Tucked away in a bend on the River Thames, Chiswick is a pleasant spot where visitors can almost forget the sound of the nearby motorway traffic. Its riverside promenade, Chiswick Mall, lined with pleasant pubs, leads to Hammersmith Bridge. At all hours there are rowers on the water, gliding between the river's banks and the verdant bird-thronged island in mid-stream. The magnificent Chiswick House has splendid gardens.