DoubleTree by Hilton London Kingston Upon Thames

Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the borough of Richmond upon Thames, 11.7 miles (18.8 kilometres) south west and upstream of central London on the River Thames. Building of the palace began in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII. In 1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, the cardinal gave the palace to the King to check his disgrace; Henry VIII later enlarged it. Along with St James's Palace, it is one of only two surviving palaces out of the many owned by King Henry VIII.

Founded by Sir Peter Hall, and modelled on the original Elizabethan Rose Theatre on London’s Bankside, Rose Theatre Kingston is the largest producing theatre in South West London. Since opening in 2008, the Rose has collaborated with a range of directors, playwrights and producing partners to create vibrant, engaging and inspiring productions. Recent works include: Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Simon Dormandy, starring Mel Giedroyc and John Hopkins; the first stage adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, directed by Melly Still, starring Niamh Cusack and Catherine McCormack; Zach Helm’s Good Canary, directed by John Malkovich, John Barton and Peter Hall’s Shakespeare adaptation The Wars of the Roses directed by Trevor Nunn. Upcoming productions include world première of Nick Dear’s double bill Hogarth’s Progress and a major revival of Friedrich Schiller’s Don Carlos starring Tom Burke. With over 150,000 visitors a year, the Rose enjoys artistic and critical acclaim from its own productions and co-productions as well as from hosting the work of renowned theatre companies including Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, English Touring Theatre, Peter Brook, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Propeller and West Yorkshire Playhouse. With an auditorium that lends itself to both intimate and epic scale productions, the Rose has established itself as one of the most exciting theatres in the UK.

All aboard for a cruise along the Thames! April to October, Turk Launches run up-to 45 boat trips daily along the most scenic stretch of the River Thames, capturing the history and beauty of Richmond and Kingston -upon-Thames, and Hampton Court Palace. Their eye-catching fleet of boats are each stylishly furnished, with a bar, toilet and outside deck. Put your feet up, sip a chilled drink and just take in the stunning views. Kids love it, perfect for tired legs! Cultural and architectural landmarks along the river include Eel Pie Island, Teddington Lock, Richmond Hill and Hampton Court Palace. Sit back and get a glimpse of the most jaw-dropping riverside properties. Enjoy seeing nature and watching river sports in action – rowing, sailing, paddle-boarding. And as the bustling cosmopolitan riversides of Kingston and Richmond come into view – or at Hampton Court just take a short walk over the bridge - take time to explore an eclectic choice of shops, markets, stylish bars and restaurants – all just within minutes of Turk’s three piers. Turks two most renowned boats are the Yarmouth Belle - an historical English side wheeler and known as the prettiest boat along the Thames. And the New Southern Belle – an iconic Mississippi styled paddle steamer that brings a flavour of Old New Orleans to our London waterway. You may recognise this boat from scenes in the British TV drama New Tricks and it was also the boat featured in Culture Club’s Karma Chamelon video. Simply put, everything is made so much more relaxing and interesting when you arrive on a Turk’s river cruise.

With over 500 stores, 2 shopping malls, a bustling market place as well as a booming and vibrant independent scene, it’s no wonder Kingston is the third biggest shopping destination in London. As soon as you step off the train, you’ll find a number of specialist, independent and fashion stores on Fife Road before you come to the town’s largest shopping mall, Bentall Centre, featuring over 75 shops spaciously spread across four floors. Beyond the town’s famous tumbling telephone boxes is Old London Road, home to a quirky mix of independent stores not to be missed including antiques, vintage and retro pieces. Eden Walk, an open air shopping mall, houses a mix of independent shops alongside big high street names whilst the adjacent Crown Arcade features yet more independent and specialist boutiques.