Whether you’re a family travelling from far-flung east London like ourselves, or a history buff out-of-towner looking to immerse yourself in some Tudor vibes, The Mitre is an ideal place to stay. Situated across the road from Henry VIII’s former gaff Hampton Court, you literally couldn’t be closer. Let’s be honest, you’re only really in this neck of the woods for one reason and that palace is bloody massive, so when you’ve finally found your way out of the maze, having this place a zebra crossing away from the main entrance is a blessed relief. Especially when you have two kids in tow, one of which ‘can’t walk anymore’ and needs to be carried.
The Mitre is a truly charming spot. Situated on the Thames, it has the comforting feel of a lovely English country hotel, while still having the convenience of red double-decker buses chugging past at five minute intervals. Historically, the building is centuries old, built in 1665 and was first used as a place to stay for folk who weren’t quite high enough on the social ladder to be staying within the walls of The Court. Perhaps the modern day equivalent would be knowing someone with a Soho House membership, but not actually having one yourself. The interior design and overall vibe plays into the building's history just enough without hitting you over the head with it. Subtle hints and cutely named rooms, rather than making you feel like you’re staying in some tacky mediaeval knights tourist trap. It has a wonderfully warm feel to it. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore. A beautiful library packed with books (and a jukebox) as well as the odd sitting room where I could imagine one might sit and read a short novel or collection of poetry. Inevitably, I ended up using it for a swift opportunity to doom scroll on my phone whilst waiting for our four year old to finish in the toilet. Sorry.
We stayed in the Henry VIII suite on the top floor and what a delight it was. The main bedroom features a huge four poster bed, suitable for the big man himself, as well as a lovely sofa, tastefully large TV and views looking straight across at Hampton Court. The adjacent room had the sofa bed all set up for our eldest but would fold down to make a perfectly suitable second lounge. The pearl in the oyster though was the massive brass bathtub, which saw a lot of action in our 24 hour hour residency. There really is nothing like a luxurious soak after a long day and I've been trawling Ebay for a replica in the days since.
We booked with a family stay in mind and The Mitre is definitely geared up for this. We had dinner at the brasserie, set in the rotunda overlooking the Thames. There was a fair mix of families with young children, couples and friends dining together. A good balance so that the childless grown ups don’t feel they are dining in a crèche and the parents don’t feel they have to force their kids into behavioural submission the whole time. The staff took it all in their stride and created a relaxed atmosphere. Breakfast the following morning had the same vibe. All in all a lovely welcoming hotel, which is a welcome break from all the overly trendy options you’ll encounter in central London.
Neighbourhood
As previously mentioned you’re almost certainly here for Hampton Court Palace, but there’s some lovely parks close by and the Thames-side walks are pretty darn delightful. Kingston is a 10 minute bus ride and there you get your classic UK town centre shopping experience (if you’ve missed that sort of thing). Hampton Court train station is a nice 3 minute walk away, which is super convenient to getting to neighbouring hamlets.
Nearby
- Hampton Court Palace is a genuinely amazing experience and fun for visitors of all ages. Plus if you get yourself a Historic Royal Palaces annual membership you can get free/discounted entry to other historic behemoth's like Kew, Tower of London and more.
- Hampton Court Antiques Emporium is an Aladdin’s cave of all sorts of old-world tid-bits. If you found the maze in Hampton Court a challenge, trying finding your way out of this place.
- The Magic Garden adventure playground is one of the greatest playgrounds in London, eclipsed only by the Princess Diana Memorial playground back in central.
Time Out tip:
Load up on the excellent breakfast buffet, as a pie with no mash, gravy or veg costs a hefty £15 in the Palace cafe.
