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Trip Over to London

Voyage Up The Thames – Westminster to Hampton Court

Need a day out of the city? The most relaxing, entertaining way to get from central London to Hampton Court Palace is on a Thames Riverboat from Westminster Pier. Catch the tube to Westminster Station, walk towards the river and look to the left, you’ll see the ticket booths and the pier there.

Check online for sailing times by clicking here. As the River Thames is tidal, the boat only goes all the way up to Hampton Court if the tide is high enough up river.

The trip takes about 3 hours and you will be entertained the whole way with the commentary from a local Londoner who points out all the places of interest, as well as telling stories about all the things you see along the way. There is a fully licensed bar on board – sipping on a G&T watching the world go by has got to be one of the pleasures of life!

When the boat sets off there is so much to see, I found myself in a bit of a spin taking photos on both sides of the river, and listening to the commentary. It all starts off with safety briefing, (even that was entertaining!), as the boat goes under Westminster Bridge, then make sure you have your camera ready as the sites come thick and fast. It all calms down the further out of the city you go.

The Palace of Westminster, or Houses of Parliament, on the north side of the Thames and over on the south side is St Thomas’s Hospital. Then after passing under Lambeth Bridge Tamesis Dock was sitting high and dry waiting for the tide to come in. Tamesis Dock is a pub on a converted 1930s Dutch Barge moored on the Thames River.

Before you get the Chelsea Bridge, you pass under the Grosvenor Bridge, also known as the Victoria Railway Bridge, the River Guide was quite excited about the long train that was crossing it at the time.




The Peace Pagoda sits on the edge of the river at Battersea Park, a gift from, Guruji, the founder of the Japanese Buddhist movement in 1984. He stated that ‘Civilisation is not to kill human beings, not to destroy things, nor make war; civilisation is to hold mutual affection and to respect one another’. Following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he pledged to build pagodas worldwide as shrines to peace. The Battersea pagoda was constructed by nuns, monks and other followers of the sect and was completed in 1985 just weeks after Guruji died at the grand old age of 100.

The next Bridge to come into view is the Albert Suspension Bridge, originally built in 1873, but was found to be structurally unsound, so this was corrected the following decade. Then 100 years later it was painted a lighter colour to make it more conspicuous in poor visibility, and avoid being damaged by various vessels on the river.

Just before Battersea Bridge is Crosby Moran Hall. The Great Hall was built in 1466 and was moved here from the original site in Bishopsgate in 1910, now a private residence. This is the only example of a medieval city merchant house surviving in London.

After passing all the house boats that surround the northern end of Battersea Bridge, you start heading into ugly, modern, super expensive residential territory. Even London Heliport is here on the south side of the river. The apartments here are prohibitively expensive, they would need some good double glazing to keep out the noise of helicopters landing and taking off.

After Putney Bridge, the almost country side scenery starts to develop. Before going under Hammersmith Bridge, the old Harrod’s Furniture Depository building is on the left, once considered to be so far out of the city it was a good place for a warehouse, now I believe, converted to luxury apartments.

Eventually, after winding our way further up river, past Kew Gardens, we had to go into Richmond Lock, so we could be raised up to the higher river level for the last part of our voyage.

We slowly enter the lock under Richmond Footbridge, the gates close behind us, then the water starts flooding in from the other end to raise out boat up, now this is a mechanical process with the flicking of a few switches, but once all done by hand. They must have been very strong men to fight with the weight of the water.

Then we pass by beautiful Richmond-on-Thames, past lovely riverside homes, under Kingston Bridge and into Teddington Lock, where we do it all again to get us up to the right river level to make the final bend on our trip!

Finally Hampton Court Palace comes into view…….

After visiting the Palace you can then return to London on the River Boat, or catch the train back to Waterloo from Hampton Court Station, just across the river on Hampton Court Bridge.

While in London you might like to visit the beautiful Kew Gardens, or be part of London’s amazing history at the Tower of London.

Walking along the old tow path beside Regent’s Canal from Camden Town to Little Venice near Paddington is a lovely way to see the quiet side of London. Or take a longer walk through history ending up in a 800 year old pub.

At the right time of year, usually in May, the Chelsea Flower Show is a must see, even for a non-gardener like me!

Have a read of some of the shorter “PostCards” I have written while in London for more stories and pictures of this incredible city.

Book a tour on your Trip Over to London

Itinerary for my Trip Over to London

Flew from Sydney to London Heathrow via Singapore, with Qantas on QF1, then QF2 to come home.

Stayed at the Royal Overseas League in St James’s.

Picked up at Heathrow by Naz from Black Lane Limos.

Travelled around London using a Visitor Oyster Card.

Postman's Park in London was a nice place to sit while I checked the map on my 'make it up as you go' walk. Everything I did this and formulated a plan, I would find something else that led me off to the next place, there was a lot of recalibration that day! Read the story and see my walking map by clicking the link in the bio. . . . #postmansparklondon #postmanspark #postmansparkmemorial #whiteflowers #redflowers #parkbench #londonparks #londonpics #londontimes #londontravel #londoncalling #londontrip #london #londonwalks #londonhistory #londoninautumn #londonisalwaysagoodidea #seekandyoushallfind #traveltheworldwithme
Surfers dotted around in the ocean hoping to catch a wave out near the headland off Manly Beach in Sydney. . . . #pacificocean #manlybeachaustralia #manlybeach #surfing #outintheocean #sydneyweekend #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneycoastalwalks #sydneybeaches #sydneybythesea #sydneylife #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Looking across Sydney Harbour from Cremorne Point on Sydney's North Shore. . . #sydneynorthshore #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyferries #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbourbridge #fortdenison #sydneycbd #sydneyweekend #sydneybythesea #sydneylocal #sydneyinsummertime #sydney #sydneywalks #cremornepointwalk #cremornepoint
On a walk around Cremorne Point the water looked so inviting, apart from the jagged shells on the rocks on the shoreline..... . . . #cremornepointwalk #cremornepoint #northshore #sydneyweekend #sydneybythesea #sydneylife #sydneylocal #sydneynorthshore #sydneybythesea #sydneyinsummertime #sydneywalks #sydneywaterways #sydneyaustralia #sydneynativeplants #sydneyharbourwalks #seetheworldthroughmylens
And all of this, along with everything in the previous pic all needs to fit into this suitcase.....hmmm!!! . . #packing #tripovertoitaly #tripovertolondon #neverstoptravelling #solotrip #howwillitallfit #howwillitallfitinmycase #traveladdict
Now the fun begins, packing for my adventure to London and Italy, I have to fit all this into my smaller than usual suitcase.....no, not the cushions and pillows!!! . . #packing #tripovertoitaly #tripovertolondon #neverstoptravelling #solotrip #solotravel
The next place I came across was London Museum, but sadly it was "temporarily closed", but this horse sculpture was outside. Oh well, keep walking to see what's around the next corner.....see the map of my walk and read about all the places I found along the way by clicking the link in the bio. . . . #londontravel #londonmuseum #london #londonwalks #londonlife #londontrip #londoncalling #horsesculpture #artinpublicspaces #neverstopexploring #solotravelinlondon #solotravel #londonart #seekandyoushallfind #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveladdict #travellerau #traveltheworldwithme
Continuing my walk, around the corner from London Museum on London Wall (that's the name of the street) they have uncovered a section of the original Roman Wall and this adornment from when it was called Londinium. See the map of my walk and read the story by clicking the link in the bio. . . #londonwall #romanlondon #romanlondinium #londontravel #londontrip #londonhistory #londonwalks #londoncalling #londonisalwaysagoodidea #londonstreets #london #oldlondon #whereitallbegan #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #historygeek #solotravelinlondon #solotravel #neverstopexploring
A couple of Lorikeets having a morning catch up on a tree at Cremorne Point on Sydney's North Shore. . . . #lorikeetsofinstagram #lorikeets #cremornepoint #cremornepointwalk #sydneylocal #sydney #sydneywalks #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #myhometown #travellerau #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneynatives #borntofly #walkinthepark #sydneyweekend #sydneynorthshore #sydneyparks
This whatever it is reptile was just standing on a rock happily watching everyone walking by at Cremorne Point in Sydney. Lizards things are not my favourites, but hey, I was visiting their home. Hopefully they understand, I am not returning the favour!! . . #reptilesofinstagram #reptile #lizardofinstagram #lizardonarock #sydneynatives #sydneywildlife #cremornepointwalk #cremornepoint #watchingyou #sydneylocal #sydneywalks #sydneyweekend #sydneynorthshore #sydneybythesea #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyaustralia #myhometown #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmylens #neverstopexploring
Christmas lights on South Molton St in London. . . . #london #christmaslightseverywhere #christmasinlondon🎄 #londontravel #southmoltonstreet #londonwalks #londonlife #christmasiscoming #christmasdecorationseverywhere #christmaslights #christmasready #londonwalks #bluechristmaslights
All Christmas ready in the Strand Arcade in Sydney!! . . . #strandarcade #strandarcadesydney #christmasinsydney #christmasdecorationseverywhere #christmasdecorations #christmasiscoming #startingtolookalotlikechristmas #shoppinginsydney #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylocal #myhometown #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #sydneyshopping #sydney #sydney_insta #seekandyoushallfind
And all of this needs to fit into this bag.......then the fun can begin!!! . . #packing #howwillitallfitinmycarryon🤦🏻‍♀️ #traveltrauma #neverstoptravelling #tripovertolondon #tripovertoitaly #solotravel #travelsddict
This is Musiara, an orphaned elephant rescued after poachers attacked her mum. There are 21 bronze sculptures created by Gillie and Marc now located in Spitalfields, London. I have a new post about them that you can read by clicking the link to my website, in the bio. . . #musiara #herdofhope #herdofhopelondon #bronzeelephants #londontravel #londonwalks #seekandyoushallfind #spitalfields #spitalfieldsmarket #london #gillieandmarcart #artinpublicplaces #bronzeelephantsculptures #sculptureoftheday #sculptureinthecity #londontrip #londonlife #solotravelerstories #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict
Merry Christmas🎄🎄🎄🥂!! . . #sydneychristmas #merrychristmas🎄
Manly Beach, on the in Harbour side just near where the ferry comes in. . . #manlybeachaustralia #manlybeach #sydneybeaches #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sailingboats #sydneylocal #sydneyweekend #sydneybythesea #sydneylife #sunshine #sydneyaustralia #seetheworldthroughmylens #neverstopexploring
Happy New Year, above Sydney Harbour!!! Hope 2024 is a good one 🥂🤗 . . #happynewyear #sydneyfireworks #bringon2024
Merry Christmas! . . . #merrychristmas🎄 #martinplacechristmastree #sydneychristmas
The Martin Place Christmas tree is set up, but I am so over seeing it every year with the red and green beach ball look, surely we can have something different occasionally. Looks great for visitors, but if you live here........same old, same old...... . . . #martinplace #martinplacechristmastree #sydneycbd #sydneylife #sydney #sydneyhistoricalbuildings #sydneylocal #christmasinsydney #christmasiscoming #sydneylunchtime #fullertonhotelsydney #seetheworldthroughmylens
The elephant sculptures by Gillie and Marc at Spitalfields Market in London, The Herd of Hope is raising awareness of the plight the elephants face due to poaching and habitat destruction. Go to my website to read more about them, see more pictures and read about my long walk in London. Link in the bio. . . #herdofhope #herdofhopelondon #spitalfields #spitalfieldsmarket #gillieandmarcart #gillieandmarc #artinthestreets #artinpublicplaces #sculptureart #sculptureoftheday #elephantsofinstagram #elephantfamily #londontrip #londontravel #londonwalks #selfguidedwalk #solotravelinlondon #explorelondon #london #traveladdict

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