Help getting to Hampton Court
We are staying in Mayfair near Green Park station next week. We have an unplanned day on our second day in London and are considering going to Hampton Court. What’s the best way to get there? How long will it take to get there? How long should we plan to stay there? Is iit good to go if it is raining?

Thanks in advance. We have appreciated all the advice.

Yes -- it is fine to go when it is rainy. You just wouldn't want to take the boat back into town.

Take the Jubilee line from Green Park to Waterloo station and then the train. Hampton Court is in zone 6 so if you are using Oysters you'd probably need some additional PAYG ££ loaded on.

Total travel time a little over 45 minutes.

If the weather is nice, you can always take the boat back to Westminster Pier.

Oh -- how long at the Palace - at least 3 hours. More if it is nice and you spend a lot of time in the gardens and/or eat at the cafe.

A bit more info: there are 2 direct trains an hour to Hampton Court, one at 6 mins past the hour and another at 36 mins past the hour. The platforms at Waterloo are always the same, 1,2 or 3.

There are other cafes/restaurants apart from the ones within HCP grounds. If the weather is nice, most have outside seating. The Lebanese & it's associated tapas bar mentioned in this article is probably the best in London. The Mute Swan is a pub directly opposite the main gates of HCP.

http://www.moleseylife.co.uk/restaur...-east-molesey/

The weather should be very nice towards the middle of next week, hopefully it will stay dry and sunny for you. If you have time and the inclination, Bushy Park which is opposite HCP Lion Gate is a lovely place for a walk along Chestnut Ave, Diana Fountain and there are plenty of deer roaming around.

You can take a boat from HCP to Richmond as well, and spend some time along the river having a drink and then walk to the train station to get back to London.

Thanks, Jhansi and Oden - that's just what I needed. Looking forward to our trip.

We used the 2FOR1 voucher for HCP - your train ticket from Waterloo (not Oyster card) will qualify.

https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/hampton-court-palace

Half a day was enough for us on a cold, windy outing.
Have a good visit!

Thanks for the tip, Feb29.