Thames Path: Richmond to Hampton Court
The last truly quiet stretch of the Thames inside the M25. Walked and written by the editor.

1. Petersham Meadows
A working cow meadow, ten minutes from a Pret. Come early enough and you'll meet the farmer moving the herd; come later and you'll have the bench by the river almost to yourself.

2. Ham House
A 17th-century pile with a garden of pointed yews and a cafe in the old dairy. The National Trust runs it, which means you can ignore the house entirely and just use the grounds for a long, unhurried coffee.

3. Teddington Lock
Where the tidal Thames ends. Stand on the footbridge for a minute and you can see the two rivers behaving differently on either side — flat upstream, fidgety down.

4. Kingston Bridge
Halfway point, and the natural pub stop. The Ram or the Bishop out the Boot, depending on mood. Walk through the market square before crossing, even if you don't need anything.

5. Hampton Court Gardens
You don't need a ticket for the formal gardens on the river side — the palace is the show but the yew-lined walks are the real thing. End with a slow lap of the Privy Garden.

Thames Path: Richmond to Hampton Court