The Lensbury Resort Teddington review: a riverside retreat with easy access to London

Our verdict

Set in 25 acres on the banks of the River Thames, the Lensbury Resort in Teddington offers a picturesque getaway with plenty of activities to keep families entertained. The beautiful grounds are home to swimming pools, tennis courts and watersports, and for younger children, the soft play area and playground are perfect to burn off some energy.

With easy access to Richmond, Hampton Court Palace and central London, it’s a handy base if you’re looking to combine a relaxing riverside break with fun day trips. 

During our stay, we found the rooms to be spacious and well-appointed – our Deluxe Twin (with two king-sized beds) comfortably fit our family of four and there was ample room for the kids to spread out. The food was another highlight - we enjoyed a range of delicious options and were impressed with the children’s menu.

If we’re being nit-picky, we think the hotel’s decor needs a bit of a refresh and check-in could be better organised but our overall experience at The Lensbury was fantastic. 

How we tested

I stayed at the Lensbury Resort with my partner and our two children, aged 12 and nine. We travelled by car from Hertfordshire, which took roughly an hour via the M25. During our stay, we used the leisure facilities, explored the 25-acre grounds, and enjoyed dinner and breakfast at the hotel.

What are the rooms like?

We stayed in a Deluxe Twin room, which sleeps up to four people, although it’s so spacious that you could comfortably fit 10 more children in there without noticing (though the hotel manager might object if you try marching them up the stairs like the Von Trapps!). Our room featured two king-size beds, a large L-shaped sofa, a big flat-screen TV (with Freeview), Wi-Fi, a coffee machine, and a mini-fridge stocked with complimentary water. A key feature was the easily adjustable air conditioning - ideal for setting to your liking once your DP is asleep!

The en-suite bathroom included an average-sized bathtub, a separate shower, and a double sink, with toiletries, robes and towels. Large windows let in plenty of natural light and offered lovely views of the impressive grounds. We were greeted with a bottle of prosecco on ice, macarons, and bags of sweets and popcorn for the children, which they absolutely loved. 

The room was clean and the beds were big and comfortable, although we found the decor a little dated. We think bunks or separate single beds might suit some families better, though interconnecting rooms are available if you're travelling with older children. 

What activities are on offer?

There’s plenty to do at The Lensbury, much of which is tailored towards children - perfect if you’re looking for a hotel where the kids won’t be bored (and thus less likely to become annoying!). The resort has invested significantly in its health and fitness centre, and guests have full access to the facilities.

Our children loved the swimming pools - one for lane swimming and a toddler pool - a definite upgrade from our local leisure centre. ("Mum! They even have a costume dryer!") The changing rooms included male, female, and family areas, with enclosed cubicles and showers. There weren’t any pool toys beyond swim noodles, so I’d advise bringing your own. We also booked a children’s tennis session at the on-site courts and capped off the day with an hour of fun in the well-equipped playground.

Located right on the Thames, The Lensbury offers sailing lessons and watersports for those feeling adventurous. Within the main hotel, there’s a small soft play area for younger children and a games room featuring air hockey and table football.

The resort regularly hosts a variety of activities for adults and children, from comedy nights to quizzes, as well as kids’ camps and clubs during the school holidays, so do keep an eye on what’s on as it changes every week. 

What’s the food like?

Hotel restaurants can be hit-or-miss in our experience, but dining at The Lensbury was delightful, and the wait staff were incredibly attentive. You can choose to dine in the main restaurant or outside on the terrace if the weather’s good. The seasonal, locally sourced menu has been thoughtfully curated to cater to the fussiest eaters, and offers everything from catch-of-the-day dishes to sharing platters. We were particularly impressed with the chicken shawarma and pork rib-eye, while the kids loved their flatbreads and dinky doughnuts.

The dedicated children’s menu goes beyond the typical sausage and nuggets and offers reasonable value at around £15 for two courses. There’s also a solid selection of wine and beer available. The breakfast buffet was very nice and included full English and continental options. It was quite busy, so I’d recommend avoiding eating near the end of service if you can. It’s advisable to book both the restaurant and breakfast at check-in as it does appear very popular with guests. 

What is there to do nearby?

We spent ages exploring the beautiful resort grounds on the banks of the River Thames, and honestly, you could easily fill a day just doing that. But if you want to venture outside, there’s so much more to do. Nearby Richmond is gorgeous, with its fancy shops and cafés – and fans of Ted Lasso might enjoy spotting filming locations. Henry VIII’s old manor, Hampton Court Palace, is just a short drive away and offers plenty for both kids and adults (the interactive historical reenactments are superb fun). Other nearby highlights include Chessington World of Adventures, and for younger children, the massive indoor play arena at Hobbledown Heath is well worth a visit. Central London is also easily accessible, taking around 25 minutes by train or via the M25. I’d strongly advise against driving into London if you can avoid it – traffic can be a nightmare, parking is expensive, and, if you're anything like me, you might forget to pay the congestion charge!

About the author

Becky K has worked at Mumsnet for eight years and is passionate about comprehensive and trustworthy reviews for parents.

Originally from Ireland, Becky studied BSc Psychology at the University of London before returning to Dublin City University to earn her Masters degree in Journalism. She began her career on the news desks of several Dublin publications and worked in press relations and journalism in NYC and Australia before somehow tiring of endless beaches and blue skies, and returning to the UK.

A mum of two school-age children, Becky enjoys finding new and unusual days out that don’t cost the earth. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, reading, true-crime podcasts and ancient history.