Hampton Court for half term?

[LittleOwl153]

Dd14 is Tudor History obsessed. She wants to go to Hampton Court.
We have a Historic Palaces pass from a central London trip in the summer so tickets are covered.

I have Questions...
Best way to get there? (Train to King's Cross or Euston then... or better to drive?)

Places to stay? (With decent parking if driving? Any recommendations? 4 bed premier inn type thing is fine - cheap/convenient rather than fancy!)

Places to eat?

Other things for dc14/10 nearby?

Thank you!

You don’t say where you are coming from but I always drive. If you arrive early it has a decent car park or there is a good overspill across the green, a ten or so minute walk away. Both paid. We tend to take sandwiches but the cafe there is perfectly adequate if you don’t. I’d head for the Tiltyard café in the gardens as it’s bigger. There is a nice Lebanese opposite if you prefer to come out, but we stay in as it’s a full day if you want to do the indoor stuff as well as out. I’m afraid I can’t help with hotels but have a lovely time.

I'd stay at the Premier Inn at County Hall and get the train from Waterloo which is five minutes away. Then you have the best of both worlds, central London and Hampton Court.

We made the mistake of staying over in Hampton Court at the Mitre which was getting very good reviews at the time. It was grim as hell and nothing compared to being in central London.

It can also be fun to arrive by boat - from Kingston (cheapest and shortest journey, or Richmond (about 1.5 hours) or Westminster 3.5 hours which doesn't give you enough time in the Palace.

Hampton Court is London zone 6, so can be done from London if you fancy that.

If you prefer, more Surrey than London and bringing a car, Brooklands is a great day out with children it has a Concorde, racing cars, all sorts of historic vehicles.

There is parking at Hampton court or parking in the streets in east molesey, a short walk away. Hampton court can easily take most of the day or just a few hours. Beautiful Bushey Park is next door and has deer. A walk along the river Thames is also lovely

There are plenty of premier inns about within a short drive, e.g. in Kingston upon Thames and more individual ( and probably mor expensive,) hotels just opposite the palace

I think your pass might cover something at Kew too .. there is a premier inn at Richmond .. I don't know the hotel but Richmond is lovely and lots to do around there plus you can get a boat from Richmond to Hampton court . If it's nice you can walk some of the way too but we have up on the way back and ended up in Joe the Juice at Kingston then back on the train to Richmond. Hampton Court maze is good fun and lots of places to picnic close by . Personally prefer to take snacks and use the cafe there ( pass might offer some discount?) it's not too pricey ( cafe part never tried the restaurant) and the cake is lovely .. if you end up staying in Richmond try the white cross if you're there for a Sunday lunch .. it's very nice .. I don't really like the restaurants opposite Hampton court -

Oh and if you do Hampton Court from London, the Hampton Court station is literally across the bridge the palace. Journey is 40 mins approx from Waterloo

Thorpe park is not far away as well.

I second this. Catch the fast train from Waterloo to Richmond and then jump on the boat there to hampton court. You will pass through Twickenham, Teddington and kingston enroute which are nice stretches of river. The Palace itself will need a good two or three hours to see. Book lunch at the Mute Swan pub opposite. If you still have energy walk through Bushy Park to Teddingston Ststion and jump in the train back to London.

Or Chessington - check height restrictions for your 10 year old. Chessington is slightly better for not so tall kids, but Thorpe more fun for the older ones.

Bridge Roadover the bridge ( station side) is full of cafes and restaurants, not surewhy a pp said they don't like them. There's a huge variety Mezzet Lebanese and Mute Swan mentioned by p.p. are fab, but there's loads more, from pizza chains and small individual places

I'm obsessed with Tudor history too. I have been since my teens.
I'm in my 60s now, but I never been to Hampton Court. I decided that this year I'm going to go, so this thread is so useful for me too, so thank you all for your suggestions. I love the idea of travelling by boat!

The boat from Richmond is a gorgeous journey along the Arcadian Thames https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/af09_the_arcadian_thames.pdf?token=vVs9Jv0v

Make sure to visit Kentwell Hall for one of their history days op, they do massive Tudor immersion themed Events through the year.

Brilliant suggestion. I LOVED that. It was like going back in time. They were all thee-ing and thou-ing at each other so naturally. It didn't seem fake at all. I had a headache and the herbalist stuck a feverfew leaf on my tongue. It worked!

I watched them dying skeins of wool with yellow wode and it turning blue in the sunshine, and the potters pulling fired bowls from their kiln in the woods. And the soap made in the Still Room smelled so good. I tried to buy some but was told it was only for the lady of the house!

Magical.

It's nowhere near HCP. About 100 miles away!

I know @AHFaemale but op said her dd had a massive interest in Tudor history. She hasn’t even said where she’s based either, Suffolk really isn’t that far away out of London and it’s a full day out.

Thanks everyone. We are Midlands based so would be travelling either by train into St Pancras or Euston or probably driving down the M1.

We have done the tower of London, which she was disappointed with as the white tower didn't have anything she was expecting... all the 'wrong' history! Though she loved the Jewels. She's not that keen on Henry VIII or Richard III, much preferring Elizabeth I or tudor Queens such as Elizabeth Woodville and Elizabeth of York. We have done Richard III Centre and other thing in Leicester, and Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire although Chatsworth is still on her list.

Train from Waterloo is best I think.

Your DD would not want to visit the only battle site in Greater London I assume. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was on the winning side, along with his brother Edward IV. It was in Barnet.