A comprehensive review of the various near wall studies has been addressed in the present paper. For this purpose, both the experimental and modeling aspects have been investigated in detail. The various near wall experimental studies were compared as regards to the type of flow considered, the measurement technique employed, the measurements of the mean and the turbulent quantities and the near wall approach distance. As regards to the modeling approach, a detailed formulation of two equation k-epsilon and Reynolds stress models was obtained. An exhaustive chronological development of the analytical, numerical and heuristic approaches was done as regards to the assumptions, correlations, mathematical formulation and methodology used. A comparative study has been presented for twelve different versions of the low Reynolds number k-epsilon and two low Reynolds number Reynolds stress turbulence models. The individual models have been briefly outlined and evaluated by application to the fully developed turbulent pipe flow. The models have been compared on the basis of flow patterns, energy balance and the heat transfer. The comparison was achieved as regards to the mean and turbulent flow and heat properties. It was observed that the models which give good flow predictions do not necessarily give good energy balance and heat transfer predictions. Finally, a relative numerical comparison of the heuristic and the numerical approaches has been presented.