Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fascinating Ham House and Gardens, close to Petersham Meadows, which has
cows grazing in summer and was painted by J. M. W. Turner, among others. This is
where you'll find the glorious Petersham Nurseries ( &   0208/940-5230; www.
petershamnurseries.co.uk), which, in addition to selling plants, has a bohemian cafe
that's earned a Michelin star.
Chessington World of Adventures THEME PARK One of Britain's
leading theme parks, Chessington offers a full-blown mix of white-knuckle rides: the
revolving, head-dunking Ramases revenge; the feet-swinging roller-coaster Vampire;
and the spinning coaster Dragon's Fury. There are attractions for all ages, including
the zoo on which the park was based with tigers, lions, gorillas, seals, penguins, and
more, plus a SeaLife hall. It's an exceptional place for families and the young-at-heart
alike, with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. The Holiday Inn Chessing-
ton, a modern safari-themed hotel outside the park, has views from the bedrooms,
restaurant, and terrace over to the African-themed Wanyama Reserve with its zebras.
There are special park/hotel packages, but the hotel is also a good place from which
to explore the area.
On the A243, 3 miles south of Kingston. &   0871-663-4477. www.chessington.com. Admission £37
adults, £27 children 11 and under (free for children under 1m/3 ft., 4 in. tall), £102 family ticket. Zoo days:
£ 12 children 12 and over, £7.80 children 11 and under (free for children under 1m/3 ft., 4 in tall). Around
25% discount for online purchases. Parking £2. Theme park open daily, school holidays, and weekends
10am-6pm; otherwise until 5pm. Zoo only Jan-Mar weekends 10am-3pm.
Hampton Court Palace HISTORIC SITE Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor,
Cardinal Wolsey, began building this magnificent palace with its glorious gardens in
1515, but the king liked it so much he claimed it for himself and made it even
grander. Highlights include the Tudor Great Hall with its richly ornamented ceiling,
and the Chapel Royal with a fan-vaulted wooden ceiling. The 16th-century kitchens
are fantastic—the largest to survive from Tudor times—and you can still visit the
courts Henry had built for real tennis. Insider tip: Hampton Court Palace is featured
on the London Pass (see “A Money-Saving Pass,” p. 110), which gives entry to many
attractions in the city but also features a number of places in the surrounding areas.
Hampton Court (a 1-mile walk from Kingston, slightly farther along the Thames Path). &   0844/482-
7777. www.hrp.org.uk. Admission £14 adults, £12 seniors and students, £7 children 5-15, £38 family
ticket. Apr-Sept daily 10am-6pm; Oct-Mar 10am-4:30pm. Closed Dec 24-26. Short walk from Hamp-
ton Court rail station (around 35 min. from London Waterloo, but 35-50 min. from Kingston or Rich-
mond as it sits at the end of a branch line).
Richmond Park PARK This is the king of royal parks: 1,012 hectares (12,500
acres) of hills, woods, and grassland with views as far as St. Paul's Cathedral in one
direction and Windsor Castle in the other. The circular road is a wonderful drive, past
herds of red and fallow deer. Attractions include the Isabella Plantation, beautiful in
late spring with its azaleas and rhododendrons. The park is also home to tawny owls
and sparrow hawks, and there are swans and waterfowl on Pen Ponds. The gardens
at Pembroke Lodge are pretty in summer, and the Georgian mansion is a cafe with
indoor and outdoor seating.
Richmond Park is between Richmond and Kingston and has gates at Richmond, Petersham (pedes-
trian), Ham and Kingston as well as at Sheen and Roehampton. &   020/8948-3209. www.royalparks.
org.uk. Free admission. Daily 7am to dusk (opens at 7:30am mid-Sept-Feb). There are several free
parking lots, Pembroke Lodge restaurant, a cafe, and various official refreshment vans.
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