The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) complements its fabulous conservation work with a network of UK visitor centres. Here at Barnes, an impressive man-made habitat of lakes, pools and gardens is home to a wide variety of creatures. 

• In the decade since the centre opened, over 200 species of bird have been spotted, making it a birdwatching paradise. 
• Guided tours teach visitors about how the centre was created and the work that goes on there.
• The Pond Zone is a high-tech version of a local village pond. Visitors can operate Pond Cam, the underwater camera, or take part in staff-led pond-dipping sessions.
• The World Wetlands features some of the prettiest ducks, geese and swans from around the globe.

A trip to the Wetland Centre is not only fun, but also plays an important part in educating children about ecosystems. The centre is open daily, except Christmas Day. Ticket prices vary (click here to view) with under 4s going free. Watch out for special events such as World Wetland Day each February and 2012′s London Wild Bird Watch. For more information on what’s on click here.

Set in 66 acres of riverside parkland, Marble Hill House was built for Henrietta Howard, mistress of King George II when he was Prince of Wales. The house and gardens were designed as a retreat from crowded 18th century London and still evoke the atmosphere of fashionable Georgian life. Reasons to visit include:

• The house and grounds provide many modern facilities including a cricket pitch and nets, tennis courts, putting green and a children’s play area.
• The house is the last complete survivor among the many elegant villas which bordered the Thames between Richmond and Hampton Court in the 18th Century.
• There is a strong literary connection. Both Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift spent many happy hours at Marble Hill as guests of Henrietta Howard.
• The interiors have been meticulously restored, with a fine collection of early Georgian paintings, including portraits of Mrs Howard.

This is a real journey back to the Georgian high life of yore. Members of English Heritage are entitled to free tickets, as well as the opportunity to attend special events (for membership details click here). Non-member tickets cost £5.30 for adults and £3.20 for children. For more information on prices and opening times click here.

In 1747, man of letters Horace Walpole acquired and began to transform a couple of unremarkable cottages near Twickenham into an utterly extravagant home. Soon the castle that emerged was drawing crowds, although children were not allowed inside. Fortunately things have changed. In creating Strawberry Hill, Walpole helped to inspire a new fashion for all things Gothic in both architecture and literature. Highlights include:

• The Gothic Library, the most famous of its kind in England. Walpole himself was the author of The Castle of Otranto, which inspired Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the beginnings of Gothic fiction.
• The spectacular view from the Round Room – rehung during the recent restoration, and with its fireplace repaired and regilded – back down the length of the Gallery. 
• The Hall and Staircase, originally hung with paper painted with Gothic arches. The design was taken from the screen of Prince Arthur’s tomb in Worcester Cathedral. In the well of the staircase a Gothic lanthorn gives the only light to the gloomy hall.

Recently restored and reopened, Strawberry Hill House is once again an important local attraction. And with work on the building constantly required, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved (click here to find out how). Don’t miss this pivotal Gothic masterpiece. Standard tickets are £8 for adults and £5 for children, available via the website by clicking here and following the link.

Flowing through the heart of Richmond borough, bordered by such jewels as Ham House, Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace, the Thames is a major local attraction in itself. Most notably of all, perhaps, it forms the centrepiece of the protected view from the top of Richmond Hill – one of the most famous views in the world. Things to do:

• Cycle or walk along the towpath. Click here to find a local trail. 
• There are plenty of boats for hire – check out the boathouse near Richmond Bridge (click here for details). Rowing, canoeing and sailing can all be enjoyed, with plenty of clubs for the real enthusiast. Click here to learn more.
• Watch competitive rowing, such as the annual University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge, which reaches its climax at Barnes and Mortlake. Click here to learn more about the route.
• Relax at one of the numerous riverside bars and restaurants of the borough. The area around Richmond Bridge is a particularly vibrant spot.

Once a prime artery for trade, the Thames today is not only a sinuous natural beauty, but one of the loveliest leisure facilities  in the land.

A stone’s throw from the Thames, Ham House is a beautifully preserved 17th century property in the care of the National Trust. Largely the creation of Elizabeth Murray – later Duchess of Lauderdale and an influential figure in the political chicanery during and after the English Civil War – Ham and its gardens have seen off the ravages of time and experience to retain their gorgeous period charm. The property is even said to be haunted by the ghosts of residents past. Highlights include:

• The Marble Dining Room, thought to be one of the first purpose-built dining rooms in the country. Dinners would consist of up to 60 dishes, with sweet and savoury served at the same time.
• The magnificent Great Staircase, built by William Murray – Elizabeth’s father, who acquired the house in 1626. It has 42 individually carved panels and eight wooden fruit baskets that would have held candles at night to light the way.
• The Cherry Garden, with its cherry trees dating from 1653 and its statue of the Roman god Bacchus.
• The Wilderness, a particular favourite of younger visitors, where the mazelike layout of the grass walks resembles the Union Flag.

There are also plenty of special events including scary ghost walks and enlightening behind-the-scenes tours. Click here to see what’s on. Ticket prices and opening times vary depending on the season, so it is always best to check the website before visiting. Click here for more information on tickets.

Covering an area of some 2,500 acres, Richmond Park is the largest Royal Park in London. From the gardens of Pembroke Lodge, high above the ‘Matchless Vale’ of Petersham, Richmond and Ham, the views extend as far as Windsor Castle, while in the other direction a famous keyhole vista brings St Paul’s Cathedral into view. Herds of deer, once the target of huntsmen, roam freely amid the glorious open spaces of this priceless park – created by Charles I for his sport, but now a wildlife wonder and precious public resource.

Almost 400 years on from Charles I, sport continues to feature strongly on the Richmond Park agenda:

• The plethora of paths and wooded areas is perfect for Cross-Country Running or Cycling (click here for more on cycling).
• Between 16 June and 14 March there is Fishing at Pen Ponds, available by paid permit from Holly Lodge. Call (020) 8948 3209 for details.
• North of Roehampton Gate three Rugby pitches are available during the winter months. 
• Horse Riding is an obvious park favourite, thanks to the vast open spaces and the stables nearby. To see what is available click here.
• Power Kiting involves being pulled along by a kite whilst sat on a buggy or standing on a landboard. Click here to learn more.
• There is plenty of Golf too, with two 18-hole courses (including the option to ‘pay and play’), a driving range and a pro shop. Call (020) 8876 1795 for information and booking.

For nature, beauty and leisure, Richmond Park is your first port of call. For more information on events in the park click here.

A stone’s throw from Hampton Court Palace, Bushy Park is a distinctive landscape shaped in part by its origins as a royal hunting ground. With its ponds, plantations and glorious open space, the park today is a highly popular destination, especially for sport and leisure. Check out:

• The Horse Rangers Association runs a riding school for people with disabilities, and there is also cycling for people with special needs through the Companion Cycling Scheme. For more on horse riding click here or for cycling click here.
• There is a bowling green in the park licensed to the NPL Sports Club. Call (020) 8977 6395 for information.
• Swimming is available at the Hampton Heated Open-air Pool on the western boundary of the park. Click here to learn more.
• There is also Tennis at King’s Field Tennis Courts, Hampton Wick, on a turn-up-and-play basis, and at the NPL Sports Club for private members (click here for information on joining).
• Several Cricket teams play home matches in the park. NPL Sports Club, Teddington Town CC, Teddington CC and Hampton Wick Royal CC are among those at the crease. For information on playing click here and call the relevant club. 

Aside from sport, highlights include the recently restored Water Gardens and a variety of heritage trails. There is also a play area for children up to 12 years old close to Diana Fountain, near the Hampton Court gate.

On April 18, exactly 100 days before the start of the London Games, Kew Gardens unveiled The Olympic floral spectactular (pictured) –  a colourful plant version of the famed Olympic rings.  

It took a team of volunteers and Kew staff five days to plant the flowers, which are all sourced from British growers. The resulting plant display is 50m long and is visible to planes on the Heathrow flight path – British Airways staff have been asked to tell passengers when they are flying by. 

There are 20,000 plants altogether – 4,000 make up each ring – with the colourful flowers being Pansy ‘Light Blue’, Viola ‘Clear Yellow’, Viola ‘Black Delight’, apple mint and viola ‘Red Blotch’. Violas and pansies were chosen in particular due to their frost resistance and ability to be planted in early Spring. 

Kew’s visitors are able to move right through the display, with resin bonded pathways, matching the ring colours, having been laid down through the flowers. These are accessible to wheelchair visitors.   

The flowers are set to come into full bloom in summer and – having been designed by the Kew team – are certainly an Olympic achievement. 

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Other reasons to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens is home to the world’s largest collection of living plants, along with a library and archive containing one of the biggest botanical collections ever known. Books, illustrations, photographs, letters, maps: all are here. And, of course, the place is a delight for visitors, especially during the colourful floral riot of spring and summer. Highlights:

• Chokushi-Mon (Gateway of the Imperial Messenger) is a scale replica of the Nishi Hongan-ji in Kyoto. Surrounded by a Japanese garden, it was built for the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910 and boasts wonderful finely carved woodwork. 
• Palm House is the most important surviving Victorian iron and glass structure in the world. Its construction was the first time engineers had used wrought iron to span such large widths without supporting columns. 
• Temperate House is home to African plants, sub-tropical trees and palms and temperate plants from Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific. A boiler helps to keep the temperature to a minimum 10°C all year round.
• The Princess of Wales Conservatory was named after Princess Augusta – effectively the founder of the RBG – and opened by Diana, Princess of Wales. It is the most complex conservatory at Kew, containing 10 computer-controlled climatic zones under one roof.

Watch out for special events throughout the year, including guided tours. For information on events visit Kew Gardens events page or, to learn about which tours are on offer,  visit Kew Gardens tour page. Adult tickets cost £13.90, children under 17 free. For information on concessions click here.

Scene of Henry VIII’s infamous compulsory purchase from the discredited Cardinal Wolsey, Hampton Court Palace is quite simply one of the most impressive historic buildings in the world. With its combination of Tudor and late 17th century architecture, its gorgeous gardens and infuriating maze and its spectacular riverside setting, it is a core visitor attraction on almost anyone’s agenda. Highlights:

• Henry VIII’s Great Hall, where every night was feast night and Shakespeare was top of the bill.
• The Chapel Royal, complete with ornate Tudor ceiling and soaked in centuries of prayer.
• Hampton Court Maze, the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze, covering a third of an acre and a source of frustration and despair.
• More than 60 acres of beautiful gardens, where displays of over 200,000 flowering bulbs dazzle the eye.
• A ghost trail for the very brave. The spirit of Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s beheaded fifth wife, is said to walk the Haunted Gallery crying and banging on doors. For more on ghosts at Hampton Court click here.

There are also many special events at the palace, including Tudor cooking sessions. Click here to learn about the ice rink that arrives in time for Christmas each year or here for information on the RHS Flower Show. Various tickets are available. To learn more click here.

Big kids can get their thrills on stomach-churners such as the Dragon’s Fury rollercoaster, Black Buccaneer pirate ship and the Runaway Train. Younger tots, meanwhile, will enjoy the Flying Jumbos and classic carousel. There is a zoo, too, with gorillas, lions and zebras. If it rains, head to the Sea Life Centre with its walk through ocean tunnel. Book in advance online for big discounts on tickets. Click here to learn more.

Some of the UK’s finest houses and most beautiful landscapes are now protected by the National Trust. Aside from Ham House (see separate page), here is a local selection: