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| St Helena Pier, Richmond Bridge: This is where it all begins |
Whether you actually get sporty, or simply enjoy the refreshing breeze aboard
The Yarmouth Belle (tip: alcohol comes cheap on this Belle's bar), riding the gracious wave from Richmond to Hampton Court, via Kington, will sweep all your troubles away in a day.
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| Yoga at the Yacht Club |
The 1h 45-min boat trip towards the fairytale
Hampton Court Palace (£ 8.10/adult) will travel you through riverside mansions and yacht clubs, dilapidated sheds and sinking wooden boats on the crossroads of old Britain and... New Orleans (Thames or Mississippi? That is the question).
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| In fit company |
Upon arrival at the imposing palace you can wander around luscious rose and humble vegetable gardens, the sumptuous palace rooms (combined maze, palace and gardens ticket £ 19.30/adult), or pose as a decadent modern-day aristocrat in one of the palace's make-believe carriages. The
Tiltyard Cafe offers everything from sweet potato crockets to cherry and almond tarts, which you can enjoy take away while resting in one of the royal (or, at least, decorated with royals) sunbeds.
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| Dreamboat |
You will need the energy in order to start the long walk along the leafy
Thames Path, towards Kingston or Hampton Wick, where you can pop on the train back - unless you choose to cycle the full way back to Richmond (there are a few more transport choices along the way, whenever you run out of breath).
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| Commonplace riverside villas |
Paupers or royals (though, trust us, you will de facto feel like a pauper posing before such deluxe environs), there is something for sportaholics and nature lovers, kids of all ages (like, 39-year-olds) and plain old couch potatoes, who can combine the royal chaise longue with youtube videos on their smartphones.
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| Makeshift luxury |
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| Worn out sinking boats and hanging greens a la Louisiana |
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| La Belle |
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| Choice of fairytale freaks for the Goths |
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| Blonde ambition |
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| The humble gardener's shed |
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| Lay like a royal, or ass on the grass |
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| The palace and the paupers |
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| The forbidden royal gardens... |
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| ...and the free Jakandan gardens |
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| Listen to the quiet along the Thames Path |
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