Monday 12th July 2021
11.00 train from Norwich to Stratford, followed by a quick change to the London Overground service to Richmond. Face masks all the way apart from picnic lunch on the train led to a certain amount of discomfort on a warm day.
On arrival at Richmond station we decided to walk to the Richmond Hill Hotel as it was a nice day. We realised what might be to come given the name of the hotel, but set off through the main shopping area of Richmond checking out the potential for eating, drinking and shopping as we went. On reaching the small roundabout where Richmond road turned to cross the River Thames we ploughed straight on and started to climb the hill with our wheeled suitcases in the sticky heat. This physical effort impressed the hotel receptionist who nevertheless tried to persuade us to upgrade our room (at a cost) as we checked in. The unpacking was completed just in time for the start of a thunderstorm.
Decided we couldn’t wait all night for it to stop raining, so set off in search of food just after 6PM when the rain had eased a bit. Add to this the vehicles which splashed us as they passed on our way back down the hill to Richmond we must have looked quite a sight as we arrived in Bills.
Afterwards we set off down the Thames footpath towards Kew enjoying the sunset over the river as the rain finally stopped. Crossing over Twickenham Bridge we made our way back up the other side of the river and over the bridge before making our way back up to the hotel.
Tuesday 13th July 2021
In our compact hotel room someone had come up with the bright idea of making the shower and toilet with frosted glass walls, and swinging open the toilet door and sliding open the wardrobe door joined together to make a larger bathroom/dressing area shut off from the bedroom area. So having discovered this we showered and set off to explore Richmond Park.
In through Richmond Gates and straight ahead until we found Pembroke Lodge for sausage/bacon baguettes and coffee which were far better than expected, then set off in search of deer. It didn't take long, as walking along a path alongside Queen’s Road we spotted half a dozen Fallow Deer between the path and the road just relaxing in the shade and seemingly untroubled by the proximity of humans. Some distance further on we were amongst Red Deer either side of the road, as a woman with a buggy nervously wanted us to lead the way in case the killer deer attacked. We made our way along the track to Pen Ponds Cafe where we bought bottles of water to keep us going through the heat of the day and set off towards The Bog and Sheen Gate. We came across another herd of deer in the shade of a group of trees not far from the path, but were distracted by a man with a couple of scarlet macaws the other side of the path.
Eventually making our way through Sheen Gate and the residential streets we ended up in Artisan Coffee, North Sheen for coffee and cake - excellent coffee by the way. Quite a long hot walk along the A305 back into Richmond until we saw The Old Ship and stopped for iced pineapple juices. Popped into Marks and Spencer for picnic supplies and then climbed back up to Richmond Hill using the pathway at the top of Terrace Gardens rather than the road. During a brief pause on a bench dedicated to a Grandad and Grandson we heard a little girl excitedly shout “Here’s a new bench - someone’s died!”
Back to our room for a picnic and rest.
Wednesday 14th July 2021
No great rush this morning as we make our way down the hill to Cote in Richmond for an egg Benedict brunch before catching Turk’s 12 o’clock sailing for Hampton Court Palace. There were only 6 passengers on board until we reached Kingston-on-Thames, but very few of the new passengers followed covid rules so there were hardly any masks and little regard for the one way system. Very pleasant voyage up The Thames via Teddington Lock until we reached Hampton Court Palace about an hour and three quarters later.
Having decided against actually going into Hampton Court Palace we briefly peered through the railings before setting off on the walk back along The Thames Path in the sunshine. A bit further on we found a gap in the vegetation which allowed a view of the river so we could watch our boat - now full of singing school kids - make the return journey. On reaching Kingston we crossed the bridge and settled on Hache Burger Social for excellent burgers, fries, and coke - although by the time we had finished all that we didn’t much fancy the rest of the walk back. Onwards to Teddington Lock whilst trying to dodge the many cyclists who were tearing down the path. Stopped at the locks to watch 6 narrowboats all use the same lock at the same time, as well as a hunting heron, and some youths jumping in shortly after the boats had moved on. A bit further on we met a lovely cyclist who said he would c us next Tuesday for not leaping out of his way as he approached.
After a long, hot, but enjoyable walk we were finally close to home, and detoured via Petersham, past a couple of druggies, through some narrow alleys and back up to the hotel at about 7.00PM
We headed straight for the bar but had to wait to be seated, then wait ages to be served only to find that this part of London had not heard of J2O and settled on a couple of cold lemonades. Almost managed to sneak out of the bar without signing for the drinks to be put on our room bill but they caught us.
Back to the room for foot inspection.
Thursday 15th July 2021
Back down the hill to Kiss the Hippo in Richmond for more good coffee and croissant, then into Tesco for picnic provisions. We then set off on a slow stroll toward Kew Gardens for our time slot of 11.00AM but still managed to get there half an hour early. Fortunately, they let us in early and we quickly found something like a bus shelter where Michelle set about protecting her sore feet with some recently acquired Compeed plasters. We spent the next hour or so strolling around the gardens and greenhouses, dodging the groups of school kids who were obviously thrilled to be looking at lots of plants, and then we stopped for our picnic near the lake. More greenhouses and parkland followed before coffee break and then The Hive - a visual tribute to Britain’s honey bees - which hummed as we walked through it. After a well earned ice cream we walked back though the extensive parkland until we reached the pagoda where even more photos were taken before we exited the same Lion Gate we had come in.
No alcohol had been consumed in the whole of the Kew Gardens visit, so we popped into The Shaftesbury on Kew Road for a couple of drinks and then wandered back to Leon In Richmond for fish finger wraps. Further drinks were consumed in The Britannia in one of the narrow alleys leading to Richmond Green, and in The Marlborough just round the corner from the hotel.
Friday 16th July 2021
Turning right at the roundabout we headed towards the Marlborough but went to L’Amandine for eggs Benedict with Avocado and coffees. It took quite a while for the food to turn up as they were very busy, but the food was good.
Down the hill in the sunshine, and into Richmond where we pottered around the high street for a while before setting off down the Thames path. We found our way to the edge of Old Deer Park and then swung back round to Richmond Green. We found a bench under the trees which sheltered us from the hot sun whilst watching people doing yoga or just relaxing. After a while we strolled back up the high street for our second visit to The Old Ship for iced lemonade.
As it was so nice we decided to get some picnic supplies from Waitrose and set off back along the Thames Path in the direction of our hotel. For some reason we decided against using the subway signposted Terrace Gardens, even though it was our planned destination, and ended up climbing through the steep woods past the Petersham Hotel. This was almost opposite our own hotel so we strolled down the road into the gardens, transferred our bottle of wine into our drinking flasks, and tucked in.
Later as we left the gardens there was a beautiful sunset over the Thames Valley.
Saturday 17th July 2021
After settling our huge bar bill and checking out we returned to L’Amandine for coffee and croissants before trundling our suitcases down the hill and into town again. We killed a bit of time in the Railway (Nicholson’s pub) with a couple of cold drinks and then ordered fish goujons, chicken pieces and loaded fries to keep us going on the arduous journey home.
We didn’t get very far on the first London Overground train, as problems on the line meant we could go no further. At West Hampstead we had to get out of the station, which our tickets wouldn’t allow, and get across the road to join the Jubilee underground line. Fortunately, a member of staff released us through a side gate so we could carry on with our journey to Stratford. Sadly this meant that we missed our connection at Stratford and had to wait an hour for the next one.