We live in ‘secret’ village in the heart of a city – we shun Tesco & Sainsbury’s for local shops instead & we love it

PEOPLE living in a "secret" village in the heart of a major city say they love shunning supermarket chains such as Tesco and Sainsbury's for local shops instead.

Homeowners have been praising the charms of Barnes, tucked away in the south-west of otherwise-bustling UK capital London.

They enjoy buying not from major retail giants but instead independent stores such as a butcher's, a fishmonger's and a bakery.

The area known and marketed by estate agents as Barnes Village is a conservation area featuring homes from the 18th and 19th centuries.

It has been hailed for providing a "proper village community" spirit.

Among the local stores is Parish Bakery, in Barnes since 1950.

Two of the people working there, 54-year-old Elaine and Daniela, 30, were full of warmth for their surroundings.

Elaine told : "It's a nice place with nice people around - it's like a little village for families."

Barnes Village's 300m-long high street offers other independent traders including barbers, estate agents, jewellers, restaurants and a wine shop.

Another long-lasting store is Barnes Fish Shop, which has been operating for the past three decades.

Alan Marshall, 27, who works there, described the area as "just beautiful - everyone likes it".

His colleague Chelsea Smith, 28, told of a "renaissance" since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown - with more people now spurning major chains and wanting "to buy local and to buy fresh".

Valentina Keen, who runs 45-year-old business The Real Cheese Shop, spoke of the village's "nice, understated community".

The village also has a substantial Swedish population, and also offers a specialist Swedish shop and The Swedish School which moved to Barnes from central London in the 1970s.