Set on the meandering River Thames, Richmond is an affluent residential district in south-west London, named after King Henry VII’s earldom in North Yorkshire. It is dotted with green spaces that include deer-filled Richmond Park and the UNESCO-listed Kew Gardens with its 17th-century royal palace.
Things to do in Richmond
Watching over the town’s green is Richmond Palace, a former royal residence and the place where Queen Elizabeth died in 1603. Only the palace gatehouse survives today, with elegant houses occupying the former site of its Renaissance-style garden. Richmond Green was once used as a jousting site and now provides a setting for local cricket games, with the Victorian-era Richmond Theatre on its northern edge.
Sprawling to the north of Richmond is Kew Gardens, which boasts one of the most diverse botanical collections in the world. Established in 1840, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and encompasses more than 130 hectares of landscaped gardens, heritage-listed buildings and spectacular glasshouses. Experience the cool and windy conditions of the Davies Alpine House and stroll through the tranquil Japanese Garden, then enjoy sweeping views across London from the Great Pagoda.
Within the grounds of Kew Gardens is Kew Palace, which was once home to George III and Queen Charlotte. Alongside its iconic Dutch House, the complex features a former housekeeper’s cottage, a brewhouse and a kitchen block that is open to the public. It’s also possible to explore Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, a rustic country retreat that once overlooked an animal-filled paddock.
Getting around Richmond
Richmond is around 30 minutes’ drive from London and 20 minutes from Heathrow Airport. Both railway and Underground services connect to Richmond Station and buses travel throughout the town. Most of Richmond’s attractions can be accessed on foot.