Some friends have graciously invited us to stay with them for a week in May. They live in a town called St. Margaret's that I understand is about 25 minutes west of the city, but I haven't been able to find it on a map. Is anyone familiar with it, or perhaps someone could point me to a map that is detailed enough to find it?

There is a little place called St margarets between Hertford and Harlow which is due north of London about 25 miles.

But that is probably not the one you are asking about if you think it is west of London.

Get some more info - St Margarets might just be the name of a housing estate in a town of a different name.

Look at the address -- does it say St. Margarets, (something else), Berks or something like that . . . .

It's more likely to be St Margarets near Twickenham. It's along a bend of the Thames opposite Richmond, a very pleasant residential area. It has a train station that connects to Waterloo, and you can get District line tube at Richmond.

If it is not the "very pleasant residential area" near Richmond, and indeed an housing estate I'd try to find alternative accomodation. However, if it is Richmond it sounds most agreeable.

Assuming it is the St. Margaret's near Twickenham, it is a great area! We briefly lived in Twickenham, and found it delightful!
We especially like the Thai restaurant, Fat Boys, and the White Swan pub. In fact, we spent a great evening at the White Swan when the tide was so high that the street was flooded and the deck overlooking the river became an island. Great fun!
Annette

Here's a link to a map showing St. Margaret's in relation to London:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...r=Y&dn=804

Enjoy!
Annette

Oh, lovely! It is the area near Twickenham - our friends had mentioned that it's not terribly far from Kew Gardens. Thanks for the help, and the map is great. We'll be spending several days in Kensington before heading to their place, and I'm trying to arrange our itinerary...was hoping it wouldn't be too inconvenient to get back to the city for the day. Looks like we'll be happy.

Getting in to London is a snap -- we took the District Line in all the time -- we quickly learned not to try to return between about 4:30 and 6 -- the tube was absolutely jam-packed with rush hour commuters.
The Tapas restaurant at Richmond Station is fabulous (Don Fernando's, http://www.donfernando.co.uk/, and Emandel Restaurant across the street from the station was a favorite, as well.
Have a great time!
Annette

Annette - do you recall what zone that tube stop is? We'd like to pick up the weekly Travelcards. Tks.

The easiest way from St Margaret's to London is by train from St Margaret's station which is in zone 4. If you take the bus to Richmond, which has an even better train service to London as well as the District and North London Lines, it is also in zone 4. St Margaret's is an attractive residential area near the Thames, so you are lucky to be staying there.

Richmond BR to Waterloo is certainly quicker than St Margarets as the latter only offers slow train services.Agree with Thai restaurants on St Margarets Rd - Thai on The Thames (no view) is good. Chez Max - bus to Hampton Court won London's evening paper award for best restaurant in London in 2002. Petersham Hotel on Richmond side has one of the prettiest views in London and is a good, upmarket restaurant - and for style is much cheaper than equivalent city centre places. Don Fernando is good value, I used to like Emandel but last couple of times were ordinary so have not bothered for a while. Also had Annettetx's experience of being trapped for 20 minutes or so at White Swan - beautiful walk along the tow path.