Walk 46 : Wimbledon to Kingston

Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, and the Thames Path.

Length	9 miles
Toughness	3 out of 10
Features	This easy walk is inside the London Travelcard area. It starts in Wimbledon, and heads for Wimbledon "village" (posh shops). It crosses Wimbledon Common to visit Cannizaro Park (formal gardens) and the Fox and Grapes pub. Then its north across the main part of Wimbledon Common (woodland) to Richmond Park (a royal deer park), visiting the Isabella Plantation (woodland graden) and Pembroke Lodge (terrace has hill top view) for tea. Leaving the park, its lunch by the river in Richmond, then south along the quiet Thames Path (and Hamm House NT) to Kinsgston. There is an optional extension through Hampton Court Park.
Map	OS Explorer 161 (London South), or a London A-Z Extension to Hampton Court (off the A-Z)
Walk Options	You can do this walk in reverse, in which case the Prince of Wales, opposite Wimbledon station, is recommended for tea. Once in Richmond, you could turn right (north) along the Thames, past Kew Gardens. Cross Kew Brigde for Kew Bridge train station.
Transport	Buy an all Zone Travelcard. There are train from train Waterloo to Wimbledon (8+ per hour, 15 mins), Ricmond (4 per hour, 20 mins), Kingston (4 per hour 25 mins), and Hampton Court (2 per hour, 30 mins). Richmond and Wimbledon are also tube stations By car: there is free parking around Wimbledon Common
History	Wimbledon Common is protected by an 1871 Act of Parliement (but not before the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club had cordened off a good deal of it) Caeser's Camp has some Iron Age remains Southside House is a small but highly recommended. You need to book guided tours in advance Cannizaro Park is now a public park. It used to be the grounds of Cannizaro House, which is now a hotel, where you can have tea. Richmond Park is the UK's largest urban park. It was enclosed in 1637 for hunting by Henry VIII. The deer, Pembroke Lodge and the Isabella Plantation (a woodland garden) are its major attractions. Hamm House (NT), a 17th century Stuart mansion, is right by the river. It takes about 45 mins to see, and is a nice spot for tea, but like all NT houses, expensive unless you're already a member. Hampton Court Palace (large royal palace, formal gardens, art collection, maze) is a major tourist attraction which will take about 2 hours to see - using an audio guide is highly recommended. However you'll arrive too late to do it justice. It would be better to do the work in reverse, start at Hampton Court, then walk to Richmond and Wimbledon. Note: while Hampton Court park is free, the palace gardens are free only in winter. There is an exit to the Thames riverbank just before you reach them.
Saturday Walkers Club	Meet at Wimbledon, in the main entrance (District Line side) at 10.30 (summer) 10.00 (winter).
Lunch and Tea	Wimbldeon: Prince of Wales (recommended, opposite Wimbledon Station, real ale) Wimbledon Village : a couple of OK pubs Wimbledon Common : Cannizaro Hotel (recommended, posh tea), The Fox and Grapes (recommended, reservation needed for weekend lunch), the cafe by the Windmill Putney Heath : The Telegaraph (recommended, off route) Richmond Park : Pembroke Lodge (recommended, tea, terrace overlooking the Thames) Richmond Hill: The Roebuck Pub (along the road from Richmon Gate to Richmond) Richmond : a couple of chain pubs on the river Kingston : a couple of nodescript chain pubs on the river, just after Kingston Bridge Hampton Court : Nondescript hotel pub just opposite the palace

Travel by Train	Out: (not a train station) Back: (not a train station)
Travel by Car	Start: Wimbledon Station is near : SW20 8JT [gmap] Finish: Kingston Station is near : KT1 1UJ [gmap] Return to your car by train: (park at the start) at 4pm (park at the end) at 10am
Map Walk	This walk requires a map for navigation. You must take an OS Map and compass (or for inner London walks, an A-Z). OS 1:50,000 maps can be printed out using the link above, or OS 1:25,000 from www.streetmap.co.uk or www.multimap.com
OS Explorer Map	161 : London South [Amazon]
Other London (Inside the M25) Walks	Knockholt Circular, Whyteleafe to Hayes, Greenford to Osterley, Whyteleafe Circular, West Byfleet to Hampton Court, Hayes to Knockholt,

Walking Instructions 

You are encouraged to choose your own route through Wimbledon Common and Richmond Parks

1. Turn right out of Wimbledon station, and walk (past Argos) up the hill along Wimbledon Hill Road.
2. At the top of the hill, straight across the first roundabout, along "Wimbledon Village" High Street (shops, pubs)
3. Bear left at the next junction to stay on the High Street.
4. Once you reach the common, head due west across open ground towards Cannizaro Park (formal gardens, free). The entrance is just to the right of Cannizaro House Hotel.
   • Cannizaro House is a good place for tea (expensive but recommended), but not if you've muddy feet.
   • Nearby is the recommended Southside House (fee, need to book guided tour in advance)
5. After visiting the gardens, head north along West Side Common Road
   • first left on Camp Road is the Fox and Grapes pub (very highly recommended - you will have to book for Sunday lunch)
6. Cross the common towards Putney Vale and the Robin Hood Gate (west). The most direct route is to follow Camp Road (mentioned above) to Robin Hood Road, which becomes a path, or take a longer route exploring the common.
   • If you have time, detour north via the Windmill (marked on the A-Z), the nearby cafe isn't recommended
   • A detour even further north to the excellent (but expensive) Telegraph pub on Putney Heath, (cross the north A3 via an underpass) isn't recomended, as this isn't the nicest part of the common.
   • Or detour (slightly) south along Warren Farm
   • The southwest corner of the 'green area' on the A-Z is a private golf course. It contains 'Ceaser's camp', the remains of a Roman hill fort (marked on the A-Z). There is a public access path off Camp Road (at TQ225711) but its very limited.
7. Head for the 'top left' of the common, where you walk along a line of trees between 2 open playing fields towards a footbridge over the A3
8. Enter Richmond Park
9. Head due west, along the North Side of Price Charles Spinney (clump of trees), then head south west, and enter the south entrance of Isabella Plantation (gardens)
10. Exit from the north side of Isaballa, and head north west, cross the road, and continue north towards Pembroke Lodge. If you have time, loop via Penn's ponds.
    • Pembroke Lodge is a good spot for tea, and has a terrace with a fine panorama overlooking the Thames
    • Nearby is King Henry VIII mound, with a telecscope to view St Pauls between an avenue of trees. This is a protected (and much over-rated) view of St Pauls
    • A short cut avoiding Richmond, is to head straight down the hill at the back of the lodge, to Petersham (pubs) and the Thames path.
11. Continue north, leave the park, turn right, and follow Richmond Hill Road, past the Roebuck pub, into Richmond for lunch.
    • Option: After lunch, follow the Thames north, pass Kew Gardens, and eventually reach Kew Bridge. Cross it for the train station, or nearby Gunnesbury tube station
12. Then turn left along the Thames (south). Pass Ham House (NT), and eventually reach Kingston (train station). There are a couple of riverside pubs just after Kingston Bridge.
13. For a longer walk, cross Kingston Bridge to the entrance of Hampton Court Palace's 'Home Park'.
    • Option: walk through Bushy Park (cross the roundabout at the end of the bridge, first major right hand turn, entrance is 25m, on the left).
14. In summer, to avoid paying to enter its formal gardens, head to the south of the 'long water', and exit onto the Thames path. In winter, or to vist the gardens, head to the north of the 'long water' (if you change your mind, there is an exit onto the road, and you can walk around to the front of the palace.
15. There is an ok pub opposite the palace entrance.
16. Cross the river for Hampton Court station