Gadget Box

Eel Brook Common

Walham Green · 5 miles

Eel Brook Common is common land in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, close to Fulham Broadway, with its south-eastern boundary along New King's Road. According to the Fulham Society, the name actually is a derivative of 'hill brook common' - which relates to Musgrave Crescent, which is raised much higher than the surrounding land. It is believed that this is artificial and it probably was originally a Bronze Age mound - either a raised piece of ground to defend against attackers, or as a burial mound. When you leave Eel Brook Common from the north side, you go up a steep ramp - up onto Musgrave Crescent. It is within the Hammersmith and Fulham Conservation Area of Parsons Green.

Wormwood Scrubs

Old Oak Common · 5 miles

Covering 67 hectares, this open space in Old Oak Common lies in the north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and is the borough’s largest park. Known locally as The Scrubs, it forms one of the biggest commons in London. The area is divided by Scrubs Lane and the West London line railway, with the eastern section referred to as Little Wormwood Scrubs. The park has been publicly accessible since the Wormwood Scrubs Act of 1879, which secured its use for recreation while allowing occasional military training. Within the grounds are a range of sports facilities, including the Linford Christie Stadium, numerous football pitches and a pony centre. The southern edge abuts two notable institutions: HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs, constructed between 1875 and 1891, and the Hammersmith Hospital campus, which incorporates the relocated Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital. Historical uses have been diverse – from cavalry exercises leased to the War Office in 1812, to an airship landing ground in 1910 and a naval air station during the First World War. The park also formed part of the 1908 Olympic marathon route. Management is undertaken by the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust, which funds maintenance through leases of the hospital car park, rental of sports fields, advertising billboards and two public car parks. Access is via the surrounding road network and public transport routes that serve Old Oak Common; entry to the park is free and open to all.

Queen's Tower

Queen's Gate · 6.2 miles

Remnant of Imperial Institute buildings, demolished in 1957

The Rolling Bridge

Paddington · 6.8 miles

A kinetic sculpture completed in 2004, the Rolling Bridge forms part of the Grand Union Canal office and retail development at Paddington Basin in London. Conceived by designer Thomas Heatherwick, the structure consists of eight triangular sections linked by two-part hinges and driven by vertical hydraulic cylinders. When fully extended it functions as a conventional footbridge of about 12 metres in length; when the pistons engage, the sections curl together into an octagonal shape that occupies roughly half the width of the waterway. The bridge’s movement, which requires two to three minutes, is powered by fourteen hydraulic rams, precision bearings and an underground machinery chamber that supplies oil pressure. The bridge opens to the public on a set timetable: every Wednesday and Friday at 12:00, and each Saturday at 14:00. It received the British Constructional Steelwork Association’s British Structural Steel Design Award, recognising its engineering approach. Although the design could theoretically permit boat traffic, the basin beyond the bridge is currently filled by a fountain and blocked by a surface-level steel barrier, meaning navigation is not possible. The lengthy cycle time and the short detour when the bridge is closed have led commentators to view the work more as public art than a functional crossing. Access is step-free, providing wheelchair users with a level route across the bridge. The nearest town is Paddington, and opening times are listed on the official site. No admission fee is mentioned, and the bridge forms part of the surrounding public space without additional facilities noted.

The Fan Bridge

Paddington · 6.8 miles

The Merchant Square Footbridge is a moveable pedestrian bridge spanning a canal in Paddington, London. It is composed of five side-by side sections of varying lengths, with offset pivots to accommodate the varying lengths. When opened, the segments are brought to varying angles of elevation. The visual effect when opened has been likened to that of a Japanese fan.

Lisson Gallery

Marylebone · 6.8 miles

Located in the Marylebone district of central London, the gallery occupies premises originally opened on Bell Street in Lisson Grove in 1967. The current London space spans roughly 15,000 sq ft and was remodelled by architect Tony Fretton in two phases, first in 1986 and later in 1992. The building provides a series of exhibition rooms that host rotating shows of contemporary art. Since its inception, the venue has presented work by a broad roster of artists, currently numbering close to 80, among them Marina Abramović, Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor, Julian Opie and Laure Prouvost. Fourteen of the represented artists have received Turner Prize nominations, with five—Richard Deacon, Anish Kapoor, Tony Cragg, Grenville Davey and Douglas Gordon—having secured the award. Early programmes featured a group exhibition in April 1967 that included Derek Jarman and Keith Milow, and the gallery quickly became known for showing artists linked to Minimalism and Conceptual Art, such as Carl Andre, Sol LeWitt, Donald Judd and Yoko Ono. In the 1980s it displayed many of the sculptors later identified as the New British Sculptors. The gallery’s programme continues to evolve, drawing on its historical emphasis on innovative practice while maintaining a presence in several international cities. Visitors can view contemporary works within the spacious London rooms, which are situated near Marylebone’s transport links and local amenities.