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Exploring Hampton Court Park

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Walk directions

From the car park, follow the footpath signposted ‘Hampton Court Palace’ (HCP), which runs parallel to the road. Cross the road and enter HCP through the main gates. Walk along a wide drive. Just before the palace, turn right to go through a metal gate and turn left to join the riverside path.

Walk along the river, passing the palace and grounds that house the real tennis court building. Where the tarmac path goes left, continue ahead, following the riverside track.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Gravel, tarmac and riverside tracks

Landscape - Landscaped grounds of historic palace, riverside path and parkland

Dog friendliness - Keep dogs on lead in palace grounds and near deer; no dogs allowed in areas of palace gardens that require a ticket

Parking - Hampton Court Green car park on Hampton Court Road

Toilets en route - Next to Hampton Court kitchen garden

Walks in Greater London Dog-friendly walks in Greater London

About the walk

The majority of visitors to Hampton Court come to see the state apartments of William III and Henry VIII, the Tudor kitchens and perhaps the maze and the 60 acres (24ha) of riverside gardens. Most miss the subtle doorway in the wall that looks like the opening to a secret garden. In fact it is the... entrance to the most historic court in the world – the real tennis court. Courting a historic ball game Henry VIII played real tennis here, as did Charles I. Cardinal Wolsey built the original real tennis court in the 1520s on the site of the present Stuart court, but it remained roofless until 1636. During World War II it was again roofless, when a bomb hit the adjacent apartments and shattered the court’s windows. Apart from ‘real tennis’, any of the terms ‘royal tennis’, ‘court tennis’ and ‘close tennis’ may be used to distinguish this ancient game from the more familiar ‘lawn tennis’ (although that is rarely played on a lawn nowadays). The game, from which many other ball games – such as table tennis and squash – are derived, may have been played as early as the 6th century bc. The word ‘tennis’ stems from the French tenez or the Anglo-French tenetz, which means ‘take it’, referring to what the server might call to their opponent. Although the game was originally played outside, it may have moved to an enclosed court for reasons of privacy and to avoid the filthy streets in the Middle Ages. The game was very popular in France with the aristocracy, but suffered for this association during the Revolution. After World War I, it declined in popularity in England. The chase If you’re a real tennis novice, then the court will probably look like a cross between a badminton court and a medieval street roof. Yet it’s a quirky game to watch, for the serve can be over or underarm as long as the ball bounces at least once on the roof (known as a penthouse) and then on the floor within the service court. The rackets are shaped more like a buckled bicycle tyre than a tennis racket, but the game is fast, energetic and skilful. Although there are some similarities to lawn tennis, the main difference lies in the ‘chase’. This is a complicated manoeuvre and best understood by watching players in action – it comes into play when the ball bounces twice in certain areas of the court.

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About the area

Greater London is one of the world’s largest urban areas; 33 boroughs stretching north to Enfield, south to Croydon, east to Havering, west to Hillingdon and with central London at the heart of it all. Greater London contains a multitude of parks and green spaces, from the six Royal Parks to other huge open spaces like Hampstead Heath and Clapham Common.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

5.2 miles (8.4kms)

Ascent:

75ft (23m)

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Exploring Hampton Court Park

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Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

5.2 miles (8.4kms)

Ascent:

75ft (23m)

Walk directions

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Walk along the river, passing the palace and grounds that house the real tennis court building. Where the tarmac path goes left, continue ahead, following the riverside track.

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Continue on, to pass Thames Ditton Island, with its distinctive chalet homes. Development here began in the early 20th century, and the island became particularly popular in the 1930s. Homes here are built on stilts to protect against flood damage.

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Further on, you pass Raven’s Ait Island, a tiny island in the Thames that is used as an exclusive party and wedding venue. On the opposite bank you will see the Thames Sailing Club. Now follow the riverside path for 0.75 miles (1.2km) to Kingston Bridge. This is part of the Thames Path, the long-distance footpath that stretches 184 miles (296km) from the source of the Thames in the Cotswolds almost to the sea. Turn left at the bridge to join a road leading to a roundabout

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Follow the railings on your left and, at a signpost ‘Hampton Court Golf Club’, turn left through Kingston Gate. Immediately after the cattle grid, bear right along a grassy path to the left of Hampton Wick Pond. The path joins a long, straight path flanked by trees; follow it for about 0.75 miles (1.2km) towards the palace.

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Before you reach the metal gate leading to the formal garden, and about halfway down the brick wall on your right, turn through Paddock Gate and follow the path to reach the road, turn left, then re-enter the palace grounds through Lion Gate.

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Turn right around the maze and follow the wall down to a gate. Turn right into the Tiltyard; the Rose Garden is on your left. From the Tiltyard continue ahead, passing through the Kitchen Garden and then exit to the road, where you can retrace your steps back to the start.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Gravel, tarmac and riverside tracks

Landscape - Landscaped grounds of historic palace, riverside path and parkland

Dog friendliness - Keep dogs on lead in palace grounds and near deer; no dogs allowed in areas of palace gardens that require a ticket

Parking - Hampton Court Green car park on Hampton Court Road

Toilets en route - Next to Hampton Court kitchen garden

Walks in Greater London Dog-friendly walks in Greater London

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Greater London

Exploring Hampton Court Park

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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Exploring Hampton Court Park

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