Richmond-upon-Thames

England
Richmond-upon-Thames showing wildflowers and cafe lifestyle
Discover a superb collection of historic mansions, art galleries, museums, parks and theaters in this attractive royal borough of London.

Uncover the leafy riverfront character of London on a visit to Richmond-upon-Thames. Over 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the River Thames meanders through Richmond-upon-Thames, connecting several of the borough’s 100-plus green spaces. Scattered in between you’ll find vibrant town centers, royal homes and a world-famous sporting arena.

Richmond is the area’s main town and a place famous for its boutique shopping, galleries, gardens and theaters. Catch musicals, operas and plays at Richmond Theatre and theater-in-the-round performances at Orange Tree Theatre. Study local history at the Museum of Richmond.

Join the borough’s residents at sprawling Richmond Park, where hundreds of fallow and red deer roam freely. Watch a cricket match at Richmond Green, which was once a medieval jousting ground. Browse displays of art and furniture and stroll the riverbanks at Ham House and Garden. In Kew, the UNESCO-listed Royal Botanical Gardens is home to more than 50,000 plants and Kew Palace.

Head to affluent Twickenham to attend an international rugby match and big-name concerts at Twickenham Stadium. Learn about boatyard and 1960s music heritage at Eel Pie Island Museum. The Twickenham Museum retraces the evolution of the town and its neighboring areas. Church Street is full of antique dealers, bookstores, jewelers and vintage shops.

Twickenham’s historic houses showcase the borough’s wealth and royal influence. Take guided tours of the Palladian-style Marble Hill House and Strawberry Hill House and Garden, which was the one-time home of writer Horace Walpole. Riverside Orleans House Gallery exhibits the Richmond Borough Art Collection.

Delve into the curious life of Henry VIII and his many wives at Hampton Court Palace. See the Tudor-era kitchens and look for the ghost of Catherine Howard in the Haunted Gallery. Have fun navigating the Hampton Court Maze. Deer wander freely around the meadows and woodland of adjacent Bushy Park.

Richmond-upon-Thames is a borough situated in southwest London. Get here using London’s large network of buses, trains and the underground. About 21-miles (34 kilometers) of the Thames Path walking and cycling trails travels between Barnes and Hampton Court.