Where: Hammersmith Road, W14 (020 7385 1200) Kensington (Olympia) tube.When: Phone/go to website for details.How much: Phone/go to website for details.Museums/galleries/toursPM Gallery A contemporary, rather racy art gallery in a stunning historical setting. The PM might not get the headlines that other art venues do, but it’s certainly the one to visit for an all-round experience. It’s in a beautifully restored Regency villa, in Ealing’s Walpole Park.In fact, smart Londoners looking for a chic party or wedding venue should step right up.Where: Pitshanger Manor, Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, Ealing, W5 (020 8567 1227), South Ealing tube or Ealing Broadway tube/rail.When: Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm.How much: Free.Hammersmith Bridge Yes, it’s a bridge, but what a London classic. Anyone who lives south of it may grumble that narrow and fragile Hammersmith Bridge is a bind, but for visitors it’s a lovely place to stop and watch the river traffic go by and admire the structure Where: Hammersmith Bridge, W6, Hammersmith tube.
Riverside Studios World theatre gets a fantastic showcase at this rightly respected arts centre. It has a brilliant location right on the river, a smart caf?and an unrivalled array of theatre productions, independent movies, comedy acts and more Somewhere for west London residents to be proud of. Where: Crisp Road, Hammersmith, W6 (020 8237 1000) Hammersmith tube.When: Daily, 12noon-9pm How much: Phone/go to website for details. Holland Park/Commonwealth Institute The park is rightly one of London’s landmarks. A gorgeous mix of highly mannered formal planting, a soothing Japanese garden, some wild, woody edges and a fun little caf?Smart west Londoners eat at the Belvedere (in the park, while courting couples take a picnic and frisbee on to the huge lawn.
If all that languid pleasure makes you feel guilty, check out events in the bustling Institute at the Kensington High Street entrance (020 7603 4535) or book tickets for the renowned Holland Park theatre (020 7602 7856). Where: Holland Park Avenue, Kensington, W8 (020 7471 9811), Holland Park tube. For Commonwealth Institute/Holland Park theatre, go to High Street Kensington tube. Belvedere restaurant, off Abbotsbury Road, Holland Park (020 7602 1238), Holland Park tube.When: Park, daily, 7.30am-dusk; Commonwealth Institute, Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm.
Holland Park theatre; summer open-air opera, Tues-Sat,from 7.30pm. Belvedere, Mon-Sat, 12noon-2.30pm, 6pm-11pm; Sun, 12noon-3.30pm.How much: Park, free Commonwealth Institute, Free Holland Park theatre, open-air opera tickets, £29. Belvederes; set meals, £14.95 for two courses, £17.95 for three courses; set Sunday lunch, £19.50 for three courses. Leighton House Combine a trip to the park (above) and this architectural gem and you’ll almost suffer sensory overload. Lord Leighton’s studio/home is a bejewelled, dazzling set of rooms with tiles, stained-glass windows and a fab collection of the work of Leighton and his contemporaries.