This neighbourhood is located to the north-east of Barnes town centre, on the banks of the River Thames (which border its northern and eastern side) facing Hammersmith and Fulham. To the west, Castlenau Road runs from Hammersmith across the river to Barnes town centre, and Queen Elizabeth Walk represents the southern border, separating the wetlands from the sports centre. The main feature of the area is the London Wetland Centre, which dominates the southern portion of the area. The wetlands are comprised of several lakes and islands, as well as a tower and museum. The northern area (Harrods Village) is residential, with well-built Victorian housing stock. Unlike in some other places in suburban London, it is not only terraced housing, but detached mansion-like buildings, today used as flats. Castlenau forms the border between the area and the more residential side of Barnes to the west, and is where you can catch the bus, as well as where most of the shops are located.

Hammersmith Bridge first opened in 1827, and connected the Barnes Peninsular with Hammersmith, a path which previously could only be crossed by boat to Chiswick. It was the first suspension bridge to cross the Thames, though by the 1870s, it was clear that the bridge was too weak to support the traffic volumes, and it took until 1884 for a replacement to start being built. The replacement, the current bridge, was opened by the Prince of Wales in 1887, featuring ornate decorations (seven coats of arms appear).

Hammersmith Bridge has been the unlucky site for two shocking events over the years – the first being Lieutenant Charles Campbell Wood’s rescue of a drowning woman in 1919. He jumped into the river to save the lady, and managed to do so, but would later succumb to the tetanus he got from his injuries.

The IRA also bombed the bridge in 1939, placing two bombs on different parts of the bridge. The first was detected by Maurice Childs, who saw a smoking suitcase and quickly threw the bag in the river; moments later a second device exploded. The Provisional IRA would bomb the bridge a second time in 1996, and a third time in 2000.

The Barnes Peninsular benefits from the waters of the Thames and the Wetlands, amongst other green spaces. However, this same natural position makes transportation options scarce. The nearest tube station is across the Hammersmith Bridge (Hammersmith station), which can be a long distance away, even by bus (bus routes as well mainly go through Castlenau). In general, due to being surrounded on three sides by water, mobility is constrained, be it by public transportation or car.

There are a few developments in the Barnes area, including The Villas, a few units in townhouses in the middle of Barnes Village. Berkeley Homes completed these five-bedroom townhouses in 2019 for families in this quiet area of London. A similar development in the Little Chelsea area of Barnes Village, aptly named ‘Little Chelsea Villas’, was also completed in 2020.