Are you thinking of moving to Barnes in London? 

by | Sep 11, 2023 | London Areas | 0 comments

It may be a long-term move if you do- apparently, when people move to Barnes they tend to stay and join the deep-rooted community of this ancient village in a city.  The community spirit has rallied together over time to preserve the rural sense of the place, seeing off developers 40 years ago and preserving Rose House while forming the Barnes Community Association.  Without the Community Association, there would not be the famous Barnes Fair, or the Food Fair.  In addition, they support the Barnes Children´s Literature Festival and are lobbying for the No22 bus to extend its line from Piccadilly through to Barnes.  Residents assist on local projects, enjoy regular Farmers Markets, and can volunteer at Barn Elms Wetlands Centre.  If living in a village on the illustrious river Thames in the city of London appeals to you then Barnes may be your forever location. Gentleman & a Van provides removals and storage solutions for our customers and clients in and around Barnes. 

Nature and green space in Barnes 

As mentioned above, the World Wildlife Trusts London Wetland Centre covers over 100 acres of land, a mecca of biodiversity, and a hot spot for migratory birds.  Created from four disused Victorian reservoirs, nestled in the Thames, it provides a haven for many different birds and animals and humans seeking tranquility and connection.  Amongst the lakes, pools, and gardens sightings of bitterns can delight seasoned twitchers, while otters and kingfishers charm all year round.  With a variety of walks, art exhibitions, and activities, it is a hive of engagement for all age groups. Latest sightings demonstrate how international the interspecies demographic is for this popular green space in Barnes.  Set on the Thames, Barnes has all the riverside glory of its West London counterparts, plus Richmond Park is easy to access through the Roehampton Gate. Crossing Barnes Bridge brings all the green spaces of Chiswick within reach, and across Hammersmith Bridge are all the pubs and restaurants that flank the edge of the Thames. 

Houses in Barnes

Period homes abound in Barnes, diverse in styles. Victorian cottages can be found in the Little Chelsea district which is off White Hart Lane while large Georgian riverside homes are located on The Terrace.  Castelnau has Regency Villas and double-fronted Victorian townhouses. A curious motif of Barnes houses surrounding Barnes Green is the small sandstone lions that frequent the gateposts and gables of their exteriors.  Apparently, this concentration of decorative lions was due to an administrative error that resulted in many surplus lions being supplied to the original builder. As a result, houses in the vicinity benefited from the availability of the lions, and now the houses are even more esteemed in the area.  The Lion Houses are consequently a true signature of Barnes.  It is no surprise that Barnes is a popular location for families, and as many others say, once people live in Barnes they tend not to move again.  With twice as many properties to buy than rent, it is a deeply residential location, however, the rental stock is generally well maintained by former landlord owners and is high quality. 

Schools in Barnes 

St Paul’s is a highly rated boys’ school with a junior school, and its sibling school, St Paul’s Girls is across Hammersmith Bridge.  The Swedish School on Lonsdale Road brings a Scandinavian ex-pat community into the area, one that appreciates the leafy laid-back locale.   Close by is the Harrodian School and Barnes Primary School, the local state school, which has outstanding Ofsted ratings.  Exploring ratings for secondary schools and primary schools will demonstrate why Barnes is such a popular location for families. Plus, its location and transport links make it easy to travel a little further to other schools, for example, the highly rated City of London School. 

Transport Links 

Overland trains run through Barnes station to Richmond and Waterloo giving access to central London in 20 minutes. With Hammersmith close by as a nexus for different branching Underground lines, there are multiple transport options within easy reach. Uber boat from nearby Putney gives riverside access to the city from the waters.  Plus, if the Barnes Association is truly successful, in the future the no.22 bus can be a direct line into the heart of the city.  The beauty of being able to travel overland by train or boat in London to get around is worth its weight in gold. Barnes is a perfect spot to allow easy overland travel in and around London. 

Village highlights in Barnes 

Two Peas in a Pod suffices as the traditional greengrocer with a contemporary edge. Barnes Fish Shop is a local fishmonger, with fresh fish from Cornwall.  The Ginger Pig has a location in Barnes for class butchery as well as J Seal a local butcher with a wide range of game, meat, poultry, and eggs. For restaurants, Church Rd comes well recommended.  Awesome Thai is a popular local Thai restaurant. OKA is a Japanese restaurant taking handmade sushi to the next level and providing home delivery as well.  The Red Lion has a Sunday Lunch menu and caters to children as well as events. For the cultural angle, amongst other attractions, there is the Riverside Gallery on Barnes High Street, a gallery and framers that has exhibitions of local artists and those from farther afield. Offering art restoration as well as exhibitions they showcase the work of many contemporary artists.  If you are interested in interiors, then Tobias and the Angel is a treasure trove, taking things a cut above the usual village high street, but hey, this is a riverside village in London.

Gentleman & a Van in Barnes 

Gentleman & Van removal and storage service in Barnes offers swift solutions for domestic customers and businesses in the area.  With our large storage depots in Wimbledon and Nine Elms, we can provide top-tier storage in Southwest and Central London.  Our Man and Van teams are well-versed in handling precious items and antiques and frequently operate with interior designers and auction houses in London. Whether you need to move house, or office or have some work that requires a diligent and professional delivery team, Gentleman and a Van provides the smarter way to move. Check out our reviews to confirm we have a trusted and loyal customer base, garnered over the last couple of decades of providing removals and storage in London. 

Why Gentleman & a Van? 

Quality of life is something we uphold with our ethos for excellent service in the removals and storage trade.  By improving the quality of our services, we can share these benefits with you and ensure you have stress-free experiences when in transit and transition. Essentially, from the outset, Gentleman & a Van has aimed to raise the bar in this sector of the removals and storage trade. As members of the Master Removers Group and with BAR approval, we have the fundamentals of excellent industry service nailed. We then take our customer service and innovation to the next level.  If you need a packing service, we can easily provide it. Our Box Shop has everything required to make your home packing experience flow smoothly.  Depending on the scale of your move, we have state-of-the-art vehicles to assist and fully trained personnel on hand.  Get in touch today to discuss moving to Barnes with us, and we can put a plan together with you.