From wherever you're staying in London, take the underground (subway) to Westminster and follow the exit signs for Westminster Pier. Climb the steps that lead onto the bridge from the station entrance and walk approximately half way across. Behind you lie the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, perhaps the most famous clock in the world. In front is County Hall, the building that was once the seat of London's local government, but now houses the London Aquarium. Beside it stands the London Eye and to the left you can see the Thames flowing into the distance toward Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and the open sea.
Go back to Westminster Pier, but don't re-enter the subway. Instead, find out where you can go on the next boat to leave. The most frequent services go down river toward the Tower of London and Greenwich. There's also an option of cruising right to the Thames Barrier, the city's major flood defense, but you can also sail in the opposite direction as far as Richmond and Hampton Court Palace, with its beautiful riverside gardens.
It takes around 40 minutes to reach The Tower of London from Westminster Pier. This is where two of Henry VIII's six wives were beheaded and is the residence of the "Beefeater" guards who are always happy to pose for photographs with tourists. The Crown Jewels, used at the coronation of British monarchs, are also displayed at "The Tower." There's a lot to see, so if you can, devote a day of your vacation to visiting it.
The London Borough of Greenwich is approximately one hour by boat from Westminster Pier. It's the site of Britain's National Maritime Museum and Royal Naval College. The Royal Observatory is located in beautiful Greenwich Park and is the home of the Prime Meridian Line, with a longitude of 0 degrees and Greenwich Mean Time. The famous tea clipper Cutty Sark is also housed in Greenwich, but as of 2010 was undergoing restoration. If you don't want to go back by boat, use the Docklands Light Railway, boarding at Greenwich Cutty Sark. You can transfer to the subway at either Canary Wharf or Bank.
The river trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew takes about 90 minutes. The huge site with its magnificent borders, beds, lawns and glasshouses is home to one in eight of all the world's plant species. The Treetop Walkway allows you to walk some distance, enjoying the same view of the world as birds perched on the highest branches. Guided tours are available. Kew Subway Station is close by.
It takes two hours to get to Richmond by boat from Central London. The borough is home to a number of museums, galleries and historic houses. Its great outdoor attraction is Richmond Park, London's largest, which covers 2,500 acres made up of grasslands, hills and woodlands. Richmond Hill, a high point in the park, offers spectacular views over London to St Paul's Cathedral. The park is also a nature reserve and is occupied by large herds of red and fallow deer. Returning to Central London by land will involve the use of the subway or mainline rail services from Richmond Station.
The river trip from Westminster Pier to Hampton Court Palace is very pleasant, but also very long; it takes three hours. Once there, you'll enjoy the beautiful gardens and world-famous maze as well as historic tours with an audio guide of the interior. Ghost hunters will be keen to view the locations where some of the palace's myriad spectres have been sighted. Trains back to Central London leave from nearby Hampton Court Rail Station.
