Hi, I’m Stephen. My tours are personal - you will not be sharing with anyone else. I will be your driver and guide for the day - I will collect you in our luxury Land Rover Defender 130 - Britain’s answer to the Chevy Suburban. My aim is to give you all the background and history you need to enjoy the day. It’s a private tour and flexible - if you want to stay longer or divert, no problem. I am new to KKday so I don’t have many reviews but i’ve been a guide for many years. You won’t be disappointed! ACCESS FEES TO KEW GARDES ARE INCLUDED
Begin your day with a pickup from your London hotel, airport, or cruise terminal. Head to Kew Gardens, London's world famous botanical gardens that house the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world. Founded in 1759, its living collections include some of the 27,000 plants curated by Royal Botanic Gardens. The herbarium, one of the largest in the world, has over 8.5 million preserved plant and fungal specimens. The library contains more than 750,000 volumes, and the illustrations collection contains more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plants. It is one of London's top tourist attractions and is a World Heritage Site.
Next, depart for Richmond upon Thames. Arrive in Richmond and have time for lunch in a local pub, cafe, or visit the restaurant at Petersham Nurseries. A charmingly casual yet sophisticated restaurant, set within a glasshouse. Brimming with fragrant bougainvillea and jasmine, draped with Indian blinds and decorated with antique furniture, mirrors, and paintings. Respecting the slow food philosophy, the café serves seasonal, Italian-inspired food. But we will need to book well in advance.
After lunch, take a walking tour of Richmond town center. One of London’s prettiest boroughs, Richmond upon Thames is sometimes known as ‘Rockstars upon Thames’ because of the number of stars that live or have lived there, including Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, Pete Townshend of The Who, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Tom Hardy, and Richard E Grant. The Rolling Stones played their first gig here in 1963 at The Crawdaddy Club.
Founded by Henry VII in 1501 when he built Richmond Palace, this beautiful town on the River Thames features fascinating alleyways of shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as a wealth of history. Richmond Green offers some of the most expensive houses in London. Walk the beautiful River front, see Richmond Palace and Richmond Green. Visit the Ted Lasso filming locations, including The Prince’s Head pub, home of Ted Lasso’s AFC Richmond, and the London red phone boxes.
Next, travel to Richmond Hill to see John Constable’s (famous British artist) view of the River Thames. See the homes of the stars Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall, Pete Townshend. Then, head to Richmond Park, originally King Charles I's private deer hunting park in the 1500s, now features herds of wild red deer. Take a slow drive through the park on your way back to your hotel.
