The Petersham is located just eight miles from the centre of London and is within close proximity to many popular attractions. An endless list of historic Palaces, Museums and places of interest are all within a few miles of the hotel.

The team at The Petersham are eager to help and advise on 'must see' places to visit and activities to do. Conveniently located within easy walking distance from the hotel is Richmond Town Centre, with its unique blend of history and culture. With London on its door step, Richmond still remains a quaint and well preserved town. There are many great historic sites to visit, gardens and parks to explore and theatres, restaurants and bars to relax in.

Boutique shopping and high street stores are all within walking distance.

• MaxMara
• Karen Millen
• Joseph
• LK Bennett
• Dickens & Jones
• Ted Baker
• Jigsaw

For almost 200 years, Hampton Court Palace has been at the centre of national history. One of the palace's best known residents, King Henry VIII, completed the palace in 1540, and it soon became one of the most magnificent in England. Today, Hampton Court Palace contains one of the most important parts of the largest private art collection in the world, the Royal Collection; property of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

From April to mid-September, scheduled boat services run between Richmond (St Helena Pier) and Hampton Court.

Marble Hill House, once home to Henrietta Howard, mistress of King George II, is the last complete survivor of the elegant villas and gardens which bordered the River Thames between Richmond and Hampton Court in the 18th century. The house and gardens are set in 66 acres of riverside parkland and houses a fine collection of early Georgian paintings.

Syon House is the London home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. Set in 200 acres of parkland and located less than 2 miles from Richmond, it was once described by Sir John Betjamin as the 'Grand Architectural Walk'. Home to the London Butterfly house and the Aquatic Experience, you'll find something here for all the family.

Ham House was built in the 17th Century and is one of the most outstanding Stuart houses from that period. The house boasts original interiors and restored formal gardens featuring a 17th Century Orangery, Tea Terrace and the much photographed Cherry Garden. It was home to the Duchess of Lauderdale, known as a political schemer during the 17th Century. It has been rumoured that the Duchess still haunts the house today.

The Museum of Rugby has the most extensive and important collection of rugby football memorabilia in the world. Since the birth of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in 1871, a variety of rugby memorabilia has been collected and to this day, the collection contains as many as 10,000 objects. A rugby enthusiast can expect to find dusty minute books, faded letters, early match programmes and tickets from memorable games.

For centuries, Richmond has been at the heart of the arts, intellect and fashion and has been home to many of Britain's monarchs. The Museum of Richmond celebrates this rich heritage with displays of artefacts dating back to the 17th century. It is ideal for family visits and admission is free. There are activities to keep children entertained and the museum is on the door step of the River Thames and Richmond Green.

Built in the 19th century to supply London with water, the Kew Bridge Steam Museum is recognised as one of the most important historic sites of the water supply industry in Britain. Here you will see the world's largest collection of steam pumping engines and every Sunday from March to November, you can ride on London's only steam railway. Entry is free for all children under 16 years, accompanied by an adult.

The Wimbledon Tennis Championship began in 1877 and has since grown from its traditional 'garden party' milieu to the great international sporting event that it is today. The new museum allows visitors an insight into every aspect of tennis with a fascinating guided tour taking in No.1 Court and the picnic terraces of the Aorangi Terrace (aka 'Henman Hill'), an interactive racket exhibition and a 3-D cinema experience of a real match game.

Richmond Park is home to some of the most outstanding views of Surrey, spanning 2,500 acres of countryside. A haven for wildlife, the deer are free to roam around; a vast contrast to those in the day of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, who hunted these animals to pass the time of day. Hidden deep in the park is the Isabella Plantation; an oasis of lush green woodland, famous for its rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are the product of a complex history, stretching back over many thousands of years, carrying the remains of human activity from the medieval times to present day. Set in 300 acres, the gardens include wildlife areas, glasshouses for the conservation of rare plant species, museums, galleries and historic buildings. The Royal Botanic Gardens are open to visitors every day and also host a number of festivals throughout the year.

Built in 1899 as the Theatre Royal and Opera House, Richmond Theatre is one of the most successful theatres in the country presenting a wide range of quality drama, musicals, opera, dance and family entertainment each year. Performances take place every night at with matinee performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm. For more information on performances you can visit Richmond Theatre.

Twickenham Rugby Ground
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis
Kempton Park Races
Sandown Park
Ham Polo

Chessington World of Adventure
Legoland - Windsor
Thorpe Park

Golf
Tennis
Jogging