#BecauseImALondoner at Heathrow

'Because I'm a Londoner' campaign launches at Heathrow!

Created by London & Partners to inspire Londoners to safely explore local areas and boost consumer confidence and spending. Here at Heathrow, we’ve supporting the campaign closer to the airport.

Colleagues across Team Heathrow have been sending in their local recommendations of small businesses and places of interest. Many colleagues live in the boroughs that directly surround the airport and so the economic recovery of these areas is vital. 

Travelling for a summer break has been difficult for some this year. This campaign offers you suggestions for places to visit and explore for fun days out with friends and family. 

To kickstart the campaign, we’re putting the spotlight on the large local region of Hounslow, which includes the towns of Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth and Feltham.

Heathrow Graduate, Anita Chagar, a local resident - born and raised in the area, has kindly shared a selection of recommendations! 

She said: "Hounslow is very well connected by public transport: via tube, rail, bus – and of course, by plane! Having so many links to the city, country and world has created a culturally diverse community I am proud to be a part of."

Here are Anita's recommendations. Enjoy! 

Places of Interest

Chiswick House and Gardens is an 18^th Century Neo-Palladian villa inspired by Italian architecture surrounded by gardens that are notable for marking the start of the English Landscape Movement. The National Tea Day 'FesTeaVal' was held on the grounds which made for a fun day out with my mum, who loves drinking tea!

London Museum of Water & Steam in Brentford, is currently closed however there are free, fun activities on offer in the garden and outdoor splash zone on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until the end of August.

Leisure West, in Feltham has a Cineworld, bowling alley and several restaurants. This Cineworld is home to many Bollywood movie premieres, so you may catch some famous stars in the foyer (I just missed seeing Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in 2013 and I'm still gutted to this day!)

Restaurants

ll Bebo's Italian Restaurant provides lots of options for pizza, pasta and other dishes. There's a good wine selection and both indoor and outdoor seating. When I visited recently on a warm summer's evening, I could almost pretend I was dining al fresco in Italy! This restaurant is also part of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.

The Hare & Hounds a quintessential British pub that offers a variety of food and drink options. It's in a quieter part of Hounslow that takes you away from the noise of the main streets, but not too far away. 

Mr Singh's Pizza has a range of vegetarian pizzas, burgers and wraps with an Indian twist. Its range of tasty food can suit all ages and the relaxed atmosphere makes it a great place to hang out with friends.

Coffee Shops

Mimi's Coffee and Dessert Lounge serves great crepes, waffles and milkshakes.

Markets

The Food Market Chiswick, Duke Meadows (every Sunday, 10am-2pm).

Brentford Market, located on Brentford High Street (ever Sunday, 10am-2pm).

Old Isleworth Market, Shrewsbury Walk, is returning on specific days in the autumn.

Unique/Unusual Businesses

The Arts Centre, Hounslow is a theatre, dance studio, presentation suite, tea party room and community gallery. There are regular performances, guest speakers and workshop activities for the community. 

Osterley Bookshop was originally the Osterley and Spring Grove station (built in 1883), it closed in 1934 when the tube station was built. It eventually became the bookshop it is today, with the tube line still running underneath. The shop is filled to the brim with books and I like to stop by to pick something up to read in nearby Osterley Park.​

Parks/Outdoor Spaces

Hounslow Heath is a nature reserve that once operated as a grass airfield from 1914-1920, hosting Britain's first scheduled daily international commercial flights.

Lampton Park has well-maintained lawns and flower beds, as well as dedicated spaces for the children's playground and tennis courts. If you like to plane spot, then this is a good location as they fly overhead. It also has two nearby pubs, The Black Horse and The Bulstrode.​

Osterley Park and House is part of the National Trust and it's open to visitors to tour the mansion, gardens and lake. The stables are listed and were built in 1575, in time for a visit from Queen Elizabeth I. The house and grounds are also a popular filming location, with The Dark Knight Rises and Bollywood film Khabi Khushi Kabhie Gham, being filmed here. 

Sports

Brentford Community Stadium is home to Brentford FC and London Irish Rugby will be moving here soon, it’s a completely new stadium!

Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre, Heston Pool & Fitness and Isleworth Leisure Centre are just some of the fitness centres in the borough. 

Join in the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #BecauseImALondoner and sharing photos of your favourite shops and attraction across London.  

Find out more here: londonandpartners.com/JoinAlliance