Contemporary family home in a lovely peaceful village, 5 mins from beautiful Hampton Court Palace, yet only 30mins into central London.
Our home is located on Thames Ditton Island - a community of 49 houses on a privately owned island in the Thames. It is reached by walking over our beautiful 1930's iron footbridge. You'll need to leave you car on the "mainland" as there are no vehicles or driveways - just boats and jetties.
OUR VILLAGE: Our lovely suburban village has a bakery, deli, grocers, gift and antique shops. There's also 3 coffee shops plus 2 riverside pubs, indian & italian restaurants. There are also excellent Lebanese, French and Chinese restaurants within 5 mins drive.
10-15 mins walk along a cottage and flower lined footpath to the train station with regular trains which take only 35mins direct to London Waterloo & Southbank (National Theatre, London Eye, Aquarium, Hayward Gallery, BFI, London Dungeons, boat trips). Or hop onto the District line at Wimbledon for Science Museum, Natural History and V&A.
THE AREA: Hampton Court Palace is 5 mins drive (20 mins walk), with boat trips to Richmond and Kew. Within 10 mins there are also Richmond and Bushey Royal Parks, within 15 mins Claremont National Trust Garden, and within 20 mins various children's "farms" and adventure parks as well as Wisley RHS.
Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo is 20 mins drive, Thorpe Park 30 mins, Legoland 45 mins.
If you're feeling energetic, take our bikes on the train into London and cycle back on the Thames Path (which runs past the Island), popping into the odd pub on the way! If you're a keen cyclist, we are on the Olympic route so don your lycra and follow in their tyre tracks through Esher and onto the infamous Hog's Back or take it easier at Richmond Park which is a cyclists mecca.
We're Southwest of London, perfectly located to escape to Windsor Castle and Legoland (45 mins), Brighton and the coast (1 hour), Oxford (1.5hrs) or Bath (2.5hrs).
OUR HOME: Our single storey family home is light and airy. The large lounge / dining room has 5m wide doors which open onto a south facing decked area overlooking the river and enclosed garden with wooden wendy house. It also has a log-burning stove for cosy autumn evenings.
We have outdoor lounging chairs and sofa where you can watch the boats pass too and fro, as well as garden table and chairs for your barbq's.
There are 3 bedrooms - 1 king size, 1 with bunkbed, 1 single plus guest bed (which can pop up to make a double). And 1 bathroom with bath and separate stand alone power shower.
OUR FAMILY: We are a professional couple in our 40's with 5 year old twins (girl and boy). We love and care for our home. We're experienced home swappers who will leave you a clean and welcoming home and will treat your home with respect.
Our home is available 25 Oct - 2 Nov 2014 for a non-simultaneous swap (preferably with UK properties) - please note that we would need to have access to your property during school summer holidays.
*Please note that as the Island is accessed by footbridge only it is not for people with mobility issues.
