I am so excited - my Mom and I are returning to England on Saturday. One of the things on our wish list this trip (our 5th) is to take a boat trip from London's Westminster Pier out to Hampton Court Palace. Once we got there, we probably won't spend much if any time at the palace itself because we've been before, but I do want to visit the Royal School of Needlework which is at Hampton Court's back door (it was closed when we were there before). After that, what else of interest is there to see in the immediate area of the Palace? Shops, interesting architecture or scenery, historic sites? We will be on foot, and will take the train back into London at the end of the day rather than the round trip boat ride.

Daisy,

I am doing the same thing with my family at the end of July - taking the boat to Hampton and the train back. Would you post some info when you return - duration of boat trip, where to find the return train, etc.? We will spend time at Hampton, however, because we've never been.
Thanks in advance.

Edgecorp - I can actually point you to some of the info you're seeking in advance - the website for the boat service with schedules, fares etc. is here - http://www.wpsa.co.uk/

As for the train back from Hampton Court into London, the station is right across the river from the Palace - a very short walk, you can't miss it. It takes you into Waterloo Station.

For both Daisy and edgecorp: I definitely recommend you take the train TO Hampton Court and the boat BACK to London from the palace.

Two main reasons - <b>1)</b> the trip up river takes longer than down river due to the current (sometimes more than an hour longer) and <b>2)</b> the trip back down river in the afternoon has a better chance for warmer temps. A morning boat trip can be quite chilly.

So take the train out and the boat back.

We took the boat to HC and the train back in mid May of 2004. It definitely was cooler in the AM than PM, so I wish we had done the reverse as janisj had suggested.

As to length of time it takes via the boat, much is dependent upon the tides. In general, downstream (HC-London)is faster than upstream (Lon-HC). However, depending on whether the tide is coming in or going out when you are travelling, and whether you are near a full or new moon or not, the travel time differences can either be reduced or increased. Contacting the boat company with specific dates might be the best way to gauge travel times. You could inquire online via this web address:
http://www.wpsa.co.uk/contact.html

JN is correct: the journey time between London and Hampton Court is dependent on the tides and can take from two and a quarter hours to as much as four hours. The journey to Hampton Court is sometimes quicker than the journey to Westminster. There are also dates when the boats do not run if there is a low tide in the middle of the day.
You should contact Thames River Boats (www.wpsa.co.uk) to check. At this time of year, there are two boats to Hampton Court most days, usually leaving Westminster at 1100 and 1200, and leaving Hampton Court at 1500 and 1700.

For someting inteestig not far from Hampton Court: Have you visited Ham House- beautiful 17 century house with lovely formal gardens? It is a very short bus ride (bus #111,#216,#411...) to Kingston, then change bus (#371, another short ride) to Ham House.