Specific Tube question
 

We are planning to go to Hampton Court via the boat from Richmond to Hampton Court and we need to get to Richmond from the Bayswater tube station. I have used the TFL website and it says that it is possible to take a 9:35 tube from Bayswater to Gloucester station (via the Cirlce line) and then switch (with 8 minutes to spare) to the District line to Richmond. Is it possible to get from the Circle platform to the District platform in 8 minutes in the Gloucester station? The timing is important to get to the boat on time.

Specific Tube answer: fugeddaboutit.

The Journey Planner is so wildly optomistic as to be comical. Not only that, but I just checked your route for tomorrow morning, and every choice has <font color="red">Problems reported along this route</font>. That isn't unusual, in my experience. The odds of it happening on your date are rather good.

Let me make an entirely different suggestion.

Take a morning train to HCP. Spend as long as you want touring, and then take the boat BACK from (instead of TO) the palace.

A couple of reasons - because of the currents, the boat going down river is faster than going up river. It will be a more efficient use of your time and you won't have the hassles/pressure of having to catch a specific train/boat.

You can get to the Palace much earlier before it gets so crowded and then take the boat back in the afternoon . . . . .

You cannot rely on the tube running to a precise timetable, so you should allow more time in case of delays. From Bayswater to Richmond, take either a Circle or District line train: from the Circle line, change at Gloucester Road (the tracks are parallel and you simply have to cross the tracks by a footbridge which will take a couple of minutes); from the District Line, change at Earls Court (on the same same platform).
The times of the boats from Richmond do vary with the tides. For most of the way from London to Hampton Court, the river is tidal and flows towards the sea for about 14 hours out of every 24, and away from the sea for about ten hours out of 24. The times of the tides vary from day to day.
It is generally easier to take the train or bus to Hampton Court, and return by boat: there is normally a boat at 1700 via Richmond to Westminster, but your choice may depend on the weather.
To get from Bayswater to Hampton Court, you can take the District Line to Richmond, then an R68 bus or take the District Line to Wimbledon, then a train. All routes are covered by a six-zone Travelcard, which also gives a one-third discount on most boat tickets. See www.thamesriverboats.co.uk and www.turks.co.uk.

Another benefit of taking the boat back from Hampton Court Palace... After spending a good part of your day walking the palace and grounds, the boat ride is an excellent way to relax and unwind (and rest the feet!) It's a nice trip back into London. SInce the Thames is a tidal river, you get to go through a couple of locks.