Driving DH and friends to Twickenham Stadium rugby match Sat 13 May - where's a good drop off point? And what can I do for six hours?

[OfftoPenzance]

As there's a train strike this Saturday, I've offered to drive DH and friends to the Army vs Navy game at Twickenham rugby stadium on Whitton Road from 12 midday to 6 pm.

(Not to be confused with the women's game at Twickenham Stoop up the road on the same day, that runs from 3 - 7 pm).

We're from north of London. We're coming down the M25, then up the M3, Great Chertsey Road, Chertsey Road etc to the Stadium.

Do any local Twikkers on Mumsnet have any suggestions for convenient drop off/pick up points within walking distance of the Stadium that won't be too busy? Some quiet residential street nearby, for example.

I won't need to actually park there, as I won't be there for long. While these grown men watch other grown men chasing a ball about, I intend to push off in the car for the six hours and and find something historical [NOT the Rugby Museum!].

Or perhaps peruse a nearby high street that has a good selection of charity shops and/or interesting women's clothes shops. Or a market. Or any other Interesting Thing.... Any recommendations?

I see Ham House is not far away. Twickenham has a museum Or there's Hampton Court Palace. Always wanted to go there. Does it get very busy on a Saturday? Can I get parked there?

Thanking local Twikkers and others in advance...

Hampton court palace is nice and there is parking, but also Richmond park and Kew Gardens both nearby. Well worth a visit. If you do go to Richmond pk go to the Isabella plantation for incredible azealias right now.

Drop off and pick up there is a Tesco ten mins walk from stadium (good big one) they split car park into match parking and Tesco customers

Trains are running to Twickenham from Waterloo on Saturday. It's not as many as usual - check the Southwestern trains website.

Isabella Plantation, wow!

May fair on Richmond green this Saturday 13th may

Richmond is one of my favourite high streets of all time. You could combine it with a walk along the river Kingston isn't far away and has more of a shopping centre.

Is Twickenham town a picturesque place for a wander. Or the Bentall shopping centre in Kingston could be good (the town I come from and what remains of its shops are bland and boring).

Richmond has a Fair this weekend?!? Sounds good... Where could I get parked though? It must be popular.

Kingston has an excellent shopping centre with a big John Lewis, the Bentall Centre and a pedestrianised 'High Street' with some nice shops off there.
The traffic over the bridge is a bit grim, we always park in the Seven Kings multi-story.
If you want to escape it's really easy to walk along the river.
My son was a student at the univ there and we still use Kingston as a family meet-up spot 😊

Firstly are you sure you don't want them to use the tube to Richmond and then a bus, you could drop them at somewhere like Amersham on edge of London.

Otherwise I would drop them on the edge of Twickenham so they can walk the final part and then drive to Kingston and park at John Lewis and have a wander. You could drive to Richmond later on and park in the Old Deer Park car park near the A316 and meet them there later on. (This isn't ideal for a quick exit down the M3 as you will all be the wrong side of Twickenham).
Look at the cost of car parks in advance as they all get expensive if you stay more than 3 hours.

Yes, there are some trains - but it's three changes from where we are to Twickenham, on three different train companies - all of whom are on strike. The trains to Twickenham that are on seem likely to be rammed with rugby fans. DH and friends aren't young - they couldn't face the uncertainty, and the possibility of waiting about for hours if they can't get on a packed train. With no free seats. And not enough loos...

Richmond is very ordinary these days, lots of shops have shut down, but there will be a may fair on the green. Kingston is better for shops. walking the tow path between Richmond and Kingston via ham house and Teddington will take about 90-120 mins, or busses 65 and 371 go between the two towns and takes 25 mins or so.

Why a six hour wait? Games take about 2 hours. Unless they're going to be drinking all afternoon

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Traffic around Twickenham is a nightmare on match day. Richmond is an hour walk and a very easy bus.

If I was you I would drop them off near the Premier Inn in Richmond they can get the bus from the Manor Circus stop direct to the stadium, then I would go to Kew Gardens and while away a few hours. After the match they either wait for the buses to start running and get off where you dropped them - there's a slight delay as the crowds disperse or they start to walk and you pick them up part way.

If you're north London could you drop off at stanmore? They could tube it in?
Friends used to live in Twickenham, a short walk from Twickenham station, near the Italian. There's a tiny one way street runs parallel-ish to the main road running away from the stadium.
You might be able to park there and the walk along the river from Twickenham to Richmond is one of my favourites!
There's residential parking in Richmond across the bridge from the high street towards at Margaret's.
But it's 4 hrs max Monday -saturday I think.
The multi storey at Richmond station is pricey but not 'fucking hell!' pricey.
Kew isn't far either and there's a car park for the gardens that isn't bad either.

In answer to that question, no it isn't.

There’s loads of residential side roads around Twickenham Stadium where you could drop them off.
You could then make your way to Kew Gardens for a lovely day out.

I’m doing the same, I think it wil, be traffic carnage!

Hi OP, as this is a major event a lot of roads will be closed to traffic. I second dropping them off in Richmond and them getting the bus - what trains are running will be absolutely rammed - and then doing it in reverse after the match like @Singleandproud recommended.

Bus routes that go close to the stadium, though may be diverted on match days due to Road closures, (which might mean a 10 min walk) are

110
281
481
681
267
H22
H20

Other busses that stop in Twickenham high street, about 20 min walk from the stadium, are

33
R68
R70
290
490

In previous years there's been a special shuttle bus from Richmond Station to the ground. There's also special trains being put on from Waterloo to Twickenham

Have they been before? The whole area is rammed with fans, military and normal police and stalls selling merchandise.

Agree Richmond is a bit rubbish these days. Sad as it used to be fab. Teddington high street has more fun quirky shops than Twickenham. Twickenham only has Church St which won't keep you busy for three hours plus it's a pain to park there on rugby days. I'd do Hampton Court which is excellent and has lovely gardens and if the weather is good nice pub opposite with views of the river. Expensive but worth it, have taken the kids loads. Other odd things in the area - fab heated pool in Hampton, plus Bushy Park. Or if you do Richmond Park try the fancy Teahouse at Petersham Nurseries. If you are driving that far you might as well go all the way and try one of these. I think hanging around Amersham would be more dull.

And in response to will they be drinking all afternoon? Erm have you met any rugby fans!

I grew up in Twickenham. Agree the pretty bit is by the river but it's quite small.

Thank you very much for all the great directions/suggestions.

I think we might look at Tesco/nearby residential streets - I don't want to make it too complicated for DH and his party, as apparently "a couple of visits to pubs" are involved. I don't want to end up trying to track a bunch of tipsy, confused pensioners, blundering about and getting lost!

DH & co go to this match by rail every year, so only really know the route between the railway station and the stadium (and the two pubs, which wouldn't be good pick up points apparently as they are very near the stadium and get very crowded).

I think I might head for Richmond, the May Fair and the car park near the station (thanks for this info). I think I'd like to save Hampton Court Palace for a day out with some friends, and DH, who likes gardening, says he would like to go and see the Amazing Azaleas/Kew Gardens on another occasion!

Re the multi storey car park near Richmond station - is it pay by card/coins, or is it one of these ones where you need an app on your phone? I haven't, er, quite got to grips with this 'new' technology yet...