Named in deference to Henry VIII's numerous wives, The Six Restaurant at Kings Arms Hotel sits between the maze at Hampton Court Palace and Royal Bushy Park, just minutes walk from the historic Grade I listed royal palace. With a bright, airy dining room, plus deep blue banquettes and Carrara marble tables, The Six is every bit as splendid as its surroundings, and it makes a perfect lunch spot whether you're having a day out at the palace, or if you're staying in the nearby Kings Arms Hotel.
The menu at The Six takes a fresh, modern British route, with a focus on some classic British cooking too. Start with an artisan English charcuterie or cured and smoked fish platter, then move onto starters like Cornish crab three ways - dressed, soup and pate - with rye crisps, pickled cucumber and roe, or pressed pigeon and foie gras with mulled plum chutney and pickled mushrooms. There's a real emphasis on classic British cooking methods at The Six - as evidenced by the pressed pigeon, or the preparation of the crab - that takes inspiration from the Tudor history of Hampton Court Palace.
Mains include Cornish monkfish, sauteed butterbeans, smoked lardo and cep velouté, and a cracking fish and chips. If you've still got room for something sweet after all of that, try the caramelised apple and blackberry semifreddo with granola, honeycomb and sorrel. It's clear that there's a skillful kitchen team working behind the scenes here, and the a la carte changes every three months so there's likely to be something new on the menu if you're a seasonal visitor to the Palace Gardens.
Aside from the elegant dining room, there's a beautiful bar and terrace area, which is perfect place for a summer evening, and a cosy lounge area for the colder months.