A stroll along Strand on the Green from Chiswick to Kew Bridge to take in a rivers-side walk steeped in history, with plenty of charming pubs to stop at along the way.

Strand on the Green was a fishing village in the Middle Ages. Now, although it only straddles the river Thames for less than a kilometre, it is a popular walk crammed with history, wildlife and a succession of good pubs.

One can start exploring at the end of Strand at the top of Kew Bridge, from where there are steps down to the river walkway, or at Chiswick Railway station from where it is a 15 minute walk to meet The Thames Path at Strand End.

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The hamlet was simply ‘Strand’ from the 13th century to the 17th century, from the Old English word for a bank or shore. This was a fishing community with a ferry service to Kew. In early days there was no path along the riverbank, just a series of interconnecting wharves.

The opening of Kew Bridge in 1759 and the royal palace at Kew increased the popularity of the area. During the 18th century the village attracted wealthy residents who built some grand homes here and The Bulls Head, City Barge and Bell and Crown public houses all came into existence.

All the pubs, including The City Barge and The Bell & Crown are worth visiting, although it is essential to book if you want a table for lunch or dinner.

Take time to look carefully at the houses. The river is tidal here and can rise by up to seven metres at times but that is a rare occurrence these days. You will notice how the houses have protected themselves over the years, some with miniature elevated doors.

Number 65 is marked with a blue plaque noting that the 18th century German portrait painter Johann Zoffany lived there until the end of his life in 1810. Zoffany was a well-known flamboyant character and possible bigamist. He became a close friend of royalty including the German-speaking Queen Charlotte, wife of George III.

Other famous residents include actor Donald Pleasance, writer Nancy Mitford, newspaper publisher Hugh Cudlipp and more recently actor Rhys Ifans and musician Midge Ure.

Hopkin Morris cottages towards the Chiswick end of the Strand were originally erected in the 18th century for the ‘poor of Chiswick for ever’ and rebuilt over the years and restored by Hounslow Council in 1973.

In the middle of the river is Oliver’s Island, so called after an apocryphal story that Oliver Cromwell took refuge here when he used the nearby Bulls Head pub as his secret headquarters during the English Civil War.

The island was previously referred as simply Strand Ayt. It has been used as a barge factory and is now home to Canada geese, cormorants, grebes, herons and swans. Keep an eye out for the playful seals which are increasingly found in these waters

Towards the Kew end of Strand you reach The Steam Packet pub next to what was once the Pier House Laundry, said to be the biggest laundry in London until 1973. That building is now the headquarters of local brewer Fuller Smith & Turner. The Steam Packet itself is named after the little boat which used to ferry laundry to and from Kew Pier opposite.