Fabulous Riverside Chalet on the River Thames in London

• Excellent home and first trip to London with children!

  Excellent home and first trip to London with children!

  • Guest Sunshine
  • Date of stay 10/14/12
  • Review Submitted 12/23/12
  For our family, Ripple was a home away from home. We spent two weeks there while touring London, Bath and Brighton, and wished for a third week! The children (7, 10, 12), and my husband and I were really comfortable overall. We shopped at the local grocery, Waitrose, also at the butcher and farmer's market, which saved a load of money. We really enjoyed relaxing in the evenings with some good food and wine after a long day of sightseeing. One of our favorite things was living on the river! We absolutely loved watching the tide, bird life and boaters - so did the kids. Crossing the footbridge was a treat every time. Ripple is only a few stops by train to central London, though you wouldn't know it by the peaceful surroundings. We bought daily travel cards to Waterloo and the Friends and Family card recommended by a previous reviewer. If you stay here, don't overlook the Thames riverwalk - we walked to Richmond one day, to Ham House via ferry another day and to the park multiple times. It's really a beautiful area with lots of history very close by. I was sad to leave, but feel blessed to have experienced Ripple firsthand and the Twickenham/Richmond area. We really hope to return!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Amazing Place To Stay

  Amazing Place To Stay

  • Guest Lorraine e.
  • Date of stay 09/30/12
  • Review Submitted 10/14/12
  We brought a family of six ages 16 to 67 to London for 14 days. Our stay at Ripple was such a blessing! We arrived tired a bit early on the check in day, but Sarah was so wonderfully accomodating! She let us leave our luggage and take off while she finished preparing the house. When we returned from our long first day, we were greeted with scones, tea, wine and a warm, relaxing environment. The beds were very comfortable and the house was peaceful. With such a huge age range in our party, Ripple offered omething for everyone! The area is perfect for getting to all the major sights. Hampton Palace, Kew Gardens and Windsor Palace were just a short train ride away! The footbridge offers lovely views, plenty of geese and swans and the occasional rowing team! Quite fun! It was chilly but the heat and insulation in the house is amazing. We turned it on upon arriving in the evenings and off before bed nd tyed toasty warm all night! We appreciated the automatic garden lights at night. The local people are friendly and helpful, what a joy! The back garden is tranquil and the perfect place to unwind with a cup of tea. Sarah's warmth and friendliness made this trip easy and enjoyable. She was lovely to deal with when our bank couldn't get a wire transfer correct and patient with all of our questions. We highly recommend getting a London Pass with Travel Card. We saved quite a bit of money and literally used the travel cards to the point of wearing them out. So much to see and do around London. We did not get it all in, but we know where we will be stying when we return! There is simply no better place than Ripple! Sarah's informative notebook was very helpful when my son-in-law felt ill. He easily found a doctor and was very impressed with the courtesy and care he was given. I feel like I am rambling on, but this house andthis island is so beautiful and amazing! Thank you Sarah and family for sharing it! You made our dream trip the perfect reality!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Perfect place for a 10 day family vacation to London! Quiet, very comfortable, great neighborhood

  Perfect place for a 10 day family vacation to London! Quiet, very comfortable, great neighborhood

  • Guest Pete
  • Date of stay 04/05/12
  • Review Submitted 05/02/12
  Our family of four (including two girls, ages 7 and 9) traveled to London for 10 days in April and stayed the entire time at Ripple. The house was amazing, with everything you could need or want for an extended stay. The beds and sofas were very comfortable, and the place was very quiet at night. It was great having a laundry machine, and the kitchen was very well outfitted. We used the wireless all the time, and the laptop and printer was very handy for printing out tickets. Sarah is an awesome host! Transportation- We took: • Twickenham Green Car (020 88941057) from and to Heathrow, £29 each way, cash only, extremely punctual • Southwest Trains into Waterloo (6-8 leave every hour, 23-41 minute ride) almost every day. If you buy a Friends and Family Railcard £28, you get ? off all fares for a year. Each day we bought 4 travelcards totaling ~£16, which includes rail and Tube. Twickenham station is ~8 minute walk. Leave after 9:30 to avoid punitive pricing • Buses to and from Kew Gardens and Hampton Court, £1.35 each adult each way, under-11 kids free. Buy Oyster card at news agents- £5 deposit and any unused amount is refunded when you turn it in at a tube station Twickenham- Very close by are: • Very good groceries at Waitrose (mainstream), Marks & Spencer (upscale), and Cousins (fruit/veggie guys) • Very nice Saturday farmers market • Great pubs (recommend The Bear and Eel Pie Pub) and restaurants (recommend Osteria Pulchinella, Shanghai Village, Patisserie Valerie, and Café Bellisimo) • CarPhoneWarehouse to get a cheap GSM phone (£5) and £10 pre-paid SIM card Sightseeing- Notable beyond the usual sights: • Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew are really great but require a bus transfer • Sir John Soane’s museum was really interesting to us, and our girls even got to take a class there (check their website and register ahead of time) • Borough Market (London Bridge tube stop) for acres of good, interesting foods • Greenwich visitor center is good for kids, and there is a foot tunnel all the way under the Thames the kids liked- access stairs are near the Cutty Sark but not obvious • Kensington Palace got mixed reviews due avant garde presentation • Buy a membership to Historic Royal Palaces online and get into Hampton Court, Kew Palace (but not the gardens), Kensington, and Tower of London free, with other benefits

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, families with young children, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/7

• Ripple is a Little Piece of Heaven. Best VRBO Rental We've Ever Stayed In!

  Ripple is a Little Piece of Heaven. Best VRBO Rental We've Ever Stayed In!

  • Guest brooke g.
  • Date of stay 11/23/11
  • Review Submitted 12/08/11
  My husband, three children(11, 9, and 4), and I stayed at Ripple for 5 nights at the beginning and end of our journey to Paris, and although Paris was of course spectacular, our fondest memory of this trip is without a doubt Ripple, Eel Pie Island, and Twickenham. We have rented many VRBO properties over the years and Ripple is by far the very BEST of them all. I was a bit concerned about planning a winter trip to London, but it turned out to be one of the loveliest times of the year to visit. During our first weekend there, we were able to enjoy the turning on of the Christmas lights on Church Street, a lovely little pedestrian street lined with precious shops and restaurants. The candy shop lined with glass jars from floor to ceiling full of all kinds of candy imaginable was the kids' favorite. The second weekend we were there, we were lucky enough to enjoy the Winter Open Studios on Eel Pie Island where artists open up their studios and sell their art to the visiting public. Not to be missed! The island and the studios are one of the most wonderful places I've ever visited. Dreamy and lush with foliage, paths leading to storybook cottages, and funky art studios that offer glimpses into the creative minds that work there. The island is full of history and music aficionados will really enjoy reading about the jazz and rock that was enjoyed here in the past. Check out the book Eel Pie Island by Dan Van Der Vat before you come to get a real sense of the wonder of this place. As wonderful as is the location, Ripple the house is just as fabulous! Warm and cozy(December and we didn't even need to turn on the heat it's so well insulated), light from floor to ceiling(great windows that swing open from the top or side, skylights galore, sliding glass doors to open up the entire living area to the deck, garden, and river), and the most well equipped rental we've ever stayed in. The master bed was more comfy than my own at home! Love that mattress! Renting directly from the owner is so much more satisfying than renting from a management company. Sarah's welcoming presentation of scones with a little British flag and tea, milk and butter in the fridge, spices, sugar, coffee, etc. made for a very warm greeting. It just doesn't get any better than this! Next time we head across the pond, it will be with Ripple as our main destination! I miss it already, can't wait to return, and am eagerly awaiting my own copy of Eel Pie Island to satisfy me until then.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, people with disabilities, sightseeing, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• The perfect place to stay

  The perfect place to stay

  • Guest James
  • Date of stay 11/11/11
  • Review Submitted 11/23/11
  We stayed at The Ripple for nine days and had the most amazing holiday. Dealing with Sarah was a pleasure from start to finish. The house is beautifully decorated and extremely well-equipped. We literally couldn't fault it. Lots of nice touches including the well-stocked kitchen cupboards, the cream tea and wine awaiting us and the children's toys. Ripple is a 5 minute walk to Twickenham train station, with easy links to Richmond, Putney, Clapham Junction and Central London. It was an easy 25-minute cab ride from Heathrow Airport. There are lots of great places to explore along the river, both for children (Orleans Park has a great playground) and adults (The White Swan pub). We look forward to our next visit.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Wonderful home!

  Wonderful home!

  • Guest Ferdinand
  • Date of stay 05/28/11
  • Review Submitted 06/07/11
  We just returned from our trip and had a wonderful stay at Ripple. The house is clean, comfortable, and well furnished. The owners are very hospitable hosts; they left fresh scones, milk and bread for our arrival! It's a 10 minute walk to the Twickenham station to access the rail system. There are lots of nearby restaurants and pubs, convenient ATM locations, and grocery stores. It is a quiet place to stay away from the bustle of central London. We took a cab from the airport to the house for about £45. We used a local taxi service recommended by the owners to return to Heathrow and it was only £27. We would stay here again if we return to London. Thanks for everything Sarah!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Happy Holiday

  Happy Holiday

  • Guest Roz & Family
  • Date of stay 12/14/10
  • Review Submitted 02/14/11
  We arrived full of hope and expectation, and Ripple more than lived up to it. We had booked after hearing of our friends excellent experience. We loved the house and area. Sarah and family have done all they can to make it a home from home, welcoming and with lots of extra touches that make it special. As a base for exploring with a young family new to the delights of London, it is ideal. Staying just outside helped us to take bite sized chunks of London and surrounds.The transport links were easy and good value, our trip coincided with terribly snowy weather, but we were cosy and happy in Ripple. Don't hesitate it really is as good as we all say!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Can't wait to return!

  Can't wait to return!

  • Guest sarah
  • Date of stay 11/23/10
  • Review Submitted 12/13/10
  It's hard to decide what is the best thing about Ripple. It must be the owners, of course: welcoming and hospitable, they were more than helpful whenever we had questions. They have prepared a notebook about how everything in this clean, modern, well-constructed house works, and offers tips for things to do and how to get around. We didn't need our guidebooks, since Ripple stocks its own. The house is fabulous. It kept us warm during a terribly cold London winter. The huge windows offered views of the tides and waterfowl (and the neighbors as they crossed the footbridge). Eel Pie Island is fascinating, and Twickenham is a wonderful small town to explore. The weekly market on Saturday mornings (and three supermarkets) supply all that is necessary to cook local food in Ripple's very workable kitchen. We loved the Thames Path walk, the accessibility of transportation, the local restaurants. For those of us who crave urban life in smaller doses, Ripple is the ideal solution to London!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Tranquil London

  Tranquil London

  • Guest Christine S.
  • Date of stay 10/07/10
  • Review Submitted 10/24/10
  "Ripple" was just perfect. We loved it, everything as described, immaculate and comfortable. A very well designed bright and spacious accommodation, with private garden overlooking river Thames. It felt like our secret spot, with wildlife to watch and the occasional rower going past on the river. It was a real treat to be eat croissants for breakfast on the deck in the sunshine, completely quiet and peaceful... we had to remind ourselves to go back over the footbridge to tackle London! When we did, it was very easy. A quick walk up the high street to Twickenham train station, from which we caught a fast train directly into Waterloo, which is the station for the London Eye, River trips, the National Theatre, etc, or onto the underground for the rest of London. With a family railcard discount, it was £5 per adult and £1 per child for day Travelcards (unlimited daily travel on tube and bus), purchased each morning at Twickenham. Our two children (6, 9 and their first visit to London) loved navigating around with their tube map, and we found excellent (and free) children's activities at all the museums. At the end of the day it was a real luxury to cross back over to Eel Pie Island and away from the city hubbub. We found the local vicinity interesting too...rowboats to rent nearby, 17th century National Trust property, play parks, river walks, galleries, and a rural feel. Shopping easy, en route back from station, tasty Chinese Restaurant also! Rowed around Eel Pie Island and down the river to Richmond for afternoon tea one day which was lovely in October sunshine. We planned to stay 3 nights and extended it to 6! Owners extremely helpful and keen to provide a happy experience. Guide books, maps and information thoughtfully provided. We will return, a week is only enough time to whet the appetite for all the things you want to see and do in next time. If you like having your own space to chill and prefer the quacking of ducks to traffic sounds, this is the ideal place to call home in London.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Eel Pie Island

  Eel Pie Island

  • Guest Roger and Amy
  • Date of stay 09/19/10
  • Review Submitted 10/04/10
  Easily accessible to London and Heathrow. Easy 8 minute walk to train station and 2 minute walk to bus to Hampton Court. Nice grocery store nearby. Peaceful, quiet location after a busy day of sightseeing. Beautiful cottage, just like the pictures. Very clean and welcoming. Fully furnished kitchen. My girls loved the bunk beds and neighborhood cat. Helpful info provided regarding cottage and local attractions. Owner was very friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Short train ride to Windsor Castle. Had a wonderful, though short, stay. Would definitely recommend this to anyone. We hope to visit again. When arriving from Heathrow, take a bus to Feltham train station, then get on a train to Twickenham, the next stop. Very inexpensive.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, tourists without a car.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Additional information about rental rates

Rates are subject to change by owner.

Deposit for half the total amount required to secure booking.

Prefer electronic payment in British pounds please.

Additional Fees and Taxes:

All inclusive unless paying by check - add £25 to cover bank charges.