Richmond to Hampton Court

26 October. It was a small select group of seven who gathered at Richmond Station for a riverside walk.  We crossed the Green and looked at the remnant of Richmond  Palace before reaching the River Thames.  It was not long before we were crossing the river via the ferry to reach Old Twickenham.  Here we visited Orleans Park House to find the Stables Cafe temporarily closed. So we walked over to York House Gardens, past the amazing Italian fountain and then back to the riverfront to see Eel Pie Island. Here we were given an insight into the background and history of this famous enclave by a local expert!!

After stopping for coffee and cake at a nice cafe just along the way, we took a short bus ride to Teddington Lock to resume our riverside walk. Lunch was in the Boaters Inn at Canbury Gardens in Kingston; there’s also a small outdoor cafe close to the bandstand. At lunchtime we lost three and gained one to make five.

After lunch we went over the river and into Home Park in search of elusive herds of deer, which we eventually located near the Long Water at Hampton Court.  From there we reached the river again and walked past the Tudor facade of Hampton Court Palace before heading over to the nearby station. Daphne

The ice house in Home Park

Hampton Court landing stage