Ham House in Richmond is one of the best National Trust days out in south-west London, combining an atmospheric 17th-century house, formal gardens and a beautiful position beside the River Thames. It is close enough to Richmond and Kingston for an easy day out, but feels surprisingly removed from busy London.
Here are five reasons to put Ham House and Garden on your list.
1. The house feels wonderfully unchanged
Ham House is not simply another grand country house. It is one of the most complete surviving 17th-century houses in England, transformed by the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale and barely altered for centuries.
Inside, expect dark wood, elaborate ceilings, paintings, cabinets, tapestries and rooms that still have a slightly mysterious atmosphere.
The grand state rooms are impressive, but make time for the less glamorous parts too. Exploring the areas used by servants gives you a very different picture of how life at Ham House actually worked.
2. The gardens deserve plenty of time
Don’t make the mistake of visiting Ham House just for the house.
The gardens include formal lawns, clipped hedges, the Cherry Garden, Kitchen Garden and quieter areas where you can wander away from the main building.
In summer 2026 there are also croquet, badminton and other lawn games, running daily until 2 September and included with normal admission.
It makes Ham House a much easier proposition with children than you might expect from a historic property.
3. Walk to Ham House from Richmond along the Thames
One of the best ways to visit is to leave the car behind.
Ham House sits directly beside the Thames Path, around 1.5 miles from Richmond and three miles from Kingston.
You can therefore combine a visit with a riverside walk, lunch or drinks in Richmond, or continue exploring towards Kingston.
For something a little different, seasonal Hammerton’s Ferry crosses the Thames between the Twickenham side near Marble Hill and Ham House.
That journey alone makes this feel more like a proper day out than simply driving to another attraction.
4. Stop for lunch at the Orangery
The Orangery Café is set within the historic buildings at Ham House and makes a good stopping point between the house and gardens.
There is also a National Trust shop and second-hand bookshop, so it is easy to spend longer here than you might initially plan.
If the weather is good, this is a particularly pleasant place for a slower afternoon rather than trying to rush around every room.
5. Ham House works brilliantly as part of a Richmond day out
This is perhaps the biggest reason to visit.
You don’t have to make Ham House your entire day. Combine it with a walk along the Thames, Richmond Green, Richmond Hill, Petersham or nearby Richmond Park.
The National Trust even has a 2.9-mile walking route from Richmond Station to Ham House and a three-mile circular walk taking in Richmond Hill and the surrounding landscape.
There is also free parking at the council-run Ham Street Car Park, around 400 yards from the property, if you prefer to drive.
Planning a visit to Ham House
Ham House and Garden
Ham Street
Ham
Richmond
Surrey
TW10 7RS
Opening times for the house, garden and café vary, so check the National Trust website before setting off.
National Trust members can use their membership for admission, making Ham House particularly easy to revisit for a shorter afternoon, a garden visit or another walk along the Thames.
Ham House is particularly good for: historic houses, gardens, family days out, Thames walks and anyone looking for things to do around Richmond and south-west London.
Leave a Reply