Richmond, TW9 & TW10
History
Richmond’s popularity as a royal place of residence dates back almost 1000 years when Henry I chose it as a royal residence in 1100 AD. It was King Henry VII who had Richmond Palace built in 1501 and cemented its reputation the place to reside along the Thames. King Charles I was responsible for enclosing one of the most loved and popular parks in London originally meant to be a hunting park. Richmond Park is still home to over 750 deer that roam around freely and completely un-fazed by the large number of visitors that go to the Park daily. The housing that was built was predominantly for staff, merchants, and other service providers for the Royal Palace.
Character
Richmond is a gem on the outskirts of London. It is one of a number of smaller towns that make up the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and is a wonderful escape from the fast paced tempo of Central London. The green open spaces, parks and cricket green, give it a wonderful village feel; and its position on the banks of the River Thames simply make it feel like an idyllic throw back to a bygone era.
Housing
Housing in Richmond is some of the most sought after in London. It has some of the grandest mansion houses and Georgian terraces along the winding roads going up to Richmond Hill, as well as Edwardian, Victorian and Queen Anne houses and cottages that have been popular as private homes and investments. A number of the grander residences are now homes to diplomats and celebrities. However, compared to neighbouring Wimbledon and Putney, flats and purpose built apartments are in much shorter supply.
Amenities
Richmond has such an abundance of shops and supermarkets that the difficult part would be to choose where to go and what to sample first. One of the many charming aspects of Richmond is that it has its own farmers market which takes place Saturdays at Heron Square, offering a wonderful selection of delicatessen, fresh meats and vegetables, etc. However, it is the numerous gourmet restaurants, serving everything from Italian to Asian fusion, and quaint tea shops lining the cobbled streets of the high street and Richmond Hill. What Richmond is really renowned for is its many riverside pubs, like The White Cross, The Pitcher and Piano, German Beer Garden to name but a few, that are frequented 12 months of the year, reaching a crescendo in the summer months, where you would struggle to find a bit of green or riverbank amongst all the people out catching a few rays whilst enjoying the scenery and a few bevvies. There is a plethora of things to do in Richmond for all age groups, as it is home to theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries, as well as a number of other attractions.
Transport
Richmond – District Line
Richmond – Overground rail to Waterloo