Kingston Upon Thames, Bushy Park, Hampton Court Palace and the Thames Path 16km

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GRADE: Beginner, 16 km/10 miles on good paths and all flat. About 3.5 hours of hiking plus lunch. There is an option to finish the walk early after 10km at Hampton Court Station.

This entirely flat circular hike starts outside Kingston station and after a short walk through the city centre, where we visit the ancient market and snap a few photos of the curious sculpture of 12 leaning disused phone boxes, takes us across the Thames and into Bushy Park.

Bushy Park is the second largest of London’s Royal Parks, at 445 hectares (1,100 acres) in area, after Richmond Park, and is located immediately north of Hampton Court Palace. We explore different parts of the park, including Heron Pond, Deer Park and Chestnut Avenue, following the London LOOP for nearly 5km, and then join the Thames Path and immediately walk past the magnificent Hampton Court Palace.

Hampton Court Palace is a grade I listed royal palace in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames. It originally belonged to cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who later gave it to king Henry VIII after falling from favour, in an attempt to repair the strained relationship with the monarch. The palace later became one of Henry’s most favourite residences.

From the Thames Path, we get a glance at the palace and a part of its magnificent gardens, and then continue along a quiet stretch of the river until we get closer to Kingston, where we will begin to hear and see much more activity both on and along the Thames. We finally cross the Kingston Bridge again and retrace our steps to the station, where the walk ends.

MEETING TIME: 11:05 outside Kingston station.

COST: £10.00 organiser fee paid on RSVP

TRAINS: There is a train from London Waterloo at 10:39 which arrives at Kingston Upon Thames at 11:03, journey time 24 min. Tickets: Oyster card £4.20 (single) – Kingston is in Oyster zone 6.

Due to Covid-19, we currently cannot travel together and organise group tickets. If you choose to do so on your own, please remember to follow all current government safety and social distancing guidelines.

https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/London/KNG/130920/1000/dep/130920/1600/dep

WALK STARTS: 11:05 from outside Kingston station

LUNCH: We will stop for a picnic lunch at Bushy Park around 12:30- 13:00. Please bring packed lunch and plenty of water to keep hydrated.

WALK ENDS: Approximately 16:00 outside Kingston station, but it always depends on the pace of the group we have on the particular day. It may be a bit earlier or a bit later.

RETURN TRAINS: There are four trains an hour from Kingston to London Waterloo on Sundays, journey time 31 minutes. Oyster is the cheapest way to pay at £4.20.

https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/London/KNG/130920/1000/dep/130920/1600/dep

TOILETS: There are toilets at Kingston station and in Bushy Park

CONTACT: Phone number for the day: 0799 0489 040

What to bring: Face covering and sanitiser (compulsory) lunch, snacks, water, suitable clothing and hiking footwear. Click here:
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