blood, sweat and tears exerted by well-built men as they harry for the oval ball. Twickenham Stadium is beaten only by Wembley Stadium as the largest sporting arena in the UK.

Twickenham does, however, lay claim to having the biggest arena dedicated purely to rugby union. More recently, the stadium has hosted live concerts including acts as diverse as Iron Maiden and Lady Gaga, when the usual capacity of 82,000 rises to in excess of 110,000.

Take the tour

Walk in the footsteps of rugby footballing giants as you learn how players prepare for the big match in the dressing room. Visit the medical room and then walk down the players' tunnel onto the hallowed turf before walking the perimeter of the pitch. Finally, ascend to the top of the stand for a fantastic view of this cathedral of rugby union.

Entertainment

The Mary Wallace Theatre is home to the Richmond Shakespeare Society whose members first trod the boards in 1934. The company, in all its iterations, has continued to perform the Bard's work to this day and has expanded its repertoire to include works by playwrights from ancient Greece to works of contemporary writers.

Strawberry Hill forever   

Strawberry Hill House was created in the 18th century by Horace Walpole in the Georgian Gothic revival style. This somewhat forbidding fairy-tale castle in brilliant white is adorned with battlements, towers and spires, and within you'll find rooms and fixtures and fittings based on gothic abbeys and cathedrals. Walpole saw his creation as a passing fancy but it's clear that this stately pile deserves to remain forever. The gardens feature lilacs, honeysuckles and syringas amid a grove of trees and twisting paths.

Eating and drinking

The Bloomsbury is a pub that uses seasonal ingredients in its fresh-cooked food. And with a range of real ales you can relax in front of a real open fire or, on warm days, on the patio or in the garden. Relatively new to town, TW2 offers a bar and grill menu that, by all accounts, includes a delicious stake. Pho Saigon is a family-run Vietnamese restaurant that gets busy quickly so book ahead, and bring your own drinks as they have an alcohol-free menu.

Shopping

King Street is Twickenham's main shopping thoroughfare where you'll find several well-known high-street retailers and some independents. Sandys Fishmongers is one of them and the fresh fish lives up to Sandy's mantra, "Only the best is good enough." 17th-century Church Street is the perfect off-the-beaten-track locale for books, gifts, fashion and jewellery. Holly Road car park is the setting every Saturday morning for the Farmers’ Market.