Twickenham is a leafy suburb of South West London. Situated in the borough of Richmond upon Thames, it has a prime position on the banks of London’s famous river.
This area has much to offer visitors. Wander around a mansion, walk by the river, or explore the world-famous rugby stadium.
Twickenham train station is on a direct rail line from London Waterloo, so it's easy to access from the capital. Our guide explores the area, how to get there and what to do once you arrive.
Why visit Twickenham?
This suburb has three stately homes, a world-famous stadium, and plenty of green spaces. A train trip from the capital takes just half an hour, so it’s an easy day trip.
Tour Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is the largest rugby union venue dedicated to the sport in the world. It’s also the Official Home of England Rugby Union, though cultural and music events are also held here.
When there are no rugby matches scheduled, you can take a tour of the stadium, including the Changing Room and Players' Tunnel. There’s an interactive zone to put your rugby skills to the test.
If you’ve always wanted to stand on the green pitch, now's your chance.
- Address: Twickenham Stadium, Whitton Road, Twickenham TW2 7BA.
- Nearest train stations: Twickenham Station is a 10-minute walk away
- Opening times: Admission times vary. On match days, there is no access to the stadium within an hour of kick-off
Visit Marble Hill
Building work on this Georgian house started in 1724. King George II intended it as a retreat for his mistress, Henrietta Howard. Now, the mansion is a beautifully restored stately home with a beautiful fine art collection.
Explore the house, its original furniture and unique wallpaper. The building is in acres of riverside parkland, with an outdoor play area for kids to run wild. Afterwards, you can treat yourselves to tea in the Coach House Café.
- Address: Marble Hill, Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 2NL
- Nearest train stations: Twickenham is a 23-minute walk and St Margaret’s is an 11-minute walk away
- Opening times: Wednesdays to Sundays, 10am to 5pm from April to October
Explore Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew is a UNESCO World Heritage Site spread over 300 acres. It’s also a research centre for plant life and numerous conservation programmes.
Within its spacious grounds, you can explore quirky buildings and lush botanical finds. Experience a rainforest atmosphere in The Palm House, scale a treetop walkway, then have tea and cake in the café.
- Address: Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE
- Nearest train stations: Take a train from Twickenham to Richmond Station, then walk 20 minutes to Kew
- Opening times: From 10 am every day, apart from 24 and 25 December. Closing times depend on the season, with the last entry an hour before closing time. Kew’s glasshouses, cafés, and restaurants are open from 10am to 5pm. Victoria Plaza Café closes at 4:45pm
Discover Ham House and Garden
This beautiful 17th-century National Trust mansion dates back to 1610. It’s a rare example of its time and has a beautiful collection of artefacts. On a visit, you’ll see unique textiles, original pieces of furniture, and a rare teapot from China.
Outside, the walled Kitchen Garden provides seasonal fare for the Orangery Café. Tuck into a meal here or take a picnic outside, where there are many shady spots for relaxing.
- Address: National Trust Ham House and Garden, Ham Street, Ham, Surrey TW10 7RS
- Nearest train stations: The house is a 30-minute walk from Twickenham Station
- Opening times: Hours vary seasonally
Walk by Teddington Lock
This Thames River lock is well worth a visit if you love boats and river walks. Built in the 19th century, it’s the last lock before the Thames turns into a tidal river.
Strollers can saunter down the Thames Path and watch boats come and go. From Twickenham station, follow London Road. Then walk through the charming Ham Lands nature reserve.
- Address: Teddington Lock, Teddington TW11 9NG
- Nearest train stations: The lock is a 45-minute walk from Twickenham station
- Opening times: The lock is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Getting the train to Twickenham
Twickenham railway station is on the South Western Railway line. With Richmond and Waterloo stations to the east, there are connections to Staines, Ascot and Reading to the west.
Connecting to other mainline UK stations is possible via tubes and trains from London Waterloo.
Nearest train station to Twickenham Stadium
The nearest train station to Twickenham Stadium is Twickenham Station, a 10-minute walk away.
Popular train routes to Twickenham
There are lots of regular departures and arrivals from London and the South West to Twickenham. Thanks to this, it’s easy to do a day trip to Twickenham.
Here are some of the major routes from UK mainline stations into Twickenham.
From London Waterloo to Twickenham
The journey from London Waterloo to Twickenham is around half an hour. The first train of the day varies but is approximately around 4:00am.
From Reading to Twickenham
Travel time from Reading to Twickenham is around one hour, making Twickenham a quick day trip from the city. The first train of the day varies but is approximately between 4:30am and 5:00am.
From Bristol Temple Meads to Twickenham
Travel time from Bristol to Twickenham is around two and a half hours, with one change at Reading. The first train of the day varies but is approximately between 3:30am and 4:00am.
From Birmingham New Street to Twickenham
Travel time from Birmingham to Twickenham is around two and a half hours, with one train change via the tube. The first train of the day varies but is approximately between 4:00am and 4:30am.
Travel to Twickenham with Avanti
Avanti West Coast trains come into London Euston. From here, take a Northern underground line to London Waterloo for a train to Twickenham station.
By planning and purchasing an Advance ticket to Twickenham, you can save on your final fare. Using a Railcard will also net you cheap train tickets. So whether you’re travelling as a family, group or solo, save with Avanti West Coast on your trip to Twickenham.
