London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Tourist Information

Location:

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is in southwest London and forms part of Outer London. It lies to the southeast of Richmond upon Thames.

Facts and Figures:

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has a population of 172,000 people and covers an area of 57km, making it the 8th largest London borough by area. Its population is 91% White and the borough has an exceptionally high employment rate at 68%. It also has the highest average annual income of any London borough.

Richmond uniquely is the only London borough to have districts on both the north and south sides of the River Thames.

It is well known for a number of sporting events. The annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race finishing line is at Mortlake; Twickenham is the home of the Rugby Union headquarters and stadium, and Teddington has the world's oldest hockey club.

Richmond upon Thames has had countless famous residents, from Henry VIII to well-known musician, Mick Jagger.

Description:

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is one of the most beautiful parts of London. It is also one of the most expensive boroughs in which to live and has many lovely residences. The area around Richmond was once the royal estate of Shene. Shene House, later renamed Richmond Palace, was a favoured Royal residence and some of its surrounding buildings still survive, including Trumpeter's House and the gatehouse.

The borough has large open areas and the River Thames provides beautiful scenery, immortalized in paintings by J.M.W. Turner, among others. The river runs for 21 miles through the Borough of Richmond, past famous sights such as Hampton Court Palace, and Kew Gardens along the way.

The London Borough of Richmond has many theatres and art galleries, two cinemas and plenty of specialist shops to browse. It provides an enviable way of life amidst royal parks and historic houses.

Richmond upon Thames is home to the largest urban park in Europe, Richmond Park, which covers 955 hectares. Once a royal hunting ground, this walled park still has herds of red and fallow deer and is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists.

Borough Attractions:

One of the most famous attractions in Richmond upon Thames is the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens cover 300 acres and have more than 40,000 varieties of plants.

Equally fabulous is Hampton Court Palace, the oldest Tudor Palace in England. It has a rich history to match its extensive apartments, Great Hall, gardens and famous maze.

On a smaller scale, but no less charming, Marble Hill House was built in the 18th century for the mistress of King George III and is a delightful place to enjoy more royal history.

Along with Richmond Park and Bushy Park, the borough includes over 100 other parks, giving it more green space than any other London borough.

The WWT London Wetlands Centre is a major draw for both locals and tourists.

Getting There:

The Borough of Richmond is connected to the city via the Underground District Line. It also has many stations on the North London line of overground trains and many buses run in and around the borough. A fast train from London Waterloo can transport visitors to Richmond in just 15 minutes.