Discover Ickenham: Country Houses, Marsh and Hillingdon Trail

Ickenham combines impressive country houses, medieval architectural history and open landscapes with special outings for a range of interests. Between historic buildings, the Ickenham Marsh wetland and the Hillingdon Trail, you can shape your stay around culture, landscapes or a ride on a miniature railway. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore worth considering in advance whether you mainly want to discover historic places, explore paths through different habitats or combine both.

Historic places with their own distinctive character

One of the notable buildings is Swakeleys, built in 1629–1630 for Sir Edmund Wright. The estate has numerous panelled rooms with original fireplaces and an impressive plasterwork ceiling. It therefore offers a tangible insight into the representative architecture of its period, without limiting the historical impressions to a single building.

The Church of St Giles is listed as a Grade II* building. Its nave and chancel date from the late 14th century; the nave may be somewhat older than the chancel. An unusual addition is the burial chapel built for the Harringtons of Swakeleys, which was created in the mid-17th century. Anyone interested in church and local history will find several periods represented in one place, while the different dates remain assigned to the individual parts of the building.

Ickenham Manor Farm also shows how multifaceted the history of the area is. The site includes a medieval moated complex with preserved, water-filled ditches. The manor house is a two-storey timber-framed building constructed in several phases. Its first phase was a medieval open-hall house, dated to the mid-to-late 14th century. Ickenham Hall adds to this picture as a Grade II-listed Georgian manor house. It was originally the home of John Crosier and his family.

Ickenham Marsh and paths through the countryside

For a stay with a stronger focus on landscapes, Ickenham Marsh is an important point of reference. There you can explore wetland, meadow and woodland habitats and enjoy views across the landscape. The Ickenham Manor Farm monument stands on flat, low-lying ground west of Ickenham Marsh and Yeading Brook. This setting has a different character from the representative country houses and highlights the contrast between architectural history and open countryside.

The Ickenham Marsh section of the Hillingdon Trail runs from the A40 to Ruislip Lido and passes Ickenham Green Open Space. When planning your day, you can therefore weigh up a cultural focus against a longer route through the countryside. You should not infer a fixed walking time or level of difficulty from this; what is explicitly described is the connection between the A40 and Ruislip Lido.

Special experiences and guidance for choosing accommodation

Another special attraction is the Ickenham Miniature Railway, a ground-level railway with 3½- and 5-inch gauges in the centre of Ickenham. It has offered rides to the public since 1970. This adds an experience that is clearly different from country houses and walking trails to the historical and landscape themes. Families and travel groups with different interests can therefore plan a varied stay without having to combine all activities into a single outing.

For arrival planning, Ickenham Hall provides a clear point of reference: it is opposite Ickenham Station, which is served by the Metropolitan line and the Piccadilly line. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Ickenham, you can therefore first decide on your preferred focus and then check which location within the area fits your travel plans. Those seeking historical impressions can consider Swakeleys, St Giles, Ickenham Manor Farm and Ickenham Hall; those who want to spend more time outdoors can orient themselves towards Ickenham Marsh and the Hillingdon Trail.

For other places included in the same selection of destinations, you can also view West Drayton, Northwood, Ruislip, Harlington, Uxbridge, Harmondsworth and Harefield.

For the overarching travel overview: Hillingdon.