Follow the Thames Path from Kew Bridge to Twickenham, and admire some grand homes on the way, says John Curtin
From the Royal Botanic Gardens and Kew Palace, George III’s family home, there are excellent panoramas across to Syon House as you meander along the south bank to Richmond, once a royal town. After crossing to the north bank, with views up to Richmond Hill and the imperial-looking Royal Star and Garter Home (pictured above), the route continues to Marble Hill House, a villa built for George II’s mistress, and on to the Orleans House Gallery. There is a detour by ferry to Ham House, from where you can return to Richmond station or continue to Twickenham station.
Leave Kew Bridge station to cross the bridge and join the Thames Path, signed. After crossing the river, take the steep flight of steps on your right down to the towpath and turn left. The path along this route is shared with cyclists, so be aware. There are views across the river to barges and houseboats. In about 250 yards, there is a sign directing you left to the Botanical Gardens (open daily from 09:30, and worth a day’s visit on its own). Keeping straight on, you may see green parakeets, which have successfully bred in this area. Kew Palace (due to reopen in 2006), in the Botanical Gardens, shortly comes into view on your left and, in stark contrast, the high-rise buildings across the river in Brentford.
After about a mile, Syon House, the London home of the present Duke of Northumberland, appears on your right. A mile further on, pass a sign on your left to the Old Deer Park—now the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club—where you can view the site of the King’s Observatory, built to satisfy George III’s interest in astronomy. Ahead, as the Thames turns, is the decorative Richmond Lock footbridge, followed by Twickenham bridge, then a railway bridge and finally Richmond bridge, where a sign tells us we’ve come nearly three miles from Kew bridge. Stop for lunch at a pub or café along the Richmond Riverside— a modern recreation of classical architectural styles of the 17-19th centuries by architect Quinlan Terry. The White Cross has excellent riverside views and good pub grub.
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