Richmond

Published 18 September 2026 · By the Guide to London editorial team · Editor: Terje Moy

Richmond is a riverside town in south-west London with a pretty stretch of the Thames, a famous view from Richmond Hill, the huge deer park of Richmond Park and a 17th-century mansion, Ham House, a walk away along the towpath. It is about half an hour from central London and makes one of the best green half-day or full-day escapes from the city.

Richmond upon Thames is both a town and a London borough. This guide is about the town centre and its surroundings: the shopping streets around the station, Richmond Green, the riverside by Richmond Bridge, Richmond Hill rising to the south and the park at the top. Kew Gardens is one stop away, and Hampton Court Palace is a bus ride upriver.

Richmond feels more like a smart market town than part of a capital city. It is green, relaxed and prosperous, with Georgian houses, riverside pubs and people rowing, walking dogs and pushing buggies. On sunny weekends half of west London seems to arrive at once, so timing makes a big difference. This guide explains how to plan a day, what each part of the area is like and how to get around.

A royal riverside town

Richmond owes its name and much of its character to the Tudors. King Henry VII rebuilt a royal palace here around 1500 and named it after his earlier title, Earl of Richmond. Queen Elizabeth I died at Richmond Palace in 1603. Most of the palace was demolished in the 17th century, but its brick gatehouse still stands on the west side of Richmond Green, and you can see it on a short detour from the station.

In the 18th century wealthy Londoners built villas along the river and on the hill, and artists came to paint the view. Richmond Bridge, completed in 1777, is the oldest surviving bridge over the Thames in London. The town has kept much of its Georgian look ever since, and the green, the lanes around it and the riverside are among the most attractive corners of Greater London.

The riverside and Richmond Bridge

From the station, a ten-minute walk down through the town brings you to the river. Just below Richmond Bridge is Richmond Riverside, a terrace of restaurants and cafés with wide steps leading down to the water, where people sit in the sun on fine days. The towpath runs along both banks.

Walking south (upriver) along the towpath from the bridge is one of the classic London walks. Within a few minutes the town disappears behind trees, and you walk past Petersham Meadows, where cows sometimes graze, towards Ham House. Walking north takes you past Richmond Lock and Old Deer Park towards Kew.

The riverside pubs by the bridge are some of the busiest in London on a warm afternoon, with drinkers spreading onto the pavements and the steps. It is sociable and cheerful, but queues at the bar can be long and seats hard to find. If British pubs are new to you, our guide to London's historic pubs explains what to expect, and Richmond also has a good choice of quieter pubs around the green.

The view from Richmond Hill

From the riverside, walk up Hill Rise and Richmond Hill, or climb through Terrace Gardens, a sloping park below the hill. At the top, the Terrace Walk looks west over a great bend in the Thames, meadows and woods, with hardly a building in sight. It is one of the most famous views in England, painted by Turner and Reynolds, and it is so valued that Parliament passed an act in 1902 to stop the land below from being built on.

Benches line the terrace, and on a clear evening this is a lovely place to watch the sun go down. The climb is steep but short, about 15 to 20 minutes from the bridge at an easy pace. Bus 371 runs from Richmond station up the hill to Richmond Gate, the main entrance to Richmond Park, if you would rather ride. For other high points around the city, see our list of free viewpoints in London.

Richmond Park and the deer

Richmond Park is the largest of London's Royal Parks: a vast area of grassland, ancient oaks, ponds and woodland, home to herds of red and fallow deer that have roamed here for centuries. It is a National Nature Reserve, and in places it feels like open countryside rather than a city park. Entry is free, and the pedestrian gates are open 24 hours a day; vehicle gates have shorter hours.

From Richmond Gate at the top of the hill, a short walk takes you to Pembroke Lodge, a Georgian house with tea rooms and gardens looking over the Thames Valley. Nearby is King Henry's Mound, where a telescope-like gap in the trees frames a view of St Paul's Cathedral, about ten miles away. Further into the park, the Isabella Plantation is a woodland garden famous for its azaleas and rhododendrons, at their best in late April and May. Our full guide to Richmond Park has walking routes and more on the wildlife.

The park is big: the Tamsin Trail around its edge is just over seven miles long. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and plan your route rather than wandering aimlessly, especially late in the day. If you are visiting with a dog, note that dogs must be on leads in all areas from 1 May to 31 July, and they are not allowed in the Pembroke Lodge gardens.

Ham House and Petersham

About a mile and a half upriver from Richmond, along the Thames Path, Ham House is a grand 17th-century mansion run by the National Trust. It is known for its rich original interiors, formal gardens and kitchen garden. The walk there along the river, past Petersham Meadows, is part of the pleasure.

In September 2026 the house opened from 11:30 to 15:30 on selected days, and the garden from 10:00 to 17:00. Adult admission is £18.00, or £19.80 including Gift Aid, and there is no pre-booking: you pay at visitor reception. Opening days vary through the year, so check the National Trust's Ham House page before you go.

Across the river from Ham House, a small seasonal foot ferry, Hammerton's Ferry, links the two banks for a small charge, so you can combine Ham House with Marble Hill on the Twickenham side. The village of Petersham, between Ham House and Richmond Park, is also home to a well-known garden centre with a café and restaurant, popular for long lunches.

Richmond Green, the town and the shops

Richmond Green, a short walk from the station, is a large, square lawn surrounded by old houses, pubs and the remains of the palace. On summer weekends people play cricket and sit on the grass. The lanes between the green and the high street, full of small shops and cafés, are good for an hour's browsing.

The main shopping streets, George Street and Hill Street, have familiar high-street chains, supermarkets and cafés. Richmond Theatre on the edge of the green is a handsome Victorian theatre that hosts touring plays, musicals and pantomime at Christmas. Food in Richmond ranges from chain restaurants near the station to smart independent places on the hill; prices are closer to central London than to a typical suburb.

Combining Richmond with Kew and Hampton Court

Richmond works well as part of a longer day in south-west London. Kew Gardens is one stop north on the District line or the Mildmay line, or a pleasant walk along the river of about an hour. Bus 65 also runs from Richmond station past the Lion Gate and Victoria Gate of the gardens. Note that Kew Palace and the other Historic Royal Palaces buildings at Kew close from 28 September 2026 until spring 2027.

For Hampton Court Palace, take bus R68 from Richmond, which runs through Twickenham and Teddington to the palace gates. In the week checked for this guide, Hampton Court was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the Mantegna Gallery is closed until spring 2027. A combined day of Richmond Park in the morning and Hampton Court in the afternoon is possible, but tiring; many visitors do better choosing one.

Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, the home of English rugby, is also close by across the river. Our guide to stadium tours in London covers the grounds that offer tours.

Getting to Richmond, and when to go

Richmond station is at the western end of the District line and the Mildmay line of the London Overground, and South Western Railway runs direct trains from London Waterloo. The train from Waterloo is usually the quickest way from central London, while the District line is handy from Westminster, Victoria or South Kensington but slower. The Uber Boat River Bus does not reach Richmond: its western end is Putney. Our guide to travel zones explains why a trip out to Zone 4 costs a little more than a day in the centre.

With contactless or Oyster, the daily cap for Zones 1-4 is £12.80, so a day that includes travel from central London and local buses never costs more than that on the same card. Children aged 5 to 10 travel free on buses and, with a fare-paying adult, on the Tube and Overground; our guide to children's fares has the details.

Weekday mornings are calm, and the park at dawn, with mist and deer, is magical. Sunny weekend afternoons are the opposite: the riverside is packed, the trains are full and the pubs overflow. Autumn brings the deer rut and good colours in the park; late April and May are best for the Isabella Plantation. In winter Richmond is quieter, and a walk followed by a Sunday lunch in a pub is a very British way to spend the day. Our guide to the Sunday roast explains the tradition.

If you are planning a longer trip, our list of day trips from London suggests other easy escapes, although Richmond itself is close enough to visit on any spare half-day.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from central London to Richmond?

Take a direct South Western Railway train from London Waterloo, the District line from central stations such as Westminster or Victoria, or the London Overground Mildmay line. Richmond is in Zone 4, and with contactless or Oyster the Zones 1-4 daily cap is £12.80.

Can you see deer in Richmond Park?

Yes. Red and fallow deer roam freely across the park and are easy to spot, especially early in the morning. Stay at least 50 metres away all year and at least 100 metres from active males during the autumn rut, from September to November. Feeding the deer is illegal.

Is the view from Richmond Hill free?

Yes. The Terrace Walk at the top of Richmond Hill is a public street with benches, open at all times. It is a steep walk of about 15 to 20 minutes from Richmond Bridge, or you can take bus 371 from the station up the hill.

How far is Ham House from Richmond?

Ham House is about a mile and a half from Richmond along the Thames Path, a flat and pretty riverside walk of around 30 to 40 minutes. The National Trust charges £18.00 for adults (£19.80 with Gift Aid), and the house opens only on selected days.

Is Richmond worth a visit for a first-time visitor?

If you have three days or more, yes. It shows a greener, more relaxed side of London and is easy to reach by train or Tube. On a very short first trip, most visitors should prioritise central sights, but Richmond is an ideal half-day break from them.

Sources

• The Royal Parks - Richmond Park (checked September 2026)
• The Royal Parks - Deer safety advice (checked September 2026)
• National Trust - Ham House and Garden (checked September 2026)
• UK Parliament Hansard - Richmond Hill (Preservation of View) Bill, 1902 (checked September 2026)
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - Getting here (checked September 2026)
• Transport for London - Capping (checked September 2026)
• Transport for London - Bus route data (routes R68, 371, 65) (checked September 2026)