West London and the river's long green arc

The Thames west of the city becomes rural faster than visitors expect, and the universities follow its green arc. St Mary's at Twickenham began as a teacher-training college with a first XV reputation that produced English rugby internationals; Roehampton keeps its colleges among the lawns of Georgian parkland.

The University of West London sits at Ealing — the old Thames Valley College of Higher Education, now a serious modern school of nursing, hospitality and music technology. Brunel at Uxbridge carries the great engineer's name and his practical creed.

Kingston upon Thames anchors the arc at its southern turn — its art school old enough to predate the university title by a century. Royal Holloway stands at Egham in a Victorian palace that is legally part of the University of London, though it sits among the Surrey hills. Six houses, one river, and the sound of rowing eights.