LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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HOW TO VISIT HAM HOUSE IN RICHMOND: A SHORT GUIDE.

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Ham House was built in the 17th century and is widely lauded as a “unique survivor” of this century. As of 1626, this house was home to William and Catherine Murray – courtiers of King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria. During the civil war, Catherine and her daughter Elizabeth protected the house to prevent confiscation by Parliament. And so, Ham House survives today as a National Trust property, open to visitors.

This short guide will help you to visit Ham House. Find out how to get there, what to see and do, and what to visit near to Ham House.

How to get to Ham House

Ham House is found in Richmond to the south side of the river Thames. Google Maps location can be found here.

On foot: Ham House is on the south side of the river, from Richmond, you can walk along the towpath to reach Ham. Likewise from the direction of Kingston. From Twickenham or Teddington, you’ll need to cross at the footbridge in Teddington and walk along the river or take the trusty Hammerton Ferry.

Driving: It is possible to drive to Ham House, but parking is not offered on site (with the exception of blue badge parking booked in advance.) Instead, park nearby (around 400 yards) in the council-run Ham Street Car Park. Parking here is currently free.

Train: Richmond station is 1.5 miles away (on foot along pretty footpaths) or a 2 mile bus or taxi ride.

Bus: The 371 and 65 buses both stop close to Ham House.

Bicycle: Cycling here along the Thames Towpath could be quite a pleasant experience. On arrival you’ll find handy bike racks too.

Ham House Tickets & Opening Hours

The gardens of Ham House are open from 10:00 to 17:00 with the cafe running from 10:30 to 16:30. Do take note of the slightly shorter opening hours for the house itself – 12:00 to 16:00. That said, you can visit Ham House seven days a week, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Entry is free for members. Otherwise, adults must pay £15.00 for entry and children £7.50. Find out more on the National Trust website here.

What do you need to know before you go?

Dog Friendly

Ham House was a firm favourite for our four legged friend, as the gardens are dog friendly and highly sniffable. There are even water bowls and plenty of outdoor seating so you can share a cream tea too. Understandably, dogs cannot enter the house itself. So, if you want go into the house, you’ll need to find someone friendly to entertain the pooch whilst you explore the interiors.

Allow around two hours

To see the gardens and house sufficiently allow at least two hours – more if you’re planning to spend some time in the cafe, or nosing around the second hand book store.

Amenities

Aside from the cafe on site, you’ll find a second hand book store and a delightful shop with bits and pieces to browse. There’s also an ice cream store selling tubs of Judes (try the salted caramel) and a little kiosk with plants you can take home with you.

Things to see in Ham House & Gardens

Grand Staircases

One of the first things to strike me in this house are the grand staircases. Spend some time marveling at the intricate banisters, paintings and detailed ceilings.

Cabinets Unlocked

Ham House contains a collection of rare cabinets from Japan, China, and the Netherlands as well as England. Each one is a artistic object in it’s own right, as well as having a practical use – such as letter writing. Cabinets Unlocked is a twice a year occurrence and our visit happened to coincide. During these special times, the National Trust open the cabinets so you can see inside.

Sleeping Chairs

I was particularly taken with the sleeping chairs, which are attributed to Jean Poictevin and were likely to have been made between 1677 and 1679. Made in the style of a throne, but with a recliner, so one could rest for a little nap. These chairs have recently been restored by the conservation studio in Knole Park.

The Long Gallery

The Long Gallery was part of the original house, but has been renovated since. Today, it houses some notable paintings, including of King Charles I.

Basement kitchen

The normal way to view the house is to go to the first floor, then the ground and finish off in the basement. Be sure to clock the basement kitchen with it’s grand farmhouse table.

The Gardens

The gardens are worth spending a large portion of your time. From the Walled Kitchen garden – which supplies the cafe – to the more rustic Wilderness area. If you visit in summer, the roses will be out in the gardens creating a gentle waft of fragrance in the air. In spring, a special spring bulb display can be seen.

Ham House Cafe

So to the cafe. Arguably, the hidden gem of any National Trust trip. The highlight for us was spotting a celebrity there. I won’t name names in case they are a regular visitor, but let’s just say that this person is a national treasure and it was quite apt seeing them enjoying a cup of tea with something sweet.

Inside, the cafe has plentiful seating. When we visited on a Saturday afternoon, the queues were a bit mad, with guests buying up sausage rolls and scones. However, the queues soon wenet down. I imagine it would be much quieter during the week.

Compared to cafes in Richmond, the prices are a little lower than you may expect – but we are not complaining!

Outside, there are lots of seats overlooking the gardens. A perfect space to enjoy on a sunny day.

Where to visit near to Ham House

Walk a little further along the river, and you’ll reach Richmond proper. Home to a smattering of bouji cafes and boutique shops. Richmond offers a chance for some top draw mooching around – start at the bridge, head into the high street, then to Richmond Green. From there, you could continue to Kew Gardens, or head to Richmond Park for a hearty stroll.

If the weather happens to be fine, spend some time at the fabulous Tide Tables cafe situated under the old bridge in Richmond. Grab an almond croissant and look out to the river.

Another option when you leave Ham House is to take the small passenger ferry across the water to Twickenham. Boats have safely sailed thousands of passengers back and forth from one side of the river bank to the other since the early 1900s. In peak season (summer) and on the weekends, you should see a crowd gathering to board the boats. At other times, you might have to holla over to the skipper to get him to pick you up.

Once across the river, you’ll be very close to the grounds of Marble Hill. An English Heritage house and garden built in the 1700s in a Georgian style. It is free to enter the garden, however you will need to pay for tickets to the house. After a peruse around Marble Hill, head to the (sometimes quite lively) embankment pub nearby, The Barmy Arms, or to Church Street for alfresco dining options.

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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