This is a post about Eel Pie Island Twickenham.
If you’ve ever walked along the Thames towpath near Richmond or Twickenham and spotted a little wooden footbridge leading to a cluster of houseboats, sculptures and overgrown gardens, you’ve found Eel Pie Island. It’s a private island in the middle of the river that most people walk past without realising it once hosted The Rolling Stones, The Who and Pink Floyd.
You can walk onto the island and along its main path any day of the year. But the artists’ studios, the bohemian huts and the bits that make it properly interesting are only open to the public a handful of weekends each summer. If you’re planning a trip around one of those open weekends, here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Quick Guide: Eel Pie Island
Location: A private island on the Thames between Twickenham and Richmond, southwest London
Getting there: Train to Twickenham station (around 25 minutes from London Waterloo), then a 10 to 15 minute walk to the footbridge on Eel Pie Island Slip. You can also walk along the river from Richmond in about 30 to 40 minutes
Currency: Pounds sterling. Bring cash, as several of the artists’ studios don’t take card payments
Best time to visit: During the Open Studios weekends, usually a few weekends in early July and again in December. For 2026, the dates are Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July and Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July, 11am to 5pm
Don’t miss: Booking your free two-hour entry slot in advance through the Eel Pie Island Artists website, since you won’t be let onto the island without one
What Is Eel Pie Island and Why Is It Famous
Eel Pie Island sits in the Thames at Twickenham and has been home to fishermen, boatbuilders and, for a few wild decades, some of the most influential bands in British music history.
In the 1960s, the island’s hotel had a sprung dance floor and a reputation as one of the best music venues outside central London. The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Yardbirds and Pink Floyd all played there before the hotel burned down in 1971. I remember when I first heard about this island I couldn’t wait to visit!
Today it’s a quiet, car-free community of around 50 houses, a working boatyard and roughly two dozen artists’ studios tucked between the buildings. It’s still privately owned and lived in, which is why public access is so limited.
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When You Can Actually Visit Eel Pie Island
This is the bit that catches people out. Eel Pie Island isn’t a tourist attraction with regular opening hours. It’s a residential community that happens to open its studios to visitors a few times a year through the Eel Pie Island Artists Open Studios weekends.
For summer 2026, the confirmed dates are:
- Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July
- Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July
Both weekends run 11am to 5pm. Entry is free, but you need to book a two-hour time slot in advance through the Eel Pie Island Artists website. Don’t turn up without a booking, as you won’t be allowed onto the island.
It’s been a little while since I visited so I can’t remember when I booked mine, but I wouldn’t leave it too long to book.
There’s also a smaller open weekend most years in December, so if summer doesn’t work for you, keep an eye on the Eel Pie Island Artists site for winter dates. You can also sign up for their newsletter!
How to Get to Eel Pie Island from London
The easiest way is by train. South Western Railway runs regular services from London Waterloo to Twickenham, taking around 25 minutes. From Twickenham station, it’s a 10 to 15 minute walk through the town centre and down to the river, where you’ll cross the footbridge on Eel Pie Island Slip.
If you’d rather make a day of it, you can walk the river path from Richmond, passing Marble Hill House and some lovely riverside pubs along the way. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes at a relaxed pace.
What to Expect When You Visit
Once you’re across the footbridge, you’ll find narrow paths winding between houses, studios and gardens packed with the kind of eccentric sculpture you don’t see anywhere else in London. Expect skeletons in cages, mannequins draped in fairy lights and the occasional boat repurposed as a flower bed.
During Open Studios weekends, around two dozen artists open their doors to show and sell paintings, ceramics, jewellery and sculpture. It’s a great way to spend a couple of hours and most artists are happy to chat about their work if you ask.
Eel Pie Island Museum
If you can’t make it onto the island itself, or want more context before you go, the Eel Pie Island Museum on Twickenham’s mainland is worth a stop. It covers the island’s music history in detail, including its connections to the Stones, The Who and inventor Trevor Baylis, who lived on the island. It’s open Thursday to Sunday and it’s only a fiver to get in!
Eel Pie Island Day Trip From London
Twickenham is super close to the likes of Richmond and Kew and makes for a great day out wherever your London base is. In fact, the area is close to some of my favourite walks in London. You can find them here on my post about great walking routes in London for exploring the city on foot.
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FAQ
You can walk onto the main path of the island at any time, but the artists’ studios and the more interesting parts are only open during the official Open Studios weekends, usually in July and December.
Yes. Entry during the Open Studios weekends is free, but you need to reserve a two-hour time slot in advance through the Eel Pie Island Artists website.
Take a train from London Waterloo to Twickenham, which takes around 25 minutes, then walk 10 to 15 minutes to the footbridge.
Yes, entry to the Open Studios weekends is free. You’ll want cash on hand if you plan to buy any art, as not all studios accept cards.
The island’s hotel hosted gigs by the Rolling Stones, The Who and other major bands in the 1960s, before it burned down in 1971. The Eel Pie Island Museum on the mainland has more on this history.
Worth the Trip
Eel Pie Island is one of the coolest hidden gems in London! Whether you’re interested in its iconic musical history, local art or simply want to see this unusual spot in a big city like London, if you’re around in early July, it’s worth building a day around it.
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