The Mitre
A riverside boutique hotel built in 1665 for guests of Hampton Court Palace, now part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Forty individually designed rooms sit behind a Grade II-listed facade on the Thames, three minutes' walk from the palace gates.
At a Glance
Stay Here If...
...you want to wake up on the Thames and walk to Hampton Court Palace before the crowds arrive
A Palace Guest House, 360 Years On
The Mitre has occupied this stretch of Thames riverbank since 1665, when it was built to accommodate visitors to Hampton Court Palace. That original purpose — giving travellers a place to sleep within sight of the palace — hasn’t changed in three and a half centuries.
The building is Grade II-listed, and the 40 rooms have been individually designed rather than stamped from a template. Some face the river, some the courtyard. The scale is intimate — this isn’t a conference hotel with 200 identical rooms, it’s closer to a well-run country house that happens to be in Zone 6.
The Location
The real draw here is proximity. Hampton Court Palace is a three-minute walk across the bridge. Bushy Park — 1,100 acres of deer, woodland, and the Diana Fountain — starts at the end of the road. Hampton Court train station is four minutes on foot, with direct services into London Waterloo in around 35 minutes.
The Thames Path runs directly past the hotel, connecting east towards Kingston (3.5 miles) and Surbiton’s riverside pubs, or west into the Surrey countryside.
On-Site Dining
The 1665 Riverside Brasserie takes its name from the hotel’s founding year. The space is split between an open kitchen, a central bar, a dedicated wine room, and a riverside terrace that catches afternoon sun from spring through early autumn. The terrace is the standout — Thames-side dining with palace views.
Who This Hotel Suits
The Mitre works best for visitors whose primary reason for travelling to this part of London is Hampton Court Palace. The complimentary palace day passes included with room bookings make it particularly good value for palace enthusiasts. It also suits couples looking for a riverside weekend away from central London — close enough to reach easily, far enough to feel like an escape.
Families should note that some rooms are compact by hotel standards. The boutique scale that gives the hotel its character also means there’s no pool, no kids’ club, and limited family-specific facilities.
Amenities
On-Site Dining
1665 Riverside Brasserie
Named after the hotel's founding year. Open kitchen, central bar, wine room, and a riverside terrace overlooking the Thames.
