The Barons blog

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Travelling mindfully

Stress can come from anywhere. A flat tyre, a difficult work colleague or just too much to do. Nobody likes getting stressed out. It’s not good for your health. Your blood pressure rises, your metabolism and immune system crash and you just feel worn out and unhappy. Where you choose to stay can have a…

A Lockdown Guide to London’s Museums

As our Lockdown numerals rack up, like some dystopian Superbowl, the idea of strolling around a London museum lingers in the past like a distant memory or hovers in the future as some shimmering mirage to stumble towards. However much we console ourselves with the divested costumes of Bridgerton, the millstone milestone of our hundredth…

HOW TO ENJOY WORKING FROM HOME

There are definite benefits to home working, as many people are finding out. You’re probably not missing those traffic jams, or that overcrowded commuter train filled with the noise of nose blowing, and your time is suddenly your own. However, it is also natural to feel isolated, bored or anxious when removed from the bosom…

How to set up a home office

Some are born to homeworking. Some achieve it. And some, particularly this year, have it thrust upon them. But however we’ve come to it, more and more of us are having to transform our house into our office. Those precious spaces we need now more than ever for eating, drinking, sleeping, Zooming, doing jumping jacks…

Covid-19 Update

To our guests In light of the extraordinary circumstances we are facing, we wanted to update you on the steps we are taking and assure you of our continued support. All of our apartments are open and our team continues to welcome guests with the same level of service and comfort that expect from us. At…

London’s Pubs Unlocked

The Rising Sun, The Fox, The Gun, The Daylight Inn, The Barley Mow, The Rose & Crown, The Hare & Hounds, The Flying Horse, The Tally Ho! …

In praise of The Pub

We are living through a moment in time that has shaken up our world like a snow globe. The corona virus poses a threat not just to our lives, but to our way of life. We are grieving not just loved ones, but all the things we loved and took very much for granted. It…

Reward your hero competition (Winner announced)

Competition closed. Our winner won a lockdown treat for their Corona Crisis Hero – we look forward to treating them in July. Extraordinary times produce some extraordinary people. We read all the time about acts of kindness, bravery and compassion during lockdown. We all know somebody who is either having a particularly tough time who…

The 2020 Guide to London Basics for Relocators and Movers: London by phone

We have already noted the most important apps for visitors to London to carry, but it’s also worth remembering the value of a good old-fashioned phone call. Spending half an hour before travelling loading your phone with a few emergency numbers can mean help is quickly at hand when things don’t go to plan. How…

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The 2020 Guide to London Basics
for Relocators and Movers: Staying healthy in London

Knowing how to stay healthy while staying in London has never been more important. London has all the health advantages of a dynamic, modern capital, but you should still learn the basics. No vaccinations are required. Tap water is safe to drink and friendlier to the planet than bottled water. Remember, 999 is the number…

The 2020 Guide to London Basics
for Relocators and Movers

Whether you’re relocating to London, moving here for a short-term contract, or just visiting, it is not just about packing the right belongings in your suitcase these days, it’s also about packing the right apps. There’s a world of developers hidden away in dingy basements – ‘silicon valets’, if you will – working away to…

The master bedroom is breathtaking, spacious and exquisitely decorated.

Live Like A Local

We are often asked, what’s the difference between a serviced apartment and a hotel? For us, one of the most important advantages of a serviced apartment is that you can feel properly at home – particularly if you are staying for a few months or longer. While there is something exciting about a hotel when…

The Mindful Baron

If ever there were a time to introduce mindfulness into your life, it is now. As the world grows busier, spins faster, feels crazier and becomes more crowded, it is easy to find yourself running like a hamster in a busy wheel. At 20 The Barons, we’ve started to heed the message that in order…

A Cup of Tea

It was galling enough to watch our lionesses being recently mauled, in true errant-penalty English style (good to see they’ve learned something from the chaps!), by the USA women’s football team. But when the redoubtable US striker, Alex Morgan, celebrated her goal with apparent mockery of true English style (by not only miming the act…

Britishness with The Baron

It’s a tricky time to celebrate Britishness, with all that’s going on. Here at 20 The Barons, we like to celebrate British tradition without being stuck in the past, as we also think of ourselves as modern, inclusive and international! So, here’s The Baron’s poetic celebration of the best of British for all our guests,…

We celebrate seven super years at 20 The Barons

As we celebrate seven super years at 20 The Barons, we’d like to give a shout out to the Magnificent Seven serviced apartments where we do everything in our power to make sure all our wonderful guests enjoy a comfortable and relaxing stay. We’re located a short stroll from Twickenham Film Studios, and we’ve welcomed…

Puffin Digital Graphic Design

NOT SO LOCAL HEROES Several years ago our owner Ali used to work in book publishing. During that time she produced many books with a wonderful designer who became a close friend. Tessa and Ali worked together on many projects over the years ranging from books on child development to dinosaurs and Scooby Doo!…

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Zoran’s Delicatessen

LOCAL HEROES Zoran’s Delicatessen is at the heart of St Margarets life. This fabulous fully licensed café offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon meals as well as extensive home dining options. For a breakfast of chorizo and eggs, and the best coffee in town, look no further. Zoran’s cakes are delicious at any time of day…

Pavilion of Kew Gardens in Christmas time, London

12 Days of Christmas – a suggested itinerary

12 Days of Christmas With Christmas approaching at a gallop worthy of Prancer, it’s time to think not only about shopping for food and gifts, and sending out all those Christmas cards, but also about taking time to relax and enjoy all the many festive events taking place in our neighbourhood. If you’re lucky enough…

Introducing our stunning new home in a private gated estate by the River Thames.

We are thrilled to have added a brand new luxury home in a private gated estate at 18 Egerton Drive to our portfolio. We can now enhance our luxury portfolio offering of the properties at 20 the Barons and 9 The Barons with this stunning three-bedroom bespoke town-house. Located one mile from Richmond and on the…

New Apartment on the Block

As well as the five apartments in a single mansion block at 20 The Barons, we’ve now added 9 The Barons to our portfolio. We like to feel we’re big enough to offer the security of a community of guests, but sufficiently boutique to provide a bespoke service offering the personal attention of both the…

Five Fabulous Years

On December 20th it was five years since we opened our doors to our first guests. We can’t believe how time has flown – and how we’ve grown! We started with just one rather fabulous 2 bed – The Arlington. We were so proud to have such a beautiful product to offer and to see…

Christmas and Winter Things to Do locally

Got the winter blues? Tired of dark days already? We at 20 the Barons always look for ways to brighten up the darkest afternoons, and have gathered a few of our favourite winter events to share with you. There’s so much going on in the area at this time of year, there’s no need to…

An Ode to Curry

Very frequently we take the time to rejoice in our location. A rather lovely ten minute walk from the Barons brings you to the heart of Twickenham. To most people Twickenham says ‘rugby’. And we are fiercely proud of our Rugby heritage. But did you know Twickenham is the centre of the curry world in…

Unusual Accommodations #2: Converted Train Carriages

Train carriages were first stationed and repurposed as ‘camping coaches’ in Britain in the Thirties, providing holiday apartments that rarely offered running water or electricity. Today they are back in vogue, but with the emphasis on the sort of luxury The Baron adores. For train-lovers, it is stirring to consider the Pullman carriage as both…

Chopping up Eels

Given current London property prices, I wonder what it might cost today to buy an entire island in the middle of the Thames. At the end of the 1800s, such a prospect was not so remote, and all for less than £7,000. An 1899 newspaper article recalls the lively auction of Eel Pie Island, the…

20 Walks From 20 The Barons: Bridges & Ferries: No 2

This walk begins at the Hammertons Ferry Landing, on the Twickenham bank of the Thames below Orleans House Gardens. It is a continuation of the Bridges and Ferries Walk from St Margarets Station to Ham House Ferry Landing, which you can find in Blog 23. Both also work as self-contained walks, offering insights into the…

Unusual Accommodation #1: Aircraft

Much as he adores haunting the corridors of the apartments at 20TheBarons, and whiling away his days with the best of brandy and cigars, The Baron is often to be found researching inspirational places to stay around the world. Succumbing to nostalgia about his flying days, he was delighted to discover a number of aircraft…

The Untimely Death of Miss Rita Foy

April 1st is the anniversary of the tragic death in 1930 of 20-year-old actress Miss Nita Foy, at Twickenham Film Studios. The inquest into her death was reported in the Gloucester Citizen, 5 April 1930, in an article that raises more questions than answers. Despite the verdict, other accounts reveal that the coroner was quite…

The House of Temperley

Just along the street from our luxury serviced apartments here at 20 The Barons, it is a joy to behold Twickenham Studios once again thriving at the heart of the British film industry. Millions of pounds have been spent in the last two years re-establishing the theatres and stages as a world-leading facility. Equipment has…

Twickenham Studios At Oscars Time

Twickenham Studios at Oscars Time The Baron finds it rather wonderful having a film studio as a neighbour, particularly when it’s one of the world’s great film studios, and especially when it’s Oscars season. There’s something soul-stirring about watching the ceremony while recalling the many previous winners who have employed the technological wonders that continue…

Stumbling over Ghosts

Stumbling over Ghosts: The Baron, having donned his metaphorical deerstalker and set out on the trail to investigate the history of his home at 20 The Barons, has found himself increasingly obsessed with the thrill of the chase. There is something almost compulsive about finding and following the threads into the past that sprout into…

20-second guide to the 20 national teams

With the release of our accommodation prices for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, 20TheBarons presents a 20-second guide to the 20 national teams who will be testing the airline weight allowance when they arrive on our shores in September 2015. A comparison of each nation’s population makes for interesting reading, but then it’s only XV…

The Cabbage Patch

The Cabbage Patch On Halloween, a year from now, the final of the Rugby World Cup will take place at the world’s biggest and most famous rugby stadium. With a hi-tech playing surface enclosed by covered stands, three steepling tiers of seats accommodating 82,000 spectators, a four-star hotel, a health and leisure club and its…

Baron Attenborough of Richmond Upon Thames

Baron Attenborough of Richmond Upon Thames “Everything is nice about living in Richmond,” Richard Attenborough told Time Out in 2012. Now it is the borough’s turn to pay tribute to one of its greatest residents, who passed away on 25 August 2014 five days short of his 91st birthday. The much-loved actor, director, producer and…

London Relocation in the Digital Age

London relocation in the Digital Age: If relocating to London seems a daunting task, it is worth considering how much easier it has become in the digital age to make such a capital move. In The Baron’s heyday, back in the shadows of time, finding the best place to live in London was a question…

20 Great Walks From 20 The Barons

“TWENTY bridges from Tower to Kew – Wanted to know what the River knew, Twenty Bridges or twenty-two, For they were young, and the Thames was old And this is the tale that River told.” ― Rudyard Kipling The River Thames has been at the heart of life in Richmond and Twickenham for centuries. The…

London Rooftops

“When there’s hardly no day, Nor hardly no night, There’s things half in shadow, And halfway in light, On the rooftops of London, Coo, what a sight!” The Baron has come over all Mary Poppins, all Chim Chiminey, after indulging in a night on the tiles and discovering that the best way to look at…

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

With Easter weekend upon us, The Baron’s thoughts have turned to chocolate. He has little time for eggs and rabbits, but will happily employ the holiday as excuse to indulge his addiction to chocolate truffles. And in this, he shares a vice with that most chocolate-infused of children’s authors, Roald Dahl, whose legacy is making…

The Boat Race

Sunday 6th April, 2014, at 17.55, is the occasion of the BNY Mellon Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. With the finishing line a mere 20-minute train ride from 20 The Barons, St Margarets, our resident and ghostly expert The Baron (who has seen all 160 races) offers a 20-stroke guide to charting the waters of one of…

Gravity

As the credits rolled on the Oscars for another year (and Gravity pulls us all back down to earth eventually), it was a joy for everyone at 20 The Barons to see so many golden statuettes migrating to the trophy cabinets of the West London region’s famous film studios. Gravity, which won 7 Oscars including…

Valentine's Day at 20 The Barons

It’s Valentine’s day at 20 The Barons and Cupid’s flight-path soars over London today. The great love god might be surprised to see some of the finest evening celebrations taking place in the city’s museums and galleries: a reminder of the cultural diversity on offer in our fine capital, even on a night more commonly associated…

Two Twickenham Floods in History

In this watery winter of drenched discontent The Baron is considering whether we should all commence on the Ark. Counting our lucky stars at The Barons and hoping the skies clear and ground drains for those suffering at the hands of the current flood waters, it is high tide and time to look back on two Twickenham…

The Thames, Fair River

The Thames, Fair River “Glide gently, thus forever glide, O Thames! That other bards may see, As lovely visions by thy side As now, fair river, come to me.” ‘Lines written near Richmond, upon the Thames, at Evening’ —William Wordsworth, 1798 What would St Margarets, Twickenham and Richmond be without the seductive curves of the…

St Margarets and The Beatles

The story of St Margarets and the Beatles can be told in three movies with St Margarets at their heart. Filmed at Twickenham Studios, a minute’s walk from 20 The Barons, they also featured location shoots that stamped the area with the Fab Four’s historic boot-prints. In March 1964, the fresh-faced, mop-topped Beatles returned from…

A tour of St Margarets village

Residents at 20 The Barons are fortunate enough to find themselves at the centre of St Margarets Village, an area that combines the best of two worlds. It has a mainline railway station only 9 miles west of central London, yet retains the local atmosphere, community spirit, independent shops, and friendly pubs and restaurants of…

It’s A Wonderful Life

On 20 December, 20 The Barons celebrated its first birthday. So, how did The Baron and St Margaret mark the occasion? Well, they find nothing more festive than curling up with a glass of Champagne in front of the classic Christmas movie It’s A Wonderful Life, which shares our birthday, having premiered in New York…

20 The Barons celebrates its first birthday

20 The Barons celebrates its first birthday this weekend. Here we offer up a choice of cocktails for guests to enjoy their complimentary bottle of bubbly. The TW1 Twickenham Film Studios (TW1) is just around the corner, celebrating their 100th anniversary, so here’s a classic Champagne Cocktail as drunk by Victor Lazlo in Casablanca. 1…

How Champagne Became Famous

On 20th December, 20 The Barons will celebrate its first birthday, and The Baron is inviting all guests to join us in a complimentary bottle of his favourite ‘bolly’. Here The Baron muses on how Champagne became famous. Fizz is always to the forefront at The Barons, but it’s only in the last 150 years…

Top 20 Historical Artists

The inspiring landscape around St Margarets has for centuries inspired writers, artists and musicians to take up residence. Here’s a list of Top 20 historical artists from 20 The Barons, arranged in chronological order: 1. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400), author of The Canterbury Tales, served in Richmond as the Yeoman of the King’s Chamber. 2. Alexander…

The Twickenham Parakeets

On his daily constitutional (a highly recommended wander east from 20 The Barons, along St Margarets Road, over Richmond Bridge, and on up Richmond Hill), The Baron never fails to be enchanted by a quirk of the local fauna. The first hint of something unusual is a loud screeching from the treetops that takes him…

“I cannot fault this accommodation. Ali has been both very responsive and helpful. The apartment itself is very stylishly furnished and everything you need is there. I am an extremely fussy and particular person so it takes a lot for me to be completely happy with where I stay. I hope to be back again.”
Julian S

“Perfect location, perfect apartment and perfect management (attentive, responsive and proactively helpful). Unequivocal recommendation for anyone needing a real home away from home!”
Chris M. Oct-Dec 2016

“The Barons are beautifully decorated, thoughtfully equipped with top notch appliances and kitchen gadgets and make the upheaval of being in temp accommodation a very small burden indeed. With full cable tv, lots of nice little extras and a great team to help you get settled and live well, I couldn’t fault this as a temporary apartment. Minutes to St Margarets station or a short walk over Richmond bridge to the bright lights of Richmond, it is ideally located. Ali the housekeeper personally welcomed me, helped out when I had minor domestic emergencies and couldn’t have been more accommodating. Top place, highly recommend it.”
Fiona M