The Perfect Day from London to Hampton Court would include......??

[Earlybird]

DD has been desperate to go to Hampton Court to see the garden maze, and tomorrow is the day we plan to embark on the much awaited adventure. Would love to hear suggestions about how to make it a lovely day - both before and after the maze!

First - is it best to go by train from Waterloo, or is it worth taking the boat? If boat, where do we get it/how long does it take? What about taking train one way, and boat the other?

Once there, are there aspects of the House/gardens that would particularly appeal to a 6 year old? Anything to steer away from?

Where would you suggest for lunch and/or afternoon tea? I've heard that purchasing food within Hampton Court is eye-wateringly expensive...which might be OK as a one time outlay if the food is good ....but is it? Would it suit a child, or would we do better to bring a picnic? Or should we eat somewhere easily walkable from the grounds, and if so, where?

Any other suggestions that would make it an especially lovely day out would be much appreciated.

The kitchens are good too and they might have demo on which can be fun. If there are people playing on the real tennis court then that can be fun to watch for a bit - especailly if they are not very good.

Why not boat there and train back?

Gardens are lovely and you can picnic too so why not take lunch and then have an ice cream from shop. I would put the food on par with the V&A cafe. There is a really nice cafe just across the road called something like Bridge Road Cafe and has just had fab write up in the Times from Giles Coren so if your ticket lets you come and go you could go there.

Feeed the ducks on the the long water?

Have a lovely time

Bushey Park is just across the road from HC, and has a good playground (head for the fountain in the middle of the park, and the playground is off to the right). There's a van there that sells drinks, hot dogs, sandwiches etc - not too salmonella city. It's slightly pricey, but probably not as bad as eating in the palace itself!

The pub directly outside Bushey Park is the poshes pub I've ever been in in my life. Honestly, it's like the Ritz. Made the mistake of going in there with my two - we came back out again very quickly.

No suggestions about the rest, I'm afraid, but I'm sure you'll have a great day.

Rowan - was that The Mitre? Not a pub but posh hotel!

Yes, Noodle, I think that was it. It looked like a pub...

Felt very foolish going in there looking for a couple of glasses of orange juice and a bag of crisps. The man on reception soon put me right.

boat form westminster is 3 and a half hours. Some suggestions here about getting tube to richmond and then one hour boat to HC.

And if you like fripperies and spending money you can pop across to the garden shop which sells pricey bits & bobs for house and garden...but it is really quite nice for a browse

ooh we love Hampton Court. Tis one of my fave places to take the kids.

The cafe within the grounds is lovely but quite expensive. It is such a beautiful setting - if the weather is nice, you can sit outside - it has a patio and a lawn where the children run around. They have children's lunch boxes - last time we were there (a few weeks ago), they were doing some sort of refurb but it was still open (and that's probably finished).

You must go around the gardens (around the back, don't miss them - it's not the same place as the maze, it's sort of behind the palace) - the flowers are stunning and there are little nooks and crannies that children love (a covered passage, lots of statues to look at).

I haven't done inside the palace for a while (it's quite expensive) but last time we did it, dd loved all the bedrooms and the kitchens. They have family audio guides specifically for children.

Imo, I would go on the train. Once you've done Hampton Court, get on the boat to Kingston and have something to eat there if you don't fancy the cafe at Hampton Court(there are so many places to eat there - Wagamama, Nandos, all the usuals). I think the boat to Kingston is around 35 mins (I think) which, in my mind, is just enough time for that age really.

also, don't forget to mention at Waterloo that you are going to Hampton Court because you'll probably get something off your entrance ticket with SWT

oh and if it is sunny, before you go on the boat, there's an ice cream seller normally on the corner of the bridge and the river path (you'll see him). If you get the boat from HC, try and get the big paddle steamer - it's the one operated by Turk's Launches I think.

Train takes about 35 minutes. A boat would take hours. I've been from Hampton Court up to Richmond and back and that took all afternoon. There was an imitation paddle steamer that did trips from Hampton Court to Kingston (so you can drop in at John Lewis and Bentalls) which would be a shorter round trip. Details here

There are a few pubs around, one is just over the road from the palace. I can't remember what it's called, but you can't miss it, by the river, near the bridge.

I'd also suggest you take the train both ways as it's a long day if you plan on visiting the apartments as well, to make the most of your money. The cafes are usual high prices, can't say about the quality as we only have tea there and picnic or pub instead.

I don't know if they do this regularly or only around Christmas, but you can also go for a short drive in a horse-drawn carriage, pick-up by the back gates of the garden. I can't remember the cost, about £10-15 for the carriage.

Oooh - I knew you'd be able to help! There is a wealth of good information here - thank you.

Look what else I found....

www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/planyourvisit/default.aspx

Thanks also for boat information. I agree that with a day trip, a longish boat ride would probably be too much for a 6 year old. Also, with such unpredictable weather, would be inclined not to risk it.

Oh this is great I was going to start a thread!

DS1 is doing Tudors next year, and we - me, dh, ds1 (10) and ds2 (8) - are going to be in London for October half term. I've never been to Hampton Court Palace and thought we would give it a whirl.