London 3-day Itinerary
United Kingdom (UK)
Where to go and what to see in London to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.
Bucket list experience:
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A Tudor royal pleasure palace set in 60 acres of gorgeous formal gardens and 750 acres of parkland. Anyone with the remotest interest in English history will get a kick out of exploring this sprawling Tudor and Baroque estate, where the infamous Henry VIII lived, loved and held lavish banquets.
Navigating the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze, commissioned around 1700, is something of a rite of passage for British kids, with families often opting to visit the gardens alone (maze-only tickets are available). But don’t miss the Great Hall and royal apartments, the elaborate dome in the Chapel Royal or the gallery – reputedly haunted by Henry’s fated fifth wife, Catherine Howard.
You can also play Mary Poppins with a walk on the palace roof, on guided summertime tours that take in the intricate brickwork and chimneys and give VIP views of the estate.
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United Kingdom (UK)
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Allow around three hours to explore the palace. The site is a 15-minute train ride from London Waterloo. Riverboats https://www.thamesriverboats.co.uk/ run from Westminster, Richmond-upon-Thames and Kingston-upon-Thames (April to October); the journey from Westminster takes three hours.
Audio guides to different parts of the estate are available, included in the ticket price – four of these are specially tailored for children (over 6). Costumed ‘courtiers’ offer free guided tours, leaving regularly from inside the palace. For food, you’ll find two cafés with a Tudor vibe and modern food. Picnics are allowed in the grounds.
Since Hampton Court is as much about its manicured gardens, maze and riverside location as its interior, outdoorsy spring and summer suit it best. But it’s open all year round, seven days a week.
Busy holiday seasons – Christmas and Easter – often come with special events and decoration, and the palace is big enough to accommodate the crowds. An ice rink is added in December and January, too.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)
A colourful and stylish ‘countryside retreat’ atop leafy Richmond Hill, overlooking the Thames and just 20 minutes from the city centre. Kew Gardens and Hampton Court are virtually next door.
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London, United Kingdom (UK)
A lovely, tranquil retreat for those who want to dip in and out of central London. Richmond Park, Hampton Court and The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are on your doorstep.
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London, United Kingdom (UK)
Dazzling design and local colour abound at this intimate, under-the-radar bolthole in a convenient, upmarket location.
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London, United Kingdom (UK)
A value-for-money Georgian townhouse hotel that offers a pleasingly tranquil feel, set on a refined residential street in the heart of Chelsea.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)
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London, United Kingdom (UK)
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London, United Kingdom (UK)
Charles I’s deer-roamed royal park that remains little changed since the Middle Ages. Woodland, grassland, and cycleways make for a rural treat of a city retreat.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
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London, United Kingdom (UK)
An 18th-century mansion of masterpieces sitting pretty on Piccadilly, home to one of Britain’s oldest collections of fine art and regular blockbuster exhibitions.
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