Hampton Court Palace

The Palace of many stories, overlooks the river Thames, Hampton Court is a magnificent blend of sumptuous Tudor decor and Wren’s baroque architecture.  It was built by Cardinal Wolsey who gave it to Henry VIII in a vain attempt to retain his favour.

Amongst its many attractions, Hampton Court Palace boasts the Great Hall commissioned by Henry VIII in 1532, and the vast Tudor Kitchens necessary to feed the 800 members of his Court.  The Palace enjoys extensive parkland and gardens, and includes the famous maze.

Richmond-Upon-Thames

Richmond possesses a timeless charm more akin to a village than a town.  Henry VII named Richmond after his favourite Earldom, Richmond in Yorkshire, and the gateway of his magnificent Palace, favoured by Elizabeth I, still remains.  This can be found on Richmond Green, once the scene of tournaments and pageants, which is surrounded by elegant period houses.

The view from the top of Richmond Hill, a source of inspiration for artists and poets throughout the years, has been protected by an Act of Parliament since 1902.

Richmond Park

Richmond Park is a heritage landscape of national importance and is listed Grade 1 on the English Heritage Register.  The landscape, covering 2,500 acres, still preserves the essential character of an ancient deer park in the English tradition.  

The most important features of the Park are the spacious grasslands and bracken stretches, inhabited by some 750 fallow and red deer; the Pen and other ponds; and the woods with their ancient trees.

Marble Hill House

As the fashionable retreat from court life, elegant country houses were built and homes established. Twickenham was the 18th Century equivalent of Beverley Hills. Henrietta Howard, mistress of George II, had Marble Hill House built for her and regularly entertained the greatest poets and wits of the day.

Kew Gardens

Credit for the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew largely belongs to Augusta, Princess of Whales. Her husband Frederick's strained relationship with his father George II meant the couple were not welcome at St James's Palace or Hampton Court, so subsequently they spent a great deal of time at the White House at Kew.

The Prince's mother, Queen Caroline, had a house nearby, on land that belonged to Richmond Palace; and her children inherited her love of gardening, especially Frederick, who called in William of Kent to restore the house and lay the grounds. After Frederick's death in 1751, Augusta continued the work, extending the landscaping and employing Sir William Chambers as her architectural advisor. A few magnificent trees planted by the Princess still stand, as do several of Chamber's 18th-century buildings, among them the Temple of Arethusa and the Pagoda.

Syon House & Park

Built on the site of a medieval abbey, Syon Park is the home of the Duke of Northumberland. In the mid-18th century, Robert Adam created some of his finest work here and the parkland was landscaped by Capability Brown.

Both the house and the grounds are open to the public and they boast a number of attractions including an indoor adventure playground, garden centre, art centre and the London Butterfly House.

Twickenham Rugby Ground

The English national rugby stadium. Originally a cabbage field, Twickenham is now the largest rugby stadium in the British Isles with an all-seater capacity of 75,000.

Kingston-Upon-Thames

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, although part of Greater London and just a short train ride from the West End, is also a town in its own right. Steeped in history, seven Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned here in the tenth century and you can still see the Coronation Stone, which is now one of the Borough's treasured possessions. Yet this is also a modern town centre with arguably the best shopping facilities outside of central London.

London Tourist Board

You are just a half-hour train journey from central London. Trains go directly to either Vauxhall or Waterloo from where you can easily connect to the Underground network.  The London Tourist Board has lots of information on places to visit.