Eel Pie Island has been spotlighted in a feature by The Times, offering readers a glimpse into its eccentric and creative heart.

Once the epicentre of London's 1960s music scene, Eel Pie Island is now a tranquil home to around 60 residents and 26 working artist studios.

The island, which is connected to Twickenham by a small footbridge, is usually closed to the public, except for two Open Studios weekends a year when the curious can peek behind the high hedges and creative facades.

As reported by The Times, the island's musical legacy includes performances by The Rolling Stones, The Who and Pink Floyd during its jazz and blues heyday.

Now, the guitars and drums have been replaced by sculptor's tools, paintbrushes, and found-object installations that pepper the narrow paths between studios.

"It's a place where people work, not a tourist attraction," resident Helen Montgomery-Smith told The Times.

She and her husband, Mark, manage the boatyard and live on a houseboat themselves.

Following a viral TikTok video that drew unexpected crowds last year, the Open Studios events are now ticketed, with a cap of 1,200 visitors per day.

The article paints a picture of a place as whimsical as it is rooted in history.

A blue plaque reads "Nothing of note has happened here." Mannequins wearing flowerpot hats guide the way through the studio trail.

A sculpture of a melting ice cream adorns a former boatbuilder's shed rebranded as "The Love Shack."

Local creatives interviewed by The Times include sculptor Nikki Clapp, a former film script supervisor for the likes of Spielberg and Attenborough, and Steve Budd, who has turned vintage suitcases into speakers after the idea came to him during lockdown.

Meanwhile, artist Simon Cooke, a former Ronnie Scott's jazz club manager, now sculpts jazz icons like Miles Davis and Nina Simone.

"There's still a waiting list for studio space," said Montgomery-Smith. "But once people are in, they rarely want to leave."

The island's roots as a counterculture haven remain strong.

A former hotel on the site hosted infamous gigs and even a hippie commune before burning down in 1971.

Today, the site has been redeveloped into a residential area but the island's alternative spirit lives on.

With its rich cultural history, vibrant artist community, and whimsical charm, Eel Pie Island continues to capture the imagination, even if most must admire it from across the Thames.

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