Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Eel Pie Island, a tiny island full of greens on river Thames can be the perfect weekend destination to travel from the din and bustle city life.
It is an exclusive and elusive destination and the former site of to the now legendary Eel Pie Island Hotel. Decked up with greens and the serene river, this island has the rumored history. King Henry VIII used this island during 1500s as a courting ground for his mistresses and from 1830, it became the place of weekends for the tourists.
The rural authorities grew some of the home stays or huts along the coastal part for the tourists and most of the tourists here are from hippie community.
This island became popular in 1960’s for the music and the cultural revival and considered as the major venue for jazz and blues.
A bridge to the Eel Pie Island was proposed in 1889, but it was not until 1957 that one was completed. Today, the island has about 50 houses with 120 inhabitants, a couple of boatyards and some small businesses and artists’ studios. It has nature reserves at either end, but there is no public access to these.
Taggs Island, is another nearby riverside island having a dusty path loops past gardens rambling with roses, lavender and bamboo canes. A sun-dappled footbridge spans the central lagoon, circled by floating homes.
The richly-textured tapestry of nature history and culture on these 180 isles, of which 30 are inhabited, deserves to be preserved and shared for the tourism revenue and also for the cultural designing of England.
Tags: britain, England, london, secret destination, Tourism
