Turks Launches

The very best way to go to and from Hampton Court or travel along the Thames is to take a Turk Boat. Locals and tourists alike use this transportation.
Beyond just being a way to get around, it’s a lovely ride. For Hampton Court it drops you off right along the side of it.
I would make sure to also look into thier theme and dinner cruises on the Thames if you are in town during one of them.

Catching a riverboat along the Thames has to be up there as one of the loveliest things that you can do, so it is strange that so many tourists do it, yet so few locals.
I had been one of those people until recently. Then, one summer, my brother came back to visit from California, it had been so long since he had been in London or near Hampton Court Palace that he saw it like a tourist. Leaving Kingston one day we spotted Turk Launches which have a series of riverboats — they wouldn’t look out of place steaming through Mississippi — and decided to hop on back to Hampton Court.
The journey only took half an hour but it was lovely. We sat outside on the open deck and watched the scenery of Hampton Court Palace gardens pass as by as we chugged along. It was £4.50 one way which I thought was reasonable — after all, a ticket on the bus is half that, and this is a much more idyllic way to travel.
Unfortunately, this ride only operates from April to September, so if you are in the area then I would suggest you hop on and see another side to the Thames.

I have lived in London for 13 years and have seen many of the sites that it has to offer and lived life to the full in the pubs and clubs etc. Up until 2 years ago, I had never been on one of those bus tours and never been on a river cruise. Strange really but I always thought that was something that tourists did.
If you are like me and thought that way then I urge you to do both. It is a great way to see London from a different perspective and I really enjoyed it.
Turks operate out of Richmond and do various day trips between Richmond and Hampton Court and it takes in the many historic and interesting sights along the way and they also offer private charters for parties, weddings, disco cruises and corporate cruises. A full menu and bar service can be arranged and disco’s and entertainment etc are also available.
I have always thought these things were a bit naff but I went on a corporate event on one last year and had an amazing night.