Chiswick, London – 18 Epic things to do (2023)

This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Cosmopolitan yet convivial, Chiswick in West London has a lot to offer. From upmarket shops to historic homes and gardens, there are some classy things to do in Chiswick. Plus the neighbourhood has a plethora of pubs on the riverside and High Road bars and restaurants so pretty much all the good things in life!

As former West London residents, here is our guide to all the top things to do in Chiswick, West London:

You might like – The 65+ best free things to do in London >

Things to do in Chiswick, West London

1. Chiswick High Road

Leafy and tree-lined with a range of independent and chain shops, Chiswick High Road is one of the nicest high streets in London, and perfect for a day of shopping, eating and drinking (not necessarily in that order).

From alfresco flower stalls to restaurant patios and old cinemas turned into antique stalls, there are a lot of things to do on Chiswick High Road.

Obviously this is one of the more affluent areas of West London and this is reflected in the types of shops and businesses dotted along Chiswick High Road.

We used to live in Hammersmith and would often walk to Chiswick High Road at the weekends. If you are getting the tube or bus to Chiswick, we’d recommend jumping off at Turnham Green and starting your trip there.

Foster Books green book shop Chiswick copyright CK Travels

You might like – Best shopping malls and shopping districts in London >

2. Chiswick House and Gardens

One of the most beguiling and beautiful house and gardens in West London (likely our favourite, alongside Fulham Palace), Chiswick House is an 18th century palladian villa.

It was once residence to Lord Burlington and is set in 65 acres of stunning park land, with Chiswick river views and hidden statues.

Chiswick House Gardens are free to visit (no booking required) although there is an admission fee to go into the house itself. You could easily spend a whole day exploring Chiswick House and Gardens before having a picnic on the lawn or lunch in the cafe.

We’ve been to several night time festivals in Chiswick House Gardens too and the annual lantern festival is highly recommended – check out all their events on their website >

You might like – Things to do in Greenwich, London >

3. Fullers Brewery shop and tours

Cheers to Fuller’s Brewery! A local legend and brewing onsite here since the 17th century, you know you are getting near to the Fuller’s Brewery when you smell the hops in the air.

We’ve enjoyed the Fuller’s Brewery Tour, mainly because it ends in a 30 minute free pour of any beer at the bar (oh and all the history too).

The Fullers Brewery Tour starts and ends in the Fuller’s Brewery shop, well stocked with all your favourite Fullers beer plus some Fuller’s merchandise too. This is one of the BEST (and most boozy) things to do in Chiswick (drink responsibly).

The Fuller’s Brewery shop also has a big range of chilled fridges chock full of ice-cold bottles (very handy for when the Boat Race is on!). Fuller’s also used to be a really nice pub here too called The Mawson Arms but that has since closed down

However, at the time of writing, the future of the brewing site is unknown after a recent takeover by Japanese brewing giant Asahi.

With a new Fullers Head Office opening in nearby Strand on the Green, there are rumours this riverside Fullers brewing site may soon get demolished or become houses (booo!). They also recently closed their Dark Star Brewery site in West Sussex.

So try to check out the Fuller’s Brewery shop and brewery tours whilst it is still open, with lots of beery good offers, unique brews and Fuller’s merchandise to buy.

Like nearby Fulham Palace, Fuller’s Brewery is also renowned for its annual wisteria display, reputably one of the first sites in Europe to have such a magnificent bloom.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: The best brewery taprooms in London

4. Sipsmith’s Distillery

If you aren’t a brewery or beer fan, another alcohol adventure in Chiswick could be a trip to Sipsmith’s Gin Distillery, which offers tours of their gin factory (just the tonic! sorry..).

Here you can learn about the resurgence in this berry good gin (a ginaissance) and taste Sipsmiths at the source.

As well as seeing the copper pot stills (the first such operation in London in over 200 years), you can ask questions along the way and learn how to be the best in the west (London) at ginspired cocktails.

Check out all their events on the Sipsmith Distillery website >

London Travel Planning Facebook 2024 Group by CK Travels
Need help with your London travel itinerary or have any questions about your upcoming trip? Join our brand new online community! Click here to join our London Travel Planning and Tips Facebook group

5. Chiswick Cheese Market AKA ‘Cheesewick’

A Gouda edition to the Chiswick food scene, this ‘grate’ Chiswick cheese market pops up every month in Chiswick – just follow the smell we guess (or head to Old Market Square in Chiswick).

Apparently, Chiswick was once known as ‘Cheesewick’ – an old traditional term for a cheese farm (although we don’t really find this brie-lieveable..).

The Cheesewick fromagerie foray (Chiswick Cheese Market) occurs every third Sunday of the month along Chiswick High Road (near the George IV pub) and usually has over 150 types of cheese available (sweet baby cheeses…sorry not sorry).

Anyone for a cheese and craft beer crawl in Chiswick?

Try this – London Cheese Walking Tour with Tastings or London Cheese Crawl with a glass of fizz.

Try this – Get a London Go City pass, dozens of London attractions for one low price >

6. Chiswick Farmers and Food Market

The Chiswick Farmers Market is an organic produce pop-up that is a little walk away from Chiswick High Road.

Open most Sundays and located at Duke’s Meadow (close to the River Thames) with a handful of stalls, this is worth combining with a trip to Chiswick but not one to come a long distance for especially as there are much bigger and better farmer’s markets in London.

Nearby, there is also a children’s playground and ample green space in the meadows to eat your foodie purchases.

You might like – The best games bars and activity bars in London >

7. The Chiswick Cinema

Feeling like a film, or just want to escape the good old British rain? This new Chiswick cinema is independently run and has five state of the art screens, a bar and private member’s area (swish).

Here, you can arrange a private screening and dining experience too with a menu from a former Michelin star chef. Or for mere mortals, The Chiswick Cinema has a standard snack menu including the Chiswick Hot Dog (£12!)

As of summer 2023, tickets at the Chiswick Cinema start from £14 per film for adult non-members plus a £1.90 booking fee.

For more details of screenings and how to become a member visit their website >

Get your West End London theatre tickets and cinema tickets here >

You might like – The 20+ best immersive events in London >

8. Strand on the Green

We’ll whisper this so hopefully not too many people hear but we think the Strand of the Green is possibly our favourite area in Chiswick (if not the whole of West London), running from Kew Bridge along a beautiful stretch of the River Thames.

Strand on the Green Copyright CK Travels

Never too busy or overcrowded, Chiswick’s Strand on the Green is a hidden gem. With four riverside pubs all within close proximity – Strand on the Green also features very heavily in our best riverside pubs in London guide.

Strand on the Green is one of the nicest areas just to walk along the banks of the Thames in Chiswick, admiring the waterside cottages (if only we could live there!) and popping into pubs along the way for pints. Idyllic.

9. Chiswick Flower Market (1st Sunday of every month)

This new(ish) Chiswick Flower market is the first open-air flower market to open in London for 150 years and blooms into life the first Sunday of every month, come rain or shine.

The Chiswick Flower Market also saves west Londoner’s having to travel over to east London to visit Columbia Road Flower Market.

There are around 20-30 stalls from local garden centres, the Chiswick Horticultural and Allotment Society, and London House Plants.

Purchase bedding and house plants, cut flowers, seeds and bulbs, fruiting trees and gardening accessories,plus take part in free children’s activities like seed planting.

The Chiswick Flower Market is held on the 1st Sunday of every month, from 9am-3pm along Chiswick High Road, just outside the stretch of bars and restaurants that includes Chiswick Fire Station and the George IV pub.

10. Tabard Theatre

What is better than a theatre? A theatre in a pub! Located on the first floor of the The Tabard pub, the Tabard Theatre in Chiswick has been packing them in for years, showcasing local talent as well as professional productions.

It is definitely worth keeping an eye on their upcoming events as local luminaries often put on work in progress shows (pre Edinburgh) to test material here such as Dara Ó Briain, Al Murray and Harry Hill.

The Tabard Theatre building itself was built in the 1880s and the few times we’ve visited the pub downstairs, it has always been packed. There is also a little beer garden on the side too.

11. Chiswick pubs

Chiswick High Road and the surrounding side streets are home to some of the best pubs in West London (many of which are Fuller’s pubs), due to the fact the historic Fullers Brewery is located just down the road. Spoilt for choice, these are our favourite Chiswick Pubs:

The Old Pack Horse, Chiswick

The Old Pack Horse is a Fuller’s pub that has old-time, traditional interiors, a fine line in craft beers on tap (with paddle tastings too) but most importantly, some of the best Thai food in London.

The beer taps change here quite often and it isn’t just restricted to Fuller’s beers so there is plenty of craft choice – seriously this could be the best choice of beer on Chiswick High Road.

Chiswick’s Old Pack Horse pub also has a great events schedule with regular pub quizzes (just £2 a peep), live music, open mic spots plus fun one-off events like drag bingo.

The Old Pack Horse, Chiswick things to do Copyright CK Travels

Packhorse and Talbot pub

One of Chiswick’s largest and most popular pubs, we particularly like the George Packhorse and Talbot pub due to its epic beer garden which often plays host to live music, sporting events on the big screens plus Shakespeare plays (Ale’s well that ends well?).

The Lamb, Chiswick

Heading to Chiswick on a Sunday? Well, you can head to The Lamb in Chiswick (near Turnham Green) any day of the week obviously but we usually go here if we are on the hunt for a Sunday roast, as the beer garden is ample, gets the sunshine and has nice views overlooking Chiswick High Road.

The Duke of Sussex

A little off the main hub-bub of Chiswick High Road, this stately Victorian backstreet boozer has plenty of character as well as craft beer choices. Renowned for food menu, The Duke of Sussex is a local pub that has been around for years and knows what it takes to be a top tavern, with a big beer garden too.

The Swan

Possibly the smallest pub on this list but with bags of character, this art deco gem may not have a lot of interior space but has one of the best beer gardens in Chiswick, if not West London. We haven’t eaten at The Swan yet but enjoyed a cold pint outside, with board games also on offer (plus dog friendly).

YOU MIGHT LIKE: The best pubs and bars in Chiswick >

12. Gunnersbury Park

Gunnersbury Park is a gorgeous and green gem, packed full of history and a beautiful recently restored house that is free to visit inside and out.

A grade II listed Georgian mansion built in the 1660s with gardens that includes a museum, an orangery, shell grotto and a boating lake (with an 18th century temple and swan pedalos – how Disneyland!).

A trip to Gunnersbury Park is a fine day out for all ages, even if you don’t appreciate the historic majesty of the site.

Gunnersbury Park Chiswick Copyright CK Travels

Gunnersbury Park has some of the best walking trails in West London, with wild flower meadows, a Gothic tower hidden in the woods and a cafe to grab a much deserved drink in after.

We’ve also been to Gunnersbury Park for a couple of music festivals so it is good to see the site being visited by such a cross section of locals and visitors.

13. Chiswick Devonshire Road

A little road with a community spirit and packed full of neighbourhood shops, cafes and businesses, Devonshire Road has alfresco dining and sometimes closes off its entire road for pop-up festivals or festivals which many of the locals support. Not your typical high street and all the better for it.

Chiswick Devonshire Road Copyright CK Travels

14. Turnham Green Terrace

Whilst in Chiswick, definitely take time to also explore Turnham Green Terrace as there are lots of independent stores here and good cafes and restaurants.

One of our favourites is Chief Coffee cafe, as not only do they do give good caffeine but they also have a pinball machine arcade room.

The charity shops are also particularly well stocked in Turnham Green – we’ve bought loads of amazing books from the Oxfam Book store here, plus we literally bumped into Declan Donnelly here (from Ant & Dec).

Thanks for checking out our blog!
We are currently digital nomading / travelling for the next few months around London and Asia (Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore). Check out our travel diaries on Instagram – @.c.k.travels, Tik Tok – @cktravels and on Facebook.

15. Chiswick Celebrity Resident Spotting

Talking of seeing Declan Donnely (or was it Ant? We are never sure). There are quite a few famous people who live in Chiswick including TV celebs and film stars.

Prominent Chiswick celebrity residents include Colin Firth, Richard Osman, Al Murray, Jeremy Vine, David Tennant and comedian Dara O Briain.

We’ve also seen Elizabeth McGovern from Downtown Abbey going about her shopping on Chiswick High Road and bumped into Clare Balding on the Thames Path.

16. Go for a cycle in Chiswick

One of best London cycling routes, head to Richmond from Chiswick (or even Hammersmith) along the Thames path

This River Thames cycling route stays along the water all the way. If you want to make a day of it, this route also runs parallel to Kew Gardens (admission fees apply) or you can grab lunch at one of the lovely pubs overlooking Kew Green.

As well as cycling in Chiswick, the route takes you through the Strand on the Green, one of West London’s best kept secrets and has riverside bars and restaurants galore.

This Chiswick to Richmond London cycling route finishes at Richmond Bridge. If you still fancy more exercise, you can hire a boat or punt in Richmond or carry on cycling along the Thames all the way to Twickenham.

Check out our London’s best cycling routes guide >

Try this – Westminster to Kew River Thames Cruise >

17. Hogarth’s House

Known as the ‘Father of British Painting, William Hogarth is one of Britain’s best known artists who lived and worked in Chiswick for a significant part of his life.

Hogarth bought this house in Chiswick in 1749, as a country home to escape from the hustle and bustle of his other residence in Leicester Square – he eventually moved here full time until his passing in 1764.

Hogarth House is close to Chiswick House and Gardens and is open noon to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday and on Bank Holiday Mondays. Hogarth House in Chiswick is free admission but donations are appreciated.

18. Chiswick Pride / Rainbow Crossings

Newly unveiled in early 2023, Chiswick is now home to four new Pride / Rainbow crossings along Chiswick High Road and the junctions of Turnham Green Terrace and Annandale Road.

Organised by the West London Queer Project, the colours in the new Chiswick crossings are those of the Progressive Pride flag, which celebrates LGBTQ people and also Black Lives Matter.