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Situated south-west of central London, Richmond can be reached by
rail from Waterloo (with train services every half-hour) and by District Line Tube from
Earl's Court. Other locations in the Borough (such as Barnes, Hampton, Kew and Twickenham)
also enjoy good connections with SWT or Silverlink Metro services, Official Borough
website at: www.richmond.gov.uk.
Encompassing not only the historic royal palace of
Hampton
Court, but with Ham House, Richmond Park and Kew Gardens all falling within its
boundaries, Richmond upon Thames is a historic area of London which also offers visitors
more green space than any other borough and over 20 miles of riverside.
Over the centuries Richmond has, of course, enjoyed the benefits of
royal patronage. And, though it has become part of an extremely busy commuter belt, the
town retains an upmarket village feel, thus ensuring plenty of tourists over the summer.
On this page, we provide a brief breakdown of the town centre itself,
along with details on attractions, parks, shopping and entertainment within the local
area. Indeed, visitors to Richmond usually combine a tour of one or more of the borough's
historic houses with a quick jaunt around the local shops. We recommend you do things in
that order, as it's not particularly wise to haul lots of bags around, or have to check-in
items with the cloakroom of every attraction you visit.
Aside from Hampton Court (which is covered in the
first
page of this section, both Ham House and Syon Park are
worthy of further investigation. Ham House in particular is a wonderful example of a
preserved 17th-century mansion. Built in 1610 by Sir Thomas Vavasour, the house was
altered substantially between 1637 and 1639 by Elizabeth, the daughter of the Ist Earl of
Dysart, and her husband (the Duke of Lauderdale). It was during this time that Ham's
sumptuous interior was added, with much of the furniture on display today dating back to
the period. Highlights include the grandiose Marble Dining Room, resplendent with a fine
parquet flooring, and the Great Hall which is furnished with mahogany site tables and oak
hall-chairs. Most impressive of all is the Queen's Bedchamber which enjoys views across
the formal garden towards Ham Common. Prepared for a visit by Charles II's queen,
Catherine of Braganza, it not only features ornate ceiling plasterwork but some wonderful
hanging tapestries including 'The Fountain' and 'The fruit-gatherer'.
However, a visit to Ham House is not complete without a tour of the
grounds. Symmetrically divided into eight square plats, the area outside Ham's North Front
frequently played host to fashionable garden parties during the 17th and 18th centuries,
and still manages to convey the grandeur of this historic house through formal planting
and immaculately kept lawns.
Syon House, which is the traditional home of the Duke of
Northumberland, also enjoys a rich history dating back still further to 1547. Although
originally established as a monastery, Syon was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1547 before
being remodelled as a house right up until the mid-18th century. Today Syon Park, which
incorporates gardens landscaped by 'Capability' Brown, also boasts an ornamental lake and
the imposing Great Conservatory (built in 1826).
For plant lovers, a visit to the Royal
Botanic Gardens at Kew is a day out in itself. With over 300 acres of magnificent
parkland in which to enjoy a leisurely stroll or picnic, the gardens also house what is
one of the largest (and finest) plant collections in the world. Indeed, Kew's Victorian
conservatories are a must see, as is the famous octagonal Japanese Pagoda built for
Princess Augusta who founded the gardens.
In addition, Richmond
Park, which was enclosed by Charles I in 1637, is of special interest thanks to the
red and fallow deer that roam here. Comprising of over of 950 hectares of land,
descendents of the original herd stocked by Henry VIII can still be seen in abundance
today. The park, which is a popular family attraction during the summer, also benefits
from an enclosed playground, two golf courses, a cafeteria and extensive car parking
facilities.
Slightly further afield (in Barnes), The
Wetland Centre is a unique initiative which promotes wildfowl and wetland
conservation. Boasting a large expanse of ponds, marshes and re-formed lakes, the area
includes a wide array of tree and aquatic plant species, along with an interesting and
modern visitor centre.
Back in Richmond, the Green is a natural focal point for local
sporting activities including Sunday cricket matches. Enclosed by some lovely Georgian
dwellings (including Portland Terrace and Pembroke Villas) and the late 19th-century
Richmond Theatre, it's a perfect spot in which to enjoy a lazy summer's afternoon.
So far as shopping and entertainment are concerned, the highlight of
local events occurs at Christmas in the form of a charming Victorian Evening in which
costumed shopkeepers and residents enjoy traditional festivities. Of course, all year
round you'll find a good selection of designer outlets, boutiques and antique shops, along
with well-known high street names such as Laura Ashley, Disney, Dickens & Jones and
Monsoon (all resident along George Street).
If you fancy catching a show while in Richmond, The Orange Tree Theatre is a safe bet for a good night out. Widely regarded as being among the
best fringe venues in London, the 160 seat "in-the-round" auditorium puts on
drama, musicals, classics and revivals, all within an intimate and enjoyable atmosphere.
Of course, the much larger Richmond
Theatre is the most established venue in town, staging everything from pantomime to
musicals (such as Fame). Waterman's Arts Centre is another popular local venue which
includes a cinema, theatre and gallery. Moreover, Richmond also has two further Odeon
cinemas, details of which can be found on the company's official
website.
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