Boat Trip to Hampton Court Palace: By River from Westminster, Richmond or Kingston

The long trip starts at Westminster Pier, beside the Houses of Parliament, and heads upriver past Chiswick, Kew and Richmond to Kingston and Hampton Court. It takes about four hours, so it is a day out in itself rather than a quick transfer.

The operator, Westminster Passenger Services, sails as Thames River Boats. Sailing times change from day to day with the tides, so check the timetable for your date rather than assuming a fixed departure.

Above Richmond the boats pass through locks, and when river levels are low the Environment Agency can restrict lock transits. That can delay services between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Court, so leave some slack in your day.

For a shorter trip, Turks Launches runs boats to Hampton Court from Richmond and Kingston. From Richmond it takes about two hours, and from Kingston about 45 minutes, which makes Kingston the easiest way to try the river without giving up half a day.

Turks' boats have indoor and outdoor seating, toilets and a licensed bar. Services are seasonal and change through the year, so check the company's timetable and daily updates before you set out.

Kingston and Richmond are both easy to reach from central London by train, so you can ride out, take the boat for the last stretch and still have most of the day for the palace.

Arriving by water is the old way in. For the Tudor court the Thames was the main road between London's palaces, and it is still the best way to see the palace sitting beside the river.

Plan the timings carefully. The palace is open from 10:00 to 17:30, with last admission at 16:30, so a four-hour boat from Westminster leaves less time inside than you might expect. If you want the full palace, the gardens and the maze, take the train out in the morning and the boat on a shorter leg.

Coming back is simple: trains run from Hampton Court to London Waterloo every 30 minutes, and the station is a five-minute walk from the palace.