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...

and the two pubs, which wouldn't be good pick up points apparently as they are very near the stadium and get very crowded)

If they are the ones I think they are in Twickenham near the station, London Road gets closed anyway and you wouldn't be able to get in to pick them up.

Op, Twickenham town centre does have Church Street which is pedestrianised and very nice to stroll along. Also, as a PP, has suggested Teddington High Street, just 7/8 minute drive is fantastic with lots of boutique shops plus an M&S and lots of great eateries. Avoid Richmond as it's only really got extremely pricey shops although there is the green to sit on, or you could catch a show at Richmond Theatre. My vote is Teddington though!

Church St is about five minutes long if you amble and that's it. Teddington is much better.

Does Richmond or Teddington have any good charity shops? To be honest, I'm a bit skint at the mo, and it would mean I could get a number of cheap things instead of one nice but rather expensive thing.

So there's an actual dedicated shuttle bus from Richmond Station to the Stadium? Hmm... I'm not sure.. DH and party went to the Oktoberfest in Munich a couple of years ago. The tickets included a dedicated shuttle bus from their hotel to the Fest and back. There was a bit of a cock up one night on the return journey, following the tasting of a variety of locally-brewed lagers. I'm not sure I trust them...

DH says the match and the area around the stadium is reasonably civilised. Some of the fans from the Services look a bit intimidating, but because the Military Police are more hardcore than the civvy police, they are less likely to kick off. Because being an Army and Navy game makes it a possible terrorist target, attendees are searched on the way in within an inch of their lives, so there's no possibility of anyone smuggling excess alcohol or weapons into the Stadium

You can get a drink in the Stadium itself, but even so, apparently the atmosphere is one of 'good humoured rivalry' (says DH). DH and friends are not actually ex Services themselves, they just like watching a really good game of rugby, and this match usually is.

Yes both Richmond and Teddington have a Mary's Living and Giving shop started by Mary Portas. They are both very good charity shops. In both places you will have to pay for parking and the teddington shop's location is particularly limited apart from a small M&S car park for (very) short stays.

head to Richmond for a lovely walk by the river and some shopping!

Nearby residential streets in Twickenham and Whitton all have residents parking, Richmond not a great shopping centre anymore. Ham House definitely worth a visit and has a car park.

DH says the match and the area around the stadium is reasonably civilised

This is the only rugby event where shops in Twickenham (including Waitrose, normally open till 8 on a Saturday) shut at 5 so they don't have hordes of beered up squaddies coming in. Not sure how 'reasonably civilised' that is. 😁

The problem is the volume rather than the behaviour as such... its friendly drunkenness rather than violence for example.

its friendly drunkenness rather than violence for example

Oh that's OK then. 'Friendly drunkenness' that the shops would rather close than have to deal with. Does make me wonder why the place gets flooded with MPs and Met if it's just 'friendly drunkenness,' though.

https://twickenham.nub.news/news/local-news/batten-down-the-hatches-fears-for-residents-as-army-v-navy-rugby-match-returns-to-twickenham-130737

This was last year.

Anyway, OP, whatever you decide to do, hope you have a lovely day.

I would drop them off on a side street near the stadium, go and park at richmond station then head into central London.
Thames stroll, food at the south ban, maybe go further west and browse some shops then find somewhere to sit and people watch.

dont park on residential streets over Richmond bridge towards st Margarets you'll get clamped! I mean Richmond Road and the surrounding streets towards marble hill park. just cough up and pay for parking at Richmond station easier than chasing a towed car and cheaper than a fine

There is also parking at Twickenham behind Waitrose if you want to stay in the area.

We live really close to the stadium, and our roads are all residents parking only on event days.

However - have a look at "Central Avenue". I'm pretty sure that is not in the residents zone, and its a short walk down "Spray lane" straight to the rugby ground

Failing that you can at least drop off on Lion Road and then it's a 10/15 min walk but on footpaths or along the river Crane. https://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/meter/lion_road/tw1/twickenham/?arriving=202305121700&leaving=202305121900

You can then get a bus into Richmond from the end of the road, or else head down to the river and walk along to Richmond (you can even get the ferry over to Ham House and walk along on the Petersham side, there's cows! - think it costs about £1-50). Richmond riverside is pretty and the town is good enough for a pootle, have a watch of Ted Lasso and see how many places you recognise!

DH is at the football tomorrow so I might head to the Green myself - now live in a different bit of London but grew up here and went to the College right by the stadium, many moons ago!

it is the May Fair on Richmond Green this Saturday. It will be huge fun. The weather is forecast to be brilliant. I don't know what time you are coming but the roads and the parking will be absolute carnage.

If you are coming up the M3, it might be better to deviate and park on a Teddington side road near the high street which will be free on Saturday (some are pay on Saturday, but majority are just pay Monday to Friday). They can then get the bus towards Twickenham. Some roads around the stadium and towards the station and Twickenham high street will be closed. If you absolutely need to drop them off due to mobility issues, you could drop them off near Twickenham station - if you drive up through Teddington, even if the roads are closed, you can usually drop people off at the corner of Cross Deep/Heath Road.

if you park in Teddington, you can walk through Bushy Park to Hampton Court. Or you can get the bus to Richmond and come to the fair/go to Richmond Park. It will be a lot of walking though so definitely put your trainers on!

If you do want to find things in Twickenham, from Church St (where the museum is) it's nice to go around the river a bit, into York House Gardens (with an excellent fountain), Orleans House gallery has a park and gardens, up to Marble Hill House, which is English Heritage but free entry. I also used to walk up to Richmond along the river and get the bus back. There is a ferry over to Ham House, not sure when it operates these days.

https://richmondmayfairweekend.org.uk/

the ferry is still there :). Open march to october - £2 adults and £1 kids!

There's a big car park in Richmond called the Old Deer Park car park. It's pay and display and also has a 4 hour short stay so should have spaces.

It's easily accessible off the 316 from twickenham.

I have got caught in the rugby traffic many times and it's usually well controlled. Lots of stewards stopping to let people cross. Short drive then from twickenham to Richmond,

Lovely green in Richmond for a sit down on a nice day. Shopping isn't what it used to be now the house of Fraser has closed.

Teddington is also nice and bushey park is lovely. You can walk through to Hampton Court

Hampton Court also has some antique emporiums, and plenty of cafes, opposite the station. It's a very pleasant 40 min walk along the towpath between Hampton Court bridge and Kingston bridge

There’s an artisan fair in Hampton Court Palace this weekend, you could definitely while away the best part of a day. It’s a gorgeous spot if you haven’t been before. Nearby teddington has some good charity shops and lots of lovely spots to eat. I’d struggle to spend that long in Richmond, there’s really not that many shops.

Lots of charity shops in Teddington, BHF just opened, plus a Fara books if that floats your boat. Cedar Road car park opposite Waterstones on the high st rarely seems busy. Cafe Benedict & Fallow Deer are decent cafes, and it’s a 20 min walk from the High St into Bushy Park woodland gardens (and only another 20 mins from there to Hampton Court Palace)

There's 5 or 6 charity shops in BROAD st Teddington plus the ones in the High Street already mentioned.