Thames Landscape Strategy - Hampton to Kew -

Things to do

The following are just a fraction of the wonderful places to visit and explore along this stretch of the Thames. The suggestions below start at Kew and follow the riverside attractions to Hampton. They are all well served by public transport, including train, bus and indeed river services. All are within a half hour train journey from Central London.

Please do e-mail us and let us know of any other interesting days out you have enjoyed by the Arcadian Thames that are not listed here.

• See how Royalty lived in the past at Kew Palace, George III’s family home, set in the grounds of the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. The palace has recently been restored and is open again to the public.
• Visit Kew Gardens and see the world’s most extensive botanical collection housed by the River Thames, a great day out for all the family.
• Drop in on the Duke of Northumberland’s London home at Syon House with its Capability Brown landscaped grounds.
• Walk the Kraft Picnic Walk (leaflet / pdf 2Mb) and see the markers of the old meridian line of the King’s Observatory, visible from along the towpath by Old Deer Park.
• Walk the entire length of the Thames Landscape Strategy along the Thames Path National Trail
• Explore the local history of the Arcadian Thames at the Richmond Local Studies Library and Richmond Museum both located at Richmond Town Hall close to Richmond Bridge.
• Visit the wonderful Marble Hill House, a palladian villa set in 66 acres of riverside parkland, built in the 18th Century for Henrietta Howard, mistress of King George II when he was Prince of Wales.
• View the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames art collection at Orleans House and Gallery. You can also visit the famous Octagon Room, designed by Gibbs in the 18th Century.
• Investigate the history of the local Thames villages of Twickenham, Whitton, Teddington and the Hamptons at the Twickenham Museum, all of which have a rich history going back thousands of years.
• Step back in time and visit Ham House a spectacular 17th-century house with original interiors and restored formal gardens.
• Visit the largest urban nature reserves in the UK, the Royal Parks of Richmond Park and Bushy Park offer amazing opportunities for watching wildlife, walking, cycling, horse riding and picnicing.
• Why not take in a bit of retail therapy in the historic market town of Kingston upon Thames, one of the top ten centres for shopping in the UK.
• A ten minute bus journey from Kingston town centre is the wonderful Hampton Court Palace – ‘royalty on Thames’. Discover the magnificent State Apartments of Henry VIII and William III, explore 60 acres of immaculate riverside gardens and lose yourself in the world-famous maze.
• Visit the quaint antique shops and cafes of Molesey Village, just over the Bridge from Hampton Court Palace. A tea stop here will set you up for a stroll down the towpath to visit Hurst Park, the site of an old race course and now a pleasant riverside open space, with a ferry connection across the river to Hampton.

For those that live locally or just want to try out some local produce there are several local markets including:

• Fridays Barnes Country Market – Rose House, 70 Barnes High Street 10am-12noon
• Sheen Friday Market – Sheen Lane Centre, 74 Sheen Lane 9am-1:30pm (first Friday of the month)
• Saturdays Richmond Farmers’ Market – Heron Square 11am-3pm
• Twickenham Farmers’ Market – Holly Road Car Park 9am-1pm
• Chiswick Farmers’ Market – Dukes Meadow off Alexandra Gardens 10am-2pm Sundays
• Wimbledon Park Farmers’ Market – Wimbledon Park First School, Havana Road Saturdays 9am-1pm

• Download one of our Treasures by the Thames leaflets for more ideas or one of our Arcadian Thames Walks

  No. 1 Brentford – Richmond via Isleworth and Kew
  No. 2 Richmond – Ham House – Richmond via Petersham and Richmond Park
  No. 3 Richmond – Twickenham – Richmond via Petersham and Marble Hill
  No. 4 Richmond – Twickenham – Teddington – Kingston
  Arcadian Thames Walk: Children’s Activity Sheet
  Arcadian Thames Walk: Activity Sheet Answers