When I got married seven years ago, my wife Nicola and I moved back to the place where I had grown up. Barnes, in West London, remains one of the last true London villages - an oasis in a city of 8 million people. It has a pub by a pond and wonderful local shops and restaurants but there is no cinema and no tube station - both rare but welcome omissions for a London town.

It wasn't always that way - Byfield Hall, the building that now houses Olympic Studios (see below) once housed a theatre. In 1925 young producer Philip Ridgeway persuaded Thomas Hardy to permit a Barnes Theatre production of 'Tess of the D'Urbevilles', which successfully transferred to the West End. Ridgeway was also responsible for triggering nationwide interest in Chekhov through his innovative Barnes productions. Great British stage and Hollywood stars such as John Gielgud, Charles Laughton, and Claude Rains all performed at the theatre, which reverted to cinema use before being converted to a recording studion in 1966.

Barnes, located in the London borough of Richmond Upon Thames is virtually surrounded by the River Thames and lies just minutes away from Richmond Park - the historic 2500-acre royal estate and famous deer sanctuary. In contrast the leafy village of Barnes is home to Olympic, one of the world's major recording studios - the Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, Zeppelin, Bowie, Clapton, Queen, Madonna, Oasis, Dido, Britney have all recorded here. The Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar soundtracks were both recorded at Olympic, and Tim Rice, the Oscar-winning co-writer of both musicals still lives on Barnes riverside, in one of the elegant houses built in 1741 so the the elite of London Society could visit in Summer to enjoy the clear country air. Another Barnes riverside resident was Gustav Holst, composer of The Planet Suite, and Director of Music at St Paul's girls' school, who lived on The Terrace in 1910.

I didn't know it at the time, but Sir Tim Berners Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, grew up in Barnes at the same time as me (congratulations on the knighthood)!

In 2004 old friend and Barnes resident Rosie Stancer successfully walked to the South Pole, arriving at 17.35 GMT on January 13th after a 44 day walk. She is the third woman in history to walk to the South Pole solo and unsupported and set a number of records. Before her trip Rosie (who is related to the Queen Mother) trained with the elite SAS and could be seen walking through Richmond Park dragging tyres behind her in preparation for the gruelling journey.

If you happen to be in the area there are a number of fine hostelries catering for all tastes. My favourites:

'Sonny's' offers fantastic food at the top end of the scale (it's across the road from Olympic studios, so my neighbouring diners have included Bjork). The restaurant also has a cafe section at the front - great for coffee or brunch. 'Riva' is a top Italian just around the corner from Sonny's - again this attracts various luminaries (I've seen Hugh Grant and Charlie Watts digging into their polenta). 'The Bridge Dining Room' by Hammersmith Bridge has been refurbished from the dingy pub that it was, and reopened as a gastropub - it's a fine place, but my favourite has to be 'The Havelock Tavern' a few minutes away in Hammersmith. It has stayed true to its pub roots and offers amazing food and wine. More locally 'The Depot' on the Barnes/Mortlake border can't be beaten for its casual brasserie atmosphere and riverside location.

'Ye White Hart' is my favourite Barnes Summer pub, overlooking the river and offering great views from the balcony, terrace and tables on the riverbank. The 'Coach & Horses' on Barnes High Street is still a true local pub, uncluttered by Barnes' many 'ladies who lunch' - it's hugely atmospheric in Winter when you can sit by the fire, and the garden is open for much of the year. Now that Sutherland's in Hammersmith has shut there's no deli to brag about in the immediate area but 'Botticelli's' in the beautiful courtyard by the 'Blue Door' makes exceedingly good and individual pies and cakes. You can't beat a pizza at 'Ask', with its tranquil view across Barnes Pond, and for a quick coffee I choose Sonny's or Cafe Nero.

More about Barnes ...