Return boat from Hampton Court
 

I've read on this forum that it saves some time to take the boat from Hampton Court to London along the Thames as opposed to taking it from London to Hampton. We're planning on visiting Hampton on a Sunday at the end of July, and I can't find much info about return times for this boat. I've e-mailed the company, but no response. Does anyone know if there are ALWAYS return boats (especially on a Sunday); if so, is anyone aware of the approximate times they leave Hampton and get back into London? (We may consider getting off at Kew and taking the Tube back.)We're taking two of our teenagers and thought they would enjoy seeing the locks. Oops, almost forgot my last question - would this be a really miserable trip - even in July - if it was raining? Thanks!

From the TfL river services booklet - return boats from Hampton Court leave at 1500, 1600 and 1700 every day between June and September, taking one hour to Richmond, another half hour to Kew and not arriving at Westminster until 2000 (8pm). There will be cover if it rains, and usually a refreshment counter on board, but I'd have thought it a rather dull experience to go the whole way. You could take a suburban train or tube from Richmond, from Kew there is only the suburban train (to Waterloo) from Kew Bridge station.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/river/pdfdocs/...esSpring06.pdf

PatrickLondon,

Thank you so much for the info and the copy of the booklet - exactly what I needed.

Hello

The trip back is LONG its nice on a summers evening if you have nothing else to do - but you are better getting the train IM0 - if you fancy the thames - go from Westminster down to Tower of London or Greenwich - much more History!

Have a good time whatever you do!

John

I particularly wanted my teenagers to see the lock system, which I believe is on the Kew - Hampton leg. Further question - is the lock system before Richmond on the return journey?

The journey time varies with the tides: sometimes it's quicker from London to Hampton Court and sometimes it's quicker from Hampton Court to London. Occasionally, if the tides are at the wrong times, there will be no boat between London and Hampton Court. You need to check by looking at the operator's web site (www.wpsa.co.uk) and phoning. The TfL booklet does carry a warning that the times can vary. All the boats have a refreshment bar, but I wouldn't bother doing the trip if it's raining.
The boats sail from Westminster via Kew and Richmond to Hampton Court. Between Kew and Richmond is Richmond Lock which is a half-tide lock, only used from two hours after high tide until two hours before the next high tide - for four hours around high water, the boats by-pass the lock, saving at least 20 minutes.
Between Richmond and Hampton Court is Teddington Lock which boats always use.
There are other boats from Hampton Court to Richmond which run every day (www.turks.co.uk).