View source for Richmond, London

{{Short description|Town in Greater London, England}}
{{distinguish|Richmond, North Yorkshire}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| region                   = London
| official_name            = Richmond
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.456|-0.301|display=inline,title}}
| london_borough           = Richmond upon Thames
| constituency_westminster = [[Richmond Park (UK Parliament constituency)|Richmond Park]]
| population               = {{#expr:{{london ward populations|00BDGG|population}}+{{london ward populations|00BDGJ|population}}}}
| population_ref           = ({{london ward populations|00BDGG|ward}} and {{london ward populations|00BDGJ|ward}} wards {{london ward populations|year}}){{london ward populations|reference}}
| area_total_km2           = 5.38
| civil_parish             = <!-- Unparished area -->
| post_town                = RICHMOND
| postcode_area            = TW
| postcode_district        = TW9, TW10
| dial_code                = 020
| os_grid_reference        = TQ1874
| charingX_distance_mi     = 8.2
| charingX_direction       = ENE
| static_image_name        = Richmond Riverside, London - Sept 2008.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Richmond Riverside
}}

'''Richmond''' is a town in southwest London,<ref group="nb">The [[London Government Act 1963]] (c.33) (as amended) categorises the [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] as an [[Outer London]] borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the [[Boundary Commission for England]] defines it as being in [[South London]] or the South Thames sub-region, pairing it with [[Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|Kingston upon Thames]] for the purposes of devising constituencies. However, for the purposes of the [[London Plan]], Richmond now lies within the [[West London (sub region)|West London]] region.</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher= [[Office of Public Sector Information]]|url= https://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1963/cukpga_19630033_en_1 |title= London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended)|access-date= 26 July 2017}}</ref><ref name=southb>{{cite web|publisher=[[Boundary Commission for England]]|url= https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/London-Initial-proposals-summary.pdf|title= London Initial proposals summary|date= September 2016|access-date= 12 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/250941/7032_iii.pdf|publisher= [[Boundary Commission for England]] |title= Fifth Periodical Report Cm 7032B|isbn= 9780101703222|date= March 2007|access-date= 12 December 2022}}</ref><ref name=london_plan_amend_09>{{cite web | url= http://www.london.gov.uk/archive/mayor/publications/2009/docs/london-plan-initial-proposals.pdf | author= Mayor of London | publisher= [[Greater London Authority]] | title= A new plan for London: Proposals for the Mayor's London Plan | date= April 2009 | access-date= 31 July 2025  | author-link= Mayor of London }}</ref> {{convert|8.2|mi}} west-southwest of [[Charing Cross]]. It stands on the [[River Thames]], and features many [[Richmond upon Thames parks and open spaces|parks and open spaces]], including [[Richmond Park]], and many protected [[conservation area]]s,<ref name="Conservation Areas">{{cite news |title=Conservation Areas |publisher= [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/media/11444/conservation_area_map-2.pdf |access-date= 12 December 2022}}</ref> which include much of [[Richmond Hill, London|Richmond Hill]].<ref name="Area 5">{{cite web | url= http://www.richmond.gov.uk/cas_5_richmond_hill.pdf | title= Richmond Hill Conservation Area 5 | publisher= [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] | access-date=31 January 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131110122114/http://www.richmond.gov.uk/cas_5_richmond_hill.pdf | archive-date=10 November 2013}}</ref> A specific [[Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902|Act of Parliament]] protects the scenic view of the [[River Thames]] from Richmond.<ref name="View">{{cite web | url= https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/libraries/branch_libraries/local_studies_collection/local_history_notes/the_view_from_richmond_hill | work=Local history notes|title= The view from Richmond Hill |publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]|date=22 October 2020|access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref>
   
Richmond was founded following King [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]]'s building in the early 16th century of [[Richmond Palace]] (so named in 1501), from which the town derives its name. (The palace's manor itself took its name from King Henry's [[Earl of Richmond|earldom]] of [[Richmond, North Yorkshire]], the original Richmond.) The town and palace became particularly associated with Queen [[Elizabeth I]] ({{reign | 1558 | 1603}}), who spent her last days there. During the 18th century, [[Richmond Bridge, London|Richmond Bridge]] connected the two banks of the Thames, and many [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] terraces were built, particularly around [[Richmond Green]] and on Richmond Hill. Those that have survived remain well preserved, and many have been designated [[listed building]]s on account of their architectural or historic significance. The opening of [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond railway station]] in 1846 was a significant event in the absorption of the town into a rapidly expanding London.

In 1890, the town of Richmond, formerly part of the ancient [[Kingston upon Thames (parish)|parish of Kingston upon Thames]] in the county of [[Surrey]], [[Municipal Borough of Richmond (Surrey)|became a municipal borough]], which was later extended to include [[Kew]], [[Ham, London|Ham]], [[Petersham, London|Petersham]] and part of [[Mortlake]] ([[North Sheen]]).<ref name=vob_borough/> The municipal borough was abolished in 1965, when [[London Government Act 1963|local-government reorganisation]] transferred Richmond from Surrey to [[Greater London]].<ref name=metro>{{Cite book |author1= Young, K. |author2= Garside, P. |name-list-style= amp |title= Metropolitan London: Politics and Urban Change 1837–1981 |publisher=[[Edward Arnold (publisher)|Edward Arnold]] |location=London |year=1982 |isbn=9780713163315 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/metropolitanlond0000youn }}
</ref>

Since 1965, Richmond has formed part of the [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]. {{As of | 2011}} it had a population of 21,469 (in the North Richmond and South Richmond wards). It has a significant commercial and retail centre with a developed day and evening economy. The name "Richmond upon Thames" refers to the London borough as a whole, not to the town of Richmond.

==History==
===Name===
The area was known in the medieval period as Shene,<ref name="Hallam Smith">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT8HQwmZxAo&t=31s |title=Plantagenet Sheen to Tudor Richmond: royal passions, piety and power |location = London|date=8 April 2024 |access-date = 17 May 2024|publisher= Richmond Local History Society|author-link = Elizabeth Hallam Smith|last=Hallam Smith |first=Elizabeth}}</ref> a name first recorded (as ''Sceon'') in the 10th century, and which survives in the neighbouring districts of [[East Sheen]] (also known as Sheen) and [[North Sheen]]. The manor entered royal hands, and the [[manor house]] eventually became known as Sheen Palace, before being largely destroyed by fire in 1497. [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] rebuilt it and in 1501 named it [[Richmond Palace]], in allusion to his [[Earl of Richmond|earldom of Richmond]] and his ancestral [[honour of Richmond]] in [[Yorkshire]]. The associated settlement took the same name, although for some years the two names were often used in conjunction (for example, "Shene otherwise called Richemount").<ref name="EB 545a">"Richmond", in ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', (9th edition, 1881), ''s.v.''</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=J E B |last1=Gover |first2=A|last2=Mawer |author2-link=Allen Mawer |first3=F M |last3=Stenton |author3-link=Frank Stenton |title=The Place-Names of Surrey |series=English Place-Name Society |volume=11 |place=Cambridge |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=1934 |pages=65–66 }}</ref>

===Royal residence===
[[File:A View of Richmond Palace published in 1765.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Richmond Palace]]&nbsp;– a view published in 1765 and based on earlier drawings]]
[[Henry I of England|Henry I]] lived briefly in the King's house in "Sheanes".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/libraries/branch_libraries/local_studies_collection/local_history_timelines/royal_richmond_timeline|title= Royal Richmond timeline: 900 years of royal associations with Richmond upon Thames|access-date = 13 February 2025|date = 1 April 2020|work= [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] Local Studies Library}}</ref> In 1299, [[Edward I of England|Edward I]], the "Hammer of the Scots", took his whole court to the manor house at Sheen, a little east of the bridge and on the riverside, and it thus became a royal residence; [[William Wallace]] was executed in London in 1305, and it was in Sheen that the [[Commissioner#Scotland|Commissioners]] from Scotland went down on their knees before Edward.

[[Edward II of England|Edward II]], following his defeat by the Scots at the [[Battle of Bannockburn]] in 1314, founded a [[monastery]] for [[Carmelites]] at Sheen. When the boy-king [[Edward III of England|Edward III]] came to the throne in 1327, he gave the manor to his mother [[Isabella of France|Isabella]]. Edward later spent over [[Pound sterling|£]]2,000 on improvements, but in the middle of the work, Edward himself died at the manor, in 1377. [[Richard II of England|Richard II]] was the first English king to make Sheen his main residence, which he did in 1383. Twelve years later, Richard was so distraught at the death of his wife [[Anne of Bohemia]] at the age of 28 that, according to [[Raphael Holinshed]], the 16th-century English [[chronicle]]r, he "caused it [the manor] to be thrown down and defaced; whereas the former kings of this land, being wearie of the citie, used customarily thither to resort as to a place of pleasure, and serving highly to their recreation".<ref name="HolinsedRichardII">{{cite book |date=1807 |author1= Holinshed, Raphael|display-authors=etal|author-link= Raphael Holinshed|title=Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland |chapter= Richard the Second |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/52147/52147-h/52147-h.htm |access-date=1 August 2025 |via= Project Guenberg (ebook 52147)}}</ref> It was rebuilt between 1414 and 1422, but [[Richmond Palace#The fire of 1497|destroyed by fire]] in 1497.<ref name="Goringe">{{Cite web |url=https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/richmond-lost-palace/ |title=Richmond: the lost palace |last=Goringe |first=Marcus |date=12 July 2016 |publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)]] |access-date=23 July 2018}}</ref>

Following that fire, Henry VII built a [[Richmond Palace#The new Richmond Palace|new residence at Sheen, and in 1501 he named it Richmond Palace]].<ref name="Palace notes"/> The theatre company to which [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] belonged performed some plays there during the reign of [[Elizabeth I]].<ref name="Palace notes">{{Cite web |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/media/6334/local_history_richmond_palace.pdf|title=Richmond Palace |website= London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Local History notes |access-date=7 January 2024}}</ref> As Queen, Elizabeth spent much of her time at Richmond, as she enjoyed [[Deer hunting|hunting stags]] in the "Newe Parke of Richmonde" (now [[Old Deer Park]]). She died at the palace on 24 March 1603.<ref name="Black">{{Cite book |last=Black |first=J.&nbsp;B. |author-link= J. B. Black|title=The Reign of Elizabeth: 1558–1603 |location=Oxford |publisher=[[Clarendon Press]] |orig-year=1936 |year=1945 |pages = 410–411|oclc=5077207}}</ref> The palace was no longer in residential use after 1649 but, in 1688, [[James II of England|James II]] ordered its partial reconstruction, this time as a royal [[Nursery (room)|nursery]]. The bulk of the palace had decayed by 1779, but surviving structures include the Wardrobe, [[Trumpeters' House]] (built around 1700), and the Gate House, built in 1501. The Gate House has five bedrooms and was made available on a 65-year lease by the [[Crown Estate]] Commissioners in 1986.

===18th- and 19th-century development===
[[File:1-6 Old Palace Terrace.jpg|thumb|Georgian houses at Old Palace Terrace on [[Richmond Green]]]]
[[File:Old fire station in Richmond, London.jpg|thumb|The town's former [[fire station]], built in the late 19th century, with a distinctive [[lantern clock]] tower]]
Beyond the grounds of the old palace, Richmond remained mostly agricultural land until the 18th century. [[White Lodge]], in the middle of what is now [[Richmond Park]], was built as a [[Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom#Hunting lodge|hunting lodge]] for [[George II of Great Britain|George II]], and during this period the number of large houses in their own grounds&nbsp;– such as [[Asgill House]] and [[Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park|Pembroke Lodge]]&nbsp;– increased significantly. These were followed by the building of further important houses, including [[Downe House, Richmond Hill|Downe House]], [[The Wick House|Wick House]] and [[The Wick]] on [[Richmond Hill, London|Richmond Hill]], as this area became an increasingly fashionable place in which to live. [[Richmond Bridge, London|Richmond Bridge]] was completed in 1777 to replace a ferry crossing that connected Richmond town centre on the east bank with its neighbouring district of [[Twickenham|East Twickenham]]. Today, this bridge, together with the well-preserved [[Georgian Architecture|Georgian]] terraces that surround [[Richmond Green]] and line Richmond Hill to its crest, now has [[listed building]] status.<ref name="Register">{{cite web | url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/media/18000/listed_buildings_register.pdf| title=Listed Buildings Register | publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] | date = 14 October 2019|access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref>

As Richmond continued to prosper and expand during the 19th century, much luxurious housing was built on the streets that line Richmond Hill, as well as shops in the town centre to serve the increasing population. In July 1892, the Corporation formed a [[joint-stock company]], the Richmond (Surrey) Electric Light and Power Company, and this wired the town for electricity by around 1896.

===World Wars===
{{main|Richmond War Memorial, London}}
Like many other large towns in Britain, Richmond lost many young people who fought in the [[First World War|First]] and [[Second World War]]s. They are commemorated at the [[Richmond War Memorial, London|Richmond War Memorial]], which now commemorates both wars and was installed in 1921 at the end of Whittaker Avenue, between the Old Town Hall and the Riverside.<ref name=Memorial>{{NHLE|num=1447856|desc=Richmond upon Thames Borough War Memorial|date = 20 July 2017|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> In the Second World War, 96 people were killed in [[Airstrike|air raids]], which also resulted in the demolition of 297 houses.<ref name="At War">{{Cite book |title=Richmond at War 1939–1945 |author=Fowler, Simon |publisher=[[Richmond, London#Societies|Richmond Local History Society]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-9550717-8-2 |page=90|author-link=Simon Fowler (author) }}</ref>

==Governance==
===Current===
The town of Richmond is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, which is governed by [[Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council]]. The most recent election was in May 2022 when the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] retained control of the council;<ref name="Blunden">{{Cite news |last=Uyal |first=Berk |date=6 May 2022 |title=Richmond local election results 2022: Liberal Democrats hold |pages=1 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |location=London |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/20119078.richmond-local-election-results-2022-liberal-democrats-hold/ |access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref> in a January 2024 by-election the Liberal Democrats gained the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]]' only Council seat.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burford |first1=Rachael |title=London by-elections: Tories 'wiped out in their former heartlands' but Labour suffer blow in Hackney |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/conservatives-labour-richmond-hackney-wandsworth-london-by-elections-b1133491.html |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=[[Evening Standard|The Standard]] |date=19 January 2024}}</ref> Richmond town is divided into two wards – North Richmond, which has three Liberal Democrat councillors, and South Richmond, with two Liberal Democrat councillors and one from the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]].

Richmond town forms part of the [[Richmond Park (UK Parliament constituency)|Richmond Park]] constituency for the [[UK Parliament]]. The [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]], since 2019, is [[Sarah Olney]] from the Liberal Democrats.<ref name="Olney">{{Cite web|title=Olney, Sarah Jane|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/display/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-288426|access-date=30 July 2025|website=[[Who's Who]] 2025 & [[Who Was Who]]|date=1 December 2024|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u288426|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4}}</ref> Richmond is also part of the [[South West (London Assembly constituency)|South West constituency for the London Assembly]], which has been represented by [[Gareth Roberts (politician)|Gareth Roberts]] from the Liberal Democrats since 2024.

===Historical===
Richmond, earlier known as ''Shene'', was part of the large ancient [[Kingston upon Thames (parish)|parish of Kingston upon Thames]] in the [[Kingston (hundred)|Kingston hundred]] of [[Surrey]]. Split off from Kingston upon Thames from an early time, the parish of [[St Mary Magdalene, Richmond|Richmond St Mary Magdalene]] formed the [[Municipal Borough of Richmond (Surrey)|Municipal Borough of Richmond]] from 1890.<ref name=vob_parish>{{Cite web |
title=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Richmond, in Richmond upon Thames and Surrey | website= A Vision of Britain through Time|
url= http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/156|access-date= 15 December 2021}}</ref> The municipal borough was expanded in 1892 by the addition of [[Kew]], [[Petersham, London|Petersham]] and the [[North Sheen]] part of [[Mortlake]];<ref name=vob_borough>{{Cite vob | url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/156 | name=Richmond MB | map=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/boundary_map_page.jsp?u_id=10025618&c_id= | access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> in 1933, [[Ham, London|Ham]] was added to the borough.<ref name=vob_borough/> In 1965, the parish and municipal borough were abolished by the [[London Government Act 1963]], which transferred Richmond to [[Greater London]]. Together with the former [[Municipal Borough of Twickenham]] and the former [[Municipal Borough of Barnes]], it formed a new borough, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.<ref name="LGA">{{Cite web |title=London Government Act 1963 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/33/contents |access-date=1 November 2020 |website=[[legislation.gov.uk]]}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:cmglee London Richmond aerial.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Richmond and East Twickenham from the north, August 2015]]
Richmond sits opposite East Twickenham on what is technically the south bank of the [[River Thames]] but, because of the bends of the river, the town is immediately north and north-east of its nearest stretch of river. The Thames curves around the town, and then Kew, in its course; starting from [[Petersham, London|Petersham]], it returns to a more direct west–east direction. The river is still tidal at Richmond, so, to allow major passenger and goods traffic to continue to operate during low tide, a half-tide [[Lock (water transport)|lock]] was opened in 1894 and is used when the adjacent [[weir]] is in position. This weir ensures that there is always a minimum depth of water of {{convert|5|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} toward the middle of the river between Richmond and [[Teddington]], whatever the state of the tide. At the lock and weir there is a [[Richmond Lock and Footbridge|footbridge]] across the river.

Richmond is well endowed with green and open spaces accessible to the public. At the heart of the town sits [[Richmond Green]], which is roughly square in shape and together with the Little Green, a smaller green space stretching from its south-east corner, is {{convert|12|acre|ha|abbr=off}} in area. The Green is surrounded by well-used [[metalled]] roads that provide a fair amount of vehicle parking for both residents and visitors. The south corner leads into the main shopping area of the town; at the west corner is the old [[gatehouse]] which leads through to other remaining buildings of the palace; at the north corner is pedestrian access to [[Old Deer Park]] (plus vehicle access for municipal use). The park is a {{convert|360|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Crown Estate]] landscape extending from the town along the riverside as far as the boundary with the [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Royal Botanic Gardens]] at Kew, a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]. This contains wide green lawns and sports facilities, and the Grade I listed former [[Kew Observatory|King's Observatory]] erected for [[George III]] in 1769. The town's main shopping street, [[George Street, Richmond|George Street]], is also named after the king.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dunbar | first=Janet | title=A Prospect of Richmond |orig-date=1973 | publisher=[[George G. Harrap and Co.]] |year=1977 |pages=199–209 |isbn=9780856179952 }}</ref><ref name = "Streets">{{cite book|title= The Streets of Richmond and Kew|edition= Fourth|date=2022|publisher = [[Richmond Local History Society]]|page =47}}</ref>

[[File:Richmond Park understorey.jpg|thumb|[[Richmond Park]] is a [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve.]]]]

The town centre lies just below {{convert|33|ft|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. South of the town centre, rising from Richmond Bridge to an elevation of {{convert|165|ft|m|abbr=on}}, is Richmond Hill. Just beyond the summit of Richmond Hill is [[Richmond Park]], an area of {{convert|2,360|acre|km2 sqmi|abbr=on}} of wild [[heath]] and woodland originally enclosed for hunting, and now forming London's largest [[Royal Parks of London|royal park]].<ref name="Map">{{cite web | url= https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/richmond-park/map| title=Map of Richmond Park | publisher=[[The Royal Parks]] | access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> The park is a [[national nature reserves in England|national nature reserve]],<ref name=NNRRichmondPark>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-londons-national-nature-reserves |title= Greater London's National Nature Reserves |publisher= [[Natural England]]|date= 12 November 2021|access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref> a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]]<ref name="SSSI">{{cite web | url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002388.pdf | title=Richmond Park | publisher=[[Natural England]] | work=Citation | date=1992 | access-date=29 August 2014 | archive-date=12 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012013435/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002388.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002388%27|publisher= [[Natural England]]|title= Map of Richmond Park SSSI|access-date= 3 January 2018}}</ref> and a [[Special Area of Conservation]]<ref name="RichmondParkJNCC">{{cite web | url= https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030246 | title=Richmond Park | publisher=[[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]] | access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> and is included, at Grade I, on [[Historic England]]'s [[Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England]].<ref name="Park list">{{NHLE|num=1000828|desc=Richmond Park|date= 1 October 1987 |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref> It was created by [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] in 1634<ref name= ParkGateway>{{cite web|title= Historic England Research Records: Richmond Park|url=
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=397979&resourceID=19191|website= HeritageGateway|date = 2012|access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref> as a [[Medieval deer park|deer park]] and now has 630 [[Red deer|red]] and [[fallow deer]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/richmond-park/deer-richmond-park |title= Deer in Richmond Park|publisher= [[The Royal Parks]]|access-date =29 January 2024}}</ref> that roam freely through much of the park. The park has a number of traffic and pedestrian gates leading to the surrounding areas of [[East Sheen|Sheen]], [[Roehampton]], [[Putney]], [[Kingston, London|Kingston]] and [[Ham, London|Ham]].

===Nearest places===
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Barnes, London|Barnes]]
* [[Brentford]]
* [[East Sheen]]
* [[Ham, London|Ham]]
* [[Hampton, London|Hampton]]
* [[Hounslow]]
* [[Isleworth]]
* [[Kew]]
* [[Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]]
* [[Mortlake]]
* [[Petersham, London|Petersham]]
* [[Roehampton]]
* [[St Margarets, London|St Margarets]]
* [[Strawberry Hill, London|Strawberry Hill]]
* [[Teddington]]
* [[Twickenham]]
* [[Whitton, London|Whitton]]
{{div col end}}

==Economy==
[[File:Hill Street, Richmond, London.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.6|Hill Street, central Richmond]]
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, with Richmond North and Richmond South as two of its [[Wards of the United Kingdom|wards]], has the least poverty in London.<ref name=DWP>[http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/cpa-r-u-t.xls Department for Work and Pensions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402194006/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/cpa-r-u-t.xls |date=2 April 2012 }} 2001 Census statistics. Retrieved 25 September 2011.</ref> The town of Richmond has the largest commercial centre in the borough and is classified as a [[Major centres of London#Activity centres|major centre]] according to the [[London Plan]]. It is an established up-market shopping destination.<ref name="Business">{{cite web | url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/invest_locating_your_business | title=Richmond | publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] | work=Business: Property and sites | access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> Its compact centre has approximately 50,000 m<sup>2</sup> of retail floor-space that is largely focused on [[George Street, Richmond|George Street]], The Quadrant and Hill Street. It comprises almost exclusively high street chains, the largest of which are [[Marks & Spencer]], [[Boots UK|Boots]], [[Tesco|Tesco Metro]] and [[Waitrose]]. The remaining town centre stores are largely single units.

Mostly independent businesses line the narrow [[alley]]ways running off George Street towards Richmond Green and up Richmond Hill, and there is a [[farmers' market]] in Heron Square on Saturdays. Richmond has one large stand-alone supermarket, [[Sainsbury's]], with parking for 420 cars, to the east of the town near North Sheen railway station.

There are shops, restaurants and cafes on the crest of Richmond Hill lining Friars Stile Road, as well as along Kew Road towards the [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Botanic Gardens]], and on Sheen Road.

Richmond also offers a wide variety of office accommodation and is the UK/European headquarters of several multi-national companies, including [[eBay]], [[PayPal]] and [[Securitas AB|The Securitas Group]], as well as the head offices of a number of national, regional and local businesses. London's ''[[Evening Standard]]'' has described Richmond as "the beating heart of London's growing technology industry".<ref name="ES">{{cite news | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/richmond-revealed-as-new-tech-hotspot-8894129.html| title=Richmond revealed as new tech hotspot | work=[[Evening Standard]] | date=21 October 2013|access-date = 6 March 2025}}</ref>

==Places of interest==
===Richmond Riverside===
[[File:Richmond - panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The Thames riverfront north of [[Richmond Bridge, London|Richmond Bridge]]]]
The [[Thames]] is a major contributor to the interest that Richmond inspires in many people. It has an extensive frontage around Richmond Bridge, containing many bars and restaurants. Richmond Riverside owes much of its neo-Georgian style to the architect [[Quinlan Terry]], who was commissioned to restore the area (1984–87). Within the river itself at this point are the leafy [[Corporation Island]] and the two small [[Corporation Island|Flowerpot Islands]]. The Thames-side walkway provides access to residences, pubs (including the [[White Cross, Richmond|White Cross]]) and terraces, and various [[village green|greens]], lanes and footpaths through Richmond. The stretch of the Thames below Richmond Hill is known as Horse Reach and includes [[Glover's Island]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glover's Island (Petersham Ait), Horse Reach |url=https://thames.me.uk/s00322.htm |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=Where Thames Smooth Waters Glide}}</ref> There are [[towpath]]s and tracks along both sides of the river, and they are much used by pedestrians, joggers and cyclists. [[Westminster Passenger Services Association]] boats, licensed by
[[London River Services]], sail daily between [[Kew Pier|Kew]] and [[Hampton Court Palace]], calling at Richmond in each direction.

===Richmond Green===
{{Main|Richmond Green}}
[[File:Richmond Green, London (2).jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|South east corner of [[Richmond Green]]]]
[[File:Houses At Richmond Green, London-4504880120.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Portland Place, Richmond Green]]
[[Richmond Green]] has been described as "one of the most beautiful urban greens surviving anywhere in England".<ref name="Cherry and Pevsner">{{cite book | title=The Buildings of England&nbsp;– London 2: South | publisher=[[Penguin Books]] | author1=Cherry, Bridget |author1-link=Bridget Cherry |author2=Pevsner, Nikolaus |author2-link=Nikolaus Pevsner | year=1983 | location=London | page=521 | isbn=978-0-14-0710-47-2| title-link=The Buildings of England }}</ref> It is roughly square in shape, and its open grassland, framed with [[broadleaf tree]]s, extends to roughly {{convert|12|acre|ha|abbr=off|spell=in}}. On summer weekends and public holidays the Green attracts many residents and visitors. It has a long history of hosting sporting events; from the 16th century onwards tournaments and [[archery]] contests took place on the Green, and there have been [[cricket]] matches since the mid-18th century,<ref name="Richmond Green">{{Cite web |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/libraries/branch_libraries/local_studies_collection/local_history_notes/richmond_green_properties |title=Richmond Green properties |last=Richmond Libraries' Local Studies Collection |date=28 June 2023 |access-date= 25 September 2023 |website=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]}}</ref> continuing to the present day. Until recently, the first recorded inter-county cricket match was believed to have been played on Richmond Green in 1730 between [[Surrey county cricket teams|Surrey]] and [[Middlesex county cricket teams|Middlesex]]. It is now known, however, that an earlier match between [[Kent county cricket teams|Kent]] and Surrey took place in [[Dartford]] in 1709.<ref>[[CricketArchive]]</ref>

To the west of the Green is [[Old Palace Lane]], running gently down to the river. One of the oldest roads in Richmond, it was originally a route from the river, where goods were loaded and unloaded by crane, to the "tradesmen's entrance" to Richmond Palace.<ref name="Robinson and Fowler">{{Cite book |title=Old Palace Lane: Medieval to Modern Richmond |year=2020|edition = 2nd |author1=Robinson, Derek |author2-link=Simon Fowler (author) |author2=Fowler, Simon |publisher= [[Richmond, London#Societies|Richmond Local History Society]] and [[Museum of Richmond]] |isbn=978-1-912-314027}}</ref> Adjoining to the left is the renowned terrace of well-preserved three-storey houses known as Maids of Honour Row. These were built in 1724 for the [[Maid of honour|maids of honour]] (trusted royal wardrobe servants) of [[Caroline of Ansbach|Queen Caroline]], the [[queen consort]] of [[George II of Great Britain|George II]]. As a child, the [[Victorian era|Victorian]] explorer [[Richard Francis Burton|Richard Burton]] lived at No. 2.<ref name="Burton">{{cite web | url= https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/libraries/branch_libraries/local_studies_collection/local_history_notes/sir_richard_and_lady_isabel_burton|title=Sir Richard and Lady Isabel Burton (1831–1896) | website=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] | department=Local history notes | date=20 September 2022 | access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref>

Today the northern, western and southern sides of the Green are residential while the eastern side, linking with George Street, is largely retail and commercial. Public buildings line the eastern side of the Little Green and pubs and cafés cluster in the corner by Paved Court and Golden Court&nbsp;– two of a number of [[alleys]] that lead from the Green to the main commercial thoroughfare of George Street. These alleys are lined with mostly privately owned [[boutique]]s.

===Richmond Hill===
[[File:Richmond Hill, London.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right|The famous south-western view from [[Richmond Hill, London|Richmond Hill]], seen in early summer]]
[[File:Richmond Hill - Surrey, UK.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Riverside view from the [[Twickenham]] bank of the Thames with the former [[Royal Star and Garter Home, Richmond|Royal Star and Garter Home]] on Richmond Hill]]
The view from the top westward to [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] has long been famous, inspiring paintings by masters such as [[J. M. W. Turner]] and [[Sir Joshua Reynolds]]<ref name="View"/> and also poetry.<ref name="View"/> One particularly grand description of the view can be found in [[Sir Walter Scott]]'s novel ''[[The Heart of Midlothian]]'' (1818). It is a common misconception that the folk song "[[Lass of Richmond Hill]]" relates to this hill, but the young woman in the song lived in Hill House at [[Richmond, North Yorkshire|Richmond]] in the [[Yorkshire Dales]].<ref name="I'Anson">{{cite web | url=https://www.ianson-international.org.uk/england/lass.htm | title=The Lass of Richmond Hill | publisher=I'Anson International | access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>

Apart from the great [[Twickenham stadium|rugby stadium at Twickenham]] and the aircraft landing and taking off from [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]], the scene has changed little in two hundred years. The view from Richmond Hill now forms part of the Thames Landscape Strategy which aims to protect and enhance this section of the river corridor into London.<ref name="Thames Landscape Strategy">{{cite web|title=Thames Landscape Strategy | url=https://thames-landscape-strategy.org.uk/| access-date=22 August 2023 }}</ref>

A broad, gravelled walk runs along the crest of the hill and is set back off the road, lined with benches, allowing pedestrians an uninterrupted view across the Thames valley with visitors' information boards describing points of interest. Sloping down to the River Thames are the [[Terrace garden|Terrace Gardens]] that were laid out in the 1880s and were extended to the river some 40 years later.<ref name=NHLEBuccleuch>{{NHLE|num=1001551|desc=Terrace and Buccleuch Gardens |date = 24 August 2002|access-date=22 July 2020}}</ref>

A commanding feature on the hill is the former [[The Royal Star and Garter Home, Richmond|Royal Star and Garter Home]]; in 2013 it was sold for development and converted into residential apartments.<ref name="Sale">{{cite news | url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/10340460.Royal_Star_and_Garter_home_sold_for___50m/?ref=mc| title=Developer buys Royal Star and Garter for £50m |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=5 April 2025 |author=Dyduch, Amy}}</ref> During the [[First World War]] an old hotel on this site, the [[Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond|Star and Garter]], which had been a popular place of entertainment in the 18th and 19th centuries but had closed in 1906, was taken over and used as a [[military hospital]].<ref name="Lost">{{cite web | url=https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/royalstarandgarter.html | title=Royal Star and Garter Home | work=Lost Hospitals of London | date = November 2013|access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref> in the early 1920s it was replaced by a new building providing accommodation and nursing facilities for 180 seriously injured servicemen. This was sold in 2013 after the [[Royal Star & Garter Homes|charitable trust running the home]] concluded that the building no longer met modern requirements and could not be easily or economically upgraded. The trust opened an additional home in [[Solihull]], West Midlands, and the remaining residents in Richmond moved in 2013 to a new purpose-built building in [[Surbiton]].<ref name="Move">{{cite news | url=http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/10640013.Residents_move_into_new_Royal_Star_and_Garter_home_in_Surbiton/ | title=Residents move into new Royal Star and Garter home in Surbiton | work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |date=29 August 2013 | access-date=13 August 2015 | author=Sharman, Jon}}</ref>

===Richmond Park===
{{Main|Richmond Park}}
[[File:Two deer at Richmond Park, London.jpg|thumb|[[Fallow deer]] in [[Richmond Park]]]]
At the top of [[Richmond Hill, London|Richmond Hill]], opposite the former Royal Star and Garter Home, sits the [[Richmond Park#Gates|Richmond Gate]] entrance to [[Richmond Park]]. The park is a [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve]],<ref name=NNR>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-londons-national-nature-reserves/londons-national-nature-reserves|title= London's National Nature Reserves |publisher= [[Natural England]]|date= 12 November 2021|access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref> a [[Special Area of Conservation]] (SAC),<ref name="JNCC">{{cite web | url= https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030246 | title=Richmond Park | publisher=[[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]] | access-date=6 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="Management Plan 16-29">{{cite web | url=https://www.royalparks.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/41767/richmond-park-management-plan.pdf | title=Strategic Framework | publisher=[[The Royal Parks]] | work=Richmond Park Management Plan | date=January 2008 | access-date=2 February 2015 | archive-date=2 February 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202164014/https://www.royalparks.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/41767/richmond-park-management-plan.pdf }}</ref> and a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERL|publisher= [[Natural England]]|title= Map of Richmond Park SSSI|access-date = 1 June 2023}}</ref><ref name= "SSSI"/>  The largest of [[The Royal Parks#Parks|London's Royal Parks]],<ref name="TRP">{{Cite web |title=London's Royal Parks |url=https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks |access-date=4 July 2024 |publisher=[[The Royal Parks]]}}</ref> it was created by Charles I in 1634 as a [[Deer park (England)|deer park]] and now has over 600 [[red deer|red]] and [[fallow deer]]. Richmond Gate remains open to traffic between dawn and dusk.

[[Richmond Park#Viewpoints|King Henry's Mound]], a Grade II listed<ref name="Mound listing">{{NHLE|num=1457267|desc=King Henry VIII's Mound, Richmond Park|access-date= 18 September 2020 |date=27 May 2020}}</ref> [[Neolithic]] [[tumulus|burial barrow]],<ref name="Myths">{{cite journal | url= https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/wordpress/two-incorrect-myths-concerning-richmond-park/|title='Sheene Chase' and 'King Henry VIII's Mound': two incorrect myths concerning Richmond Park | author=Cloake, John | journal=Richmond History: Journal of the Richmond Local History Society | year=2014 | volume=35|pages=38–40 | author-link=John Cloake }}</ref> is the highest point within the park. From the mound there is a protected view, established in 1710, of [[St Paul's Cathedral]] in the [[City of London]] over {{convert|10|mi|km}} to the east. At various times the mound's name has been connected with Henry VIII or with his father Henry VII.<ref name="Myths"/> However, there is no evidence to support the legend that Henry VIII stood on the mound to watch for the sign from St Paul's that [[Anne Boleyn]] had been executed at the [[Tower of London|Tower]] and that he was then free to marry [[Jane Seymour]].<ref name="Myths"/>

King Henry's Mound is in the grounds of [[Pembroke Lodge]], which is Grade II listed.<ref name="PB Listing">{{National Heritage List for England |num=1263437 |desc=Pembroke Lodge|date = 25 May 1983|access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref> In 1847 this house became the home of the then [[Prime Minister]], [[Lord John Russell]],<ref name="Fletcher Jones">{{cite book |author= Fletcher Jones, Pamela |date=1972 |title=Richmond Park: Portrait of a Royal Playground |publisher=[[Phillimore & Co Ltd]] |isbn=978-0-8503-3497-5 |page=41}}</ref> who conducted much government business there and entertained [[Queen Victoria]], foreign royalty, aristocrats, writers ([[Dickens]], [[Thackeray]], [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow|Longfellow]], [[Tennyson]]) and other notable people of the time, including [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]. It was later the childhood home of Lord John Russell's grandson, the philosopher, mathematician and social critic [[Bertrand Russell]].<ref name="Autobiography">{{cite book |last=Russell |first=Bertrand |author-link=Bertrand Russell |date=1967 |title=The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell 1872–1914 |url=https://archive.org/details/autobiographyofb0002russ |url-access=registration |publisher=[[George Allen & Unwin Ltd]] |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/autobiographyofb0002russ/page/19 19]|isbn=9780049210103 }}</ref> It is now a popular restaurant with views across the [[Thames Valley]].

Built as a [[Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom#Hunting lodge|hunting lodge]] for [[George II of Great Britain|George II]] by the architect [[Roger Morris (1695–1749)|Roger Morris]], [[White Lodge]] was completed in 1730. Its many famous residents have included members of the Royal Family. The future king [[Edward VIII]] was born at White Lodge in 1894;<ref>{{cite web |access-date = 27 December 2023|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol3/pp533-546 |title=Parishes: Richmond (anciently Sheen) |editor=[[Henry Elliot Malden|Malden, H E]] |publisher=[[Institute of Historical Research]] |year=1911 |work=A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3}}</ref> his brother [[George VI|Prince Albert, Duke of York (the future George VI)]] and [[Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother|the Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother)]] lived there in the 1920s. The [[Royal Ballet School]] (formerly Sadler's Wells Ballet) has been based since 1955<ref>{{cite book |page= 201|author= Cloake, John|year=1996 |title=The Palaces and Parks of Richmond and Kew 2: Richmond Lodge and the Kew Palaces |publisher= [[The History Press|Phillimore & Co Ltd]] |oclc=36045530 |ol=8627654M |isbn=978-1860770234|author-link=John Cloake }}</ref> at the lodge, where younger ballet students continue to be trained.

Also in the park and Grade II listed is [[Thatched House Lodge]], which is still a royal residence. Since 1963 it has been the home of [[Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy]], a first cousin of [[Queen Elizabeth II]]. General [[Dwight D Eisenhower]], who later became [[President of the United States]], lived there during the [[Second World War]].<ref name="Weinreb">{{cite encyclopedia | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wN_H-__MBpYC&q=eisenhower+thatched+lodge&pg=PA914 | title= Thatched House Lodge|encyclopedia=[[The London Encyclopaedia]] | publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]] | author1=Weinreb, Ben | author2= Hibbert, Christopher|author3= Keay, Julia|author4= Keay, John|year=1983 | access-date = 16 February 2021|location=London | pages=914 | isbn=978-1-4050-4924-5| author1-link= Ben Weinreb|author2-link = Christopher Hibbert|author4-link = John Keay}}</ref>

===Museums and galleries===
[[File:Richmond Old Town Hall and Museum (London).jpg|thumb|[[Old Town Hall, Richmond|Richmond's Old Town Hall]], which now houses Richmond Reference Library, the [[Museum of Richmond]] and the Riverside Gallery]]
{{Main|Museum of Richmond}}
The '''Museum of Richmond''', in [[Old Town Hall, Richmond|Richmond's Old Town Hall]], close to Richmond Bridge, has displays relating to the history of Richmond, Ham, Petersham and Kew. Its rotating [[exhibition]]s,<ref name="Museum gems">{{cite news | url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/726824.elizabeth-i-letter-among-museum-gems/ | title=Elizabeth I letter among museum gems | work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] | date=7 April 2006 | access-date=8 May 2023 | author=Farquharson, Hannah | location=London}}</ref> education activities and a programme of events cover the whole of the modern borough. The museum's highlights include 16th-century glass from [[Richmond Palace]] and a painting, ''The Terrace and View from Richmond Hill, Surrey'' by [[Netherlands|Dutch]] draughtsman and painter [[Leonard Knyff]] (1650–1722), which is part of the Richmond upon Thames Borough Art Collection.<ref name="Art UK Knyff">{{cite web | url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-terrace-and-view-from-richmond-hill-surrey-87353| title=The Terrace and View from Richmond Hill, Surrey | publisher=[[Art UK]] | access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> Admission to the museum is free.<ref name="Visit">{{cite web | url=https://www.visitrichmond.co.uk/outdoor-activities/museum-of-richmond-p1581161 | title=Museum of Richmond |work=VisitRichmond | access-date=13 September 2025}}</ref>

The [https://web.archive.org/web/20130403222649/http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/leisure_and_culture/arts/riverside_gallery.htm '''Riverside Gallery'''], also at the Old Town Hall, features temporary exhibitions by local artists including paintings, prints and photographs. Admission is free.

===Theatres and cinemas===
[[File:Richmond Theatre, London.jpg|thumb|Richmond Lending Library and [[Richmond Theatre (London)|Richmond Theatre]]]]
Richmond has two theatres. [[Richmond Theatre (London)|Richmond Theatre]] on Little Green is a Grade II* listed late [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] structure designed by [[Frank Matcham]]<ref name="NHLEMatcham">{{National Heritage List for England |num=1065384|desc=Richmond Theatre|date =28 June 1972|access-date=5 April 2025}}</ref>  and restored and extended by [[Carl Toms]] in 1990. The theatre has a weekly schedule of plays and [[musical theatre|musicals]], usually given by professional touring companies, and pre-[[West End theatre|West End]] shows can sometimes be seen. There is a Christmas and New Year [[pantomime]] tradition and many of Britain's greatest [[music hall]] and pantomime performers have appeared here.

Close to [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond railway station]] is the [[Orange Tree Theatre]] which was founded in 1971 in a room above the Orange Tree [[pub]].<ref name="Richmond's Theatres">{{cite web | url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/media/6322/local_history_richmond_theatres.pdf | title=Richmond's Theatres | publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] | work=Local History Notes | access-date=20 March 2024}}</ref> As audience numbers increased, there was pressure to find a more accommodating space and, in 1991, the company moved to its current premises within a converted primary school.<ref name="Richmond's Theatres"/>   The 172-seat theatre was built specifically as a [[theatre-in-the-round]]. Exclusively presenting its own productions, it has acquired a national reputation for the quality of its work for staging new plays, and for discovering undeservedly forgotten old plays and neglected classics.<ref name="Orange Tree">{{cite web | url= https://www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/about/about-us| title=About us | publisher=[[Orange Tree Theatre]] | access-date=9 May 2024}}</ref>

The town has two cinemas, the [[arthouse]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20090630022624/http://www.curzoncinemas.com/whats_on/all_times/curzon_richmond Curzon] in Water Lane and an [[Odeon Cinema, Richmond|Odeon cinema]] with a total of seven screens in two locations, the foyer of one having the accolade of being the only [[high street]] building visible from Richmond Bridge, and the second set being situated nearby in Red Lion Street. The Odeon on Hill Street, built in 1930, is in [[Art Deco#Architecture|Art Deco]] style and is Grade II listed.<ref name="Odeon listing">{{NHLE|num=1254263|desc=Odeon Cinema, Hill Street|access-date= 1 January 2022 |date=26 March 1990}}</ref>

===Historic public houses===
[[File:Richmond Green, London.jpg|thumb|right|The Cricketers & The Prince's Head at [[Richmond Green]]]]
There are numerous public houses and bars throughout Richmond's town centre, and along the river and up the hill, with enough variety to cater to most tastes. One of the oldest is The Cricketers, serving beer since 1770, though the original building was burned down in 1844. It was soon replaced by the present building. [[Samuel Whitbread (1720–1796)|Samuel Whitbread]], founder of [[Whitbread Brewery]], part-owned it with the Collins family who had a brewery in Water Lane, close to the old palace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/richmond_green_brewers_lane_to_paved_court|title= Richmond Green properties: Brewers Lane to Paved Court| work=Local history notes|date=22 October 2020|publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]|access-date= 29 February 2024}}</ref> Grade II listed pubs include the [[White Cross (Richmond)|White Cross]],<ref name=EH_01>{{NHLE|desc=White Cross Hotel| num= 1250279|date = 25 May 1983 |access-date=18 May 2015}}</ref> the [[Old Ship (Richmond)|Old Ship]]<ref name=EH_02>{{NHLE|desc=Old Ship Public House|num= 1286531| date = 25 June 1983|access-date=10 January 2025}}</ref> and the [[Britannia (Richmond)|Britannia]].<ref name=EH_03>{{NHLE|desc=Britannia public house|num= 1358054| date = 25 June 1983|access-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

===Restaurants and cafes===
Many of the major restaurant chains can be found within 500 metres of Richmond Bridge. There are also plenty of privately owned restaurants with culinary offerings from around the world, including French, German, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Thai.

The Bingham Riverhouse hotel<ref>[https://www.binghamriverhouse.com/ Bingham Riverhouse]</ref> was awarded its first [[Michelin Guide|Michelin star]] in 2010.<ref name="Michelin">{{cite web | url=https://designrestaurants.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/the-full-list-of-2010-michelin-star-restaurants-in-the-uk/ | title=The full list of 2010 Michelin star restaurants in the UK | publisher=Design Restaurants | date=11 February 2010 | access-date=29 August 2014}}</ref> Overlooking the Thames, it is in a Grade II listed building dating from about 1760.<ref name="Bingham listing">{{National Heritage List for England |num=1065332 |desc=Bingham House Hotel|date = 10 January 1950|access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>

==Societies==
{{Infobox organization
| name                = Richmond Local History Society
| image               = RLHS logo for web2.png
| image_border        = 
| size                = 300px
| caption             = 
| map                 = 
| msize               = 
| mcaption            = 
| abbreviation        = RLHS
|formation            = 1985<ref group="nb">The Society originated as the History and Archaeology Section of The Richmond Society, launched in April 1975. It became an independent society in 1985.<br />{{cite web | url=https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/wordpress/what-we-do/our-history/#accJohnCloake | title=Forty Years of Richmond History | publisher=Richmond Local History Society | date=July 2014 | access-date=9 September 2018| author=Cloake, John| author-link=John Cloake }}</ref>
| founder             = [[John Cloake]]
| extinction          = 
| type                = 
|status               = [[registered charity]] (no. 292907)<ref name="RLHS charity"/>
| headquarters        = 
| location            = 
|region_served        = Richmond, [[Kew]], [[Petersham, London|Petersham]] and [[Ham, London|Ham]]<ref name="RLHS charity"/>
| membership          = 400
| language            = 
| leader_title        = Chair
| leader_name         = Dr [[Simon Targett]]
| main_organ          = ''Richmond History'' (journal); ''The Richmond Local History Society Members' Newsletter'' (published three times a year)
| parent_organization = 
| affiliations        = 
| num_staff           = none
| num_volunteers      = 
|budget               = £12,290<ref name="RLHS charity">{{Cite web |date=31 December 2023 |title=Richmond Local History Society |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/292907/financial-history|access-date=13 July 2025 |website=[[Charity Commission]]}}</ref>
| website             = {{URL|https://richmondhistory.org.uk/}}
| remarks             = 
}}

{{Stack|{{Infobox organization
| name                = The Richmond Society
| image               = 2021_Richmond_Society_logo.png
| image_border        = 
| size                = 
| caption             = 
| map                 = 
| msize               = 
| mcaption            = 
| abbreviation        = 
| formation           = 1957
| extinction          = 
| type                = [[civic society]] and [[conservation group]]
|status               = [[charitable incorporated organisation]] (no. 1169079)<ref name="Charity Commission">{{cite web | url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5073791/governance | title=The Richmond Society: Governance | website=[[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]] | access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref>
| purpose             = 
| headquarters        = 
| location            = 
|region_served        = Richmond, [[Kew]], [[Petersham, London|Petersham]] and [[Ham, London|Ham]]<ref name="Charity Commission"/>
| membership          = 1100
| language            = 
| leader_title        = Chair
| leader_name         = Louise Fluker
|main_organ           = ''The Richmond Society Quarterly Newsletter''<ref name="Newsletter">{{cite web | url=https://www.richmondsociety.org.uk/newsletter/ | title=Newsletter | publisher=The Richmond Society | access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref>
| parent_organization = 
| affiliations        = 
| num_staff           = none
| num_volunteers      = 
|budget               = £91,000<ref name="Trustees'Report">{{Cite web |date=12 November 2024 |title=Trustees' Report and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 |url=https://www.richmondsociety.org.uk/docs/annual-reports/Richmond_Society_2024_Rep_New.pdf |access-date=13 February 2025 |website=[[The Richmond Society]]}}</ref>
| website             = {{URL|https://richmondsociety.org.uk/}}
| remarks             = 
}}}}

[https://richmondhistory.org.uk/ The '''Richmond Local History Society'''] explores the local history of Richmond, Kew, Petersham and Ham.<ref name="RLHS charity"/> It organises a programme of talks on history topics<ref name="Jazz">{{cite news | url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/11839677.richmond-local-history-society-jazzing-things-up-for-new-talk/ | title=Richmond Local History Society jazzing things up for new talk | work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] | date=8 March 2015 | access-date=8 May 2023 | author=Cox, Laura}}</ref> and visits to buildings of historical interest.<ref name="Hebert">{{cite news | url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/nostalgia/4050842.print/ | title=Richmond's Victorian Gothic gem | work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] | date=15 January 2009 | access-date=29 January 2018 | author=Hébert, Gail}}</ref> The Society publishes a newsletter three times a year, an indexed journal (''[https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/wordpress/journal-2/ Richmond History]'') and other publications.<ref name="Richmond History">{{cite web | url=https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/wordpress/| website= Richmond Local History Society|title= Welcome to the Richmond Local History Society| access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref>

[https://www.richmondsociety.org.uk/ '''The Richmond Society'''] is a [[civic society]] and [[conservation group]] which was founded in 1957 by a group of local residents, originally to fight against the proposal to install modern lamp posts around Richmond Green. It acts as a [[Advocacy group|pressure group]] concerned with preserving Richmond's natural and built environment, monitoring and influencing development proposals and presenting annual awards<ref name="yearly awards">{{cite news | url= https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/8478534.richmond-society-hands-out-yearly-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-awards/| title=Richmond Society hands out yearly good, the bad, and the ugly awards | work= [[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] | date=31 October 2010 | access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref> for buildings and other schemes which make a positive contribution to Richmond. It also organises meetings on topics of local interest and a programme of guided walks and visits, and publishes a quarterly newsletter.<ref name="Newsletter"/><ref name="RichSoc">{{cite web | url=https://www.richmondsociety.org.uk/ | title=We love Richmond | publisher=The Richmond Society | access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref> The Society's patrons are: [[Anita Anand (journalist)|Anita Anand]]; Professor [[Ian Bruce (marketing)|Ian Bruce]]; [[John Lee, Baron Lee of Trafford|John, Lord Lee of Trafford]]; Sir [[Trevor McDonald]]; Ronny, Baroness van Dedem; and [[Alan Watson, Baron Watson of Richmond|Lord Watson]] of Richmond.<ref name="Richmond Society">{{cite news | url=https://twickenhamtribune.com/PDF/Twickenham%20Tribune%200248.pdf | title=New Richmond Society Patron: Anita Anand|work=Twickenham and Richmond Tribune| date=7 August 2021 | issue=248 | page= 9|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref>

==Leisure activities==
With a third of the borough being green and open space, Richmond has much to offer in the way of leisure activities.

===Boating===
[[Thames skiff|Skiff]]s (fixed seat boats) can be hired by the hour from local [[Mark Edwards (boatbuilder)|boat builders]] close to the bridge, with opportunities to row upstream towards the historic properties [[Ham House]] and [[Marble Hill House]]. Richmond Canoe Club,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.richmondcanoeclub.comb|title= Richmond Canoe Club|access-date = 3 August 2025}}</ref> founded in 1944 and now one of Britain's biggest [[canoe]] clubs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitrichmond.co.uk/outdoor-activities/on-the-river/canoe-clubs| title=Canoe clubs in Richmond upon Thames: Richmond Canoe Club|website=VisitRichmond|access-date = 13 July 2025}}</ref> is also on the towpath south of Richmond Bridge.

===Cycling===
Richmond is part of the [[London Cycle Network]], offering on and off-road cycle paths throughout the area, including along the [[Thames Path|Thames towpath]] and in Richmond Park.<ref name="Cycling">{{cite web | url=https://www.visitrichmond.co.uk/outdoor-activities/cycling| title=Cycling in Richmond | publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] | work=VisitRichmond | access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref>

===Equestrian activities===
[[File:Polo at Ham Polo Club.jpg|thumb|Polo match at the [[Ham Polo Club]]]]
Richmond Park also has [[bridle path]]s, and horses can be rented from a number of [[stable]]s around the [[perimeter]] of the park.

[[Ham Polo Club]] is on the Petersham Road at the bottom of Richmond Hill. The club was established in 1926 and is now the only [[polo]] club in London; it is popular with [[picnic]]kers during the summer months.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/3647128.nostalgia-polos-glamorous-survivor-in-ham/|title=Nostalgia: Polo's glamorous survivor in Ham|work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]]|date = 4 September 2008|access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>

===Field sports===
Old Deer Park provides open recreation areas, football, rugby and other pitches, and has a leisure centre, [[Pools on the Park]]. The leisure centre is run by the borough council, and has 33m indoor and outdoor pools and a fitness centre.

The park also includes the [[Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rmsgc.co.uk/|title= Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club|access-date = 3 August 2025}}</ref> with both golf and [[pitch and putt]] courses, and the Richmond Athletic Ground, home to [[Richmond F.C.]] and [[London Scottish F.C.|London Scottish]] rugby clubs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.richmondfc.co.uk/|title=Richmond F.C.|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://londonscottish.com/|title=London London Scottish F.C.|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>

An additional sports ground at Old Deer Park is home to both the [[Richmond Cricket Club (London)|Richmond Cricket Club]] and the [[London Welsh Amateur|London Welsh]] rugby union club, as well as tennis courts and a bowling green.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://richmond.play-cricket.com/home|title=Richmond CC, Middx|access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.londonwelshrfc.com/|title=London Welsh RFC|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref> The Prince's Head Cricket Club holds fixtures on [[Richmond Green]] throughout the summer.<ref name="Plummer">{{Cite web |url=https://princeshead.play-cricket.com/home|title= Prince's Head CC |website=Play-Cricket |access-date=30 August 2022}}</ref>

[[Richmond Hockey Club]], a founder member of [[England Hockey]], was established in 1874 and was based from then until 2001 at [[Old Deer Park]]. It now plays at the [[Polytechnic Stadium (London)|University of Westminster Sports Grounds]] in [[Chiswick]] and competes in the [[Men's England Hockey League]] and the [[London Hockey League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.richmondhockeyclub.com/|title=Richmond Hockey Club|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/clubs/richmond-hc|title=England Hockey – Richmond Hockey Club |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>

===Running===
[[5K run|5K]] [[Parkrun]] events take place every Saturday morning at [[Old Deer Park]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Deer Park parkrun |url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/olddeerpark/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |website=Parkrun UK}}</ref> and [[Richmond Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richmond parkrun |url=https://www.parkrun.org.uk/richmond/ |access-date=30 August 2022 |website=Parkrun UK}}</ref>

==Education==
{{Main|List of schools and colleges in Richmond upon Thames}}

==Demography and housing==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2011 Census homes
!Ward !!Detached !!Semi-detached!!Terraced!!Flats and<br>apartments!!Caravans/temporary/<br>mobile homes/houseboats!!Shared between<br>households<ref name=ons>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/|title=Neighbourhood Statistics|publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]]|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-date=11 February 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{London ward populations|reference}}
|-
|North Richmond|| 142 || 1,093 || 1,546 || 1,963 || 0 || 27
|-
|South Richmond|| 384 || 653 || 1,092 || 2,995 || 0 || 44
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2011 Census households
!Ward !!Population !!Households !!% Owned outright !!% Owned with a loan!!Area<br>(hectares)<ref name=ons/>
|-
|North Richmond||10,649 || 5,168 || 26 || 30 || 272
|-
|South Richmond||10,820 || 4,047 || 28 || 24 || 266
|}

===German residents===
The town and the [[Richmond-upon-Thames|borough of Richmond]] have been popular destinations for German [[expatriates]] and [[Germans in the United Kingdom#Population and distribution|German British]] since at least the 19th century. Richmond resident Sir [[Max Waechter]], a German-born businessman and advocate of a federal Europe, donated [[Glover's Island]] to the local council in 1900. The [[German School London]] opened in nearby Petersham in 1971, continuing the popularity of Richmond for German families settling in London.<ref>Moore, Fiona (2012). "The German School in London, UK: Fostering the Next Generation of National Cosmopolitans?" (Chapter 4) in Coles, Anne and Fechter, Anne-Meike (editors). ''Gender and Family Among Transnational Professionals'' (Routledge International Studies of Women and Place). [[Routledge]]. {{ISBN|1134156200}}; {{ISBN|9781134156207}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Richmond Station London.jpg|thumb|[[Richmond station (London)|Richmond station]]]]
[[File:A316 Road.jpg|thumb|The [[A316]] road in Richmond cuts through [[Old Deer Park]], separating the town from most of the park.]]
According to the 2011 census, thirty per cent of Richmond households do not have a car or van. This figure is well above the borough average of 24%, which may be related to the excellent transport links in the area and the lower proportion of families as reported in the 2001 census. A half of households have one car, in line with the borough average.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=GLA Intelligence: Census Information Scheme|date=January 2014|title=2011 Census snapshot: Car and Van Availability|url=https://www.haveringdata.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2011-census-car-and-van-availability.pdf|access-date= 18 May 2025|pages=14}}</ref>

===Rail===
* [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond station]]
** [[London Underground]] ([[District line]]) towards [[Kew Gardens station (London)|Kew Gardens]] and [[Upminster tube station|Upminster]]
** [[London Overground]] ([[Mildmay line]]) towards Kew Gardens, [[Willesden Junction station|Willesden Junction]] and [[Stratford station|Stratford]]
** [[Waterloo to Reading line]] and three branch line services call at the station en route to [[Windsor & Eton Riverside railway station|Windsor]] and [[Weybridge railway station|Weybridge]]. One service calls at Richmond station on its return to the central London terminus via [[Kingston (London) railway station|Kingston upon Thames]].
* [[North Sheen station]]
** [[South Western Railway]] services on the Waterloo to Reading line

===Buses===
Richmond is served by a number of [[Transport for London]] bus routes.<ref name="Bayley">{{Cite web |last=Bayley |first=Sian |date=7 December 2020 |title=Shake-up of multiple bus routes in Richmond and beyond |url=https://richmond.nub.news/n/shake-up-of-multiple-bus-routes-in-richmond-and-beyond |access-date=24 April 2021 |website=Richmond Nub News}}</ref>

===Roads===
Richmond's main [[arterial road]], the [[A316 road|A316]], running between Chiswick and the [[M3 motorway (Great Britain)|M3 motorway]], bisects Old Deer Park and the town to its north. The town's only [[dual carriageway]], it was built in the 1930s, cutting off Richmond from Kew and entailing the construction of [[Twickenham Bridge]]. This road expands into three lanes and motorway status three and five miles west respectively.

The town centre is on the [[A307 road|A307]], which used to be the main link between London and north-west Surrey, and was previously one of the main routes of the [[Portsmouth Road]] before that was diverted; and on the [[A305 road|A305]], which runs from East Sheen and over [[Richmond Bridge, London|Richmond Bridge]] to Twickenham.

==Nearest hospitals==
* [[Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton]] is a community hospital in [[Roehampton]] in the [[London Borough of Wandsworth]]. It is run by [[St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust]].

The nearest acute hospitals, both of which include [[Emergency department|accident and emergency departments]] and [[Childbirth#Facilities|maternity]] units, are:
* [[Kingston Hospital]] in [[Kingston upon Thames]], which is managed by the [[Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust]].
* [[West Middlesex University Hospital|West Middlesex Hospital]] in [[Isleworth]], which is operated by the [[Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hospitals join forces in bigger, better organisation|url=http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/about-us/news/hospitals-join-forces-in-bigger-better-organisation|publisher=Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust|access-date=9 September 2015}}</ref>

==Places of worship==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Denomination/affiliation !! Address !! class=unsortable|Website !!class=unsortable| Image
|-
| [[Bethlehem Chapel, Richmond]] || Independent [[Calvinist]]|| Church Terrace, Richmond TW10 6SE || [https://www.bethlehem-chapel.org/index.html/ website]||[[File: Bethlehem Chapel.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Christian Fellowship in Richmond]] || [[Evangelical Alliance]]|| [[Halford House]], 27 Halford Road, Richmond TW10 6AW || [https://halfordhouse.org.uk/ website]||
|-
| [[Duke Street Church, Richmond]] || [[Conservative Evangelicalism]] || Duke Street, Richmond TW9 1DH || [https://www.dukestreetchurch.com/ website]||[[File: Richmond, Duke Street Church.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Ebenezer Strict Baptist Chapel, Richmond]] || [[Reformed Baptists#Strict Baptists|Strict Baptist]] || 17 Jocelyn Road, Richmond TW9 2TJ ||||[[File: Ebenezer Strict Baptist Chapel, Jocelyn Road, Richmond.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[First Church of Christ, Scientist, Richmond]] || [[Christian Science]] || 35 Sheen Road, Richmond TW9 1AD || [https://web.archive.org/web/20130218040722/http://www.fccsrichmond.org.uk/index.php website]||[[File:First Church of Christ Scientist Richmond - geograph.org.uk - 1070610.jpg|120px]]

|-
| [[Holy Trinity, Richmond]] || [[Church of England]] || Sheen Park, Richmond TW9 1UP || [https://www.htrichmond.org.uk/ website]||[[File:Holy Trinity church, Richmond (geograph 1975196).jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Life Church, Richmond]] || Evangelical Alliance || [[The Vineyard, Richmond]] TW10 6AQ ||[https://www.lifechurchrichmond.uk/ website]|| [[File:The Vineyard Life Church, Richmond.jpg|120px]]
|-
|[[Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Richmond]]|| [[Roman Catholic]] || 222 Sheen Road, Richmond TW10 5AN|| [https://sites.google.com/site/ourladyqueenofpeacechurch/ website]|| [[File:Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Richmond.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Raleigh Road United Church]] || [[Methodist]] & [[United Reformed Church|United Reformed]] || Raleigh Road, Richmond TW9 2DX || [https://raleighroadunitedchurch.uk/ website]||[[File:Raleigh Road United Church - geograph.org.uk - 1276899.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Richmond & Putney Unitarian Church|Richmond and Putney Unitarian Church]] || [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]] || Ormond Road, Richmond TW10 6TH || [https://www.rpuc.org.uk/ website]||[[File:Richmond and Putney Unitarian Church 01.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Friends Meeting House, Richmond|Richmond Quaker Meeting House]] || [[Quakers]] || 1 Retreat Road, Richmond TW9 1NN || [https://richmond-upon-thames.quakermeeting.org/ website]||
|-
| [[Richmond Synagogue]] || [[Orthodox Judaism]] || Lichfield Gardens, Richmond TW9 1AP || [https://richmondsynagogue.org.uk/ website]||
|-
| [[St Elizabeth of Portugal Church]]|| Roman Catholic || The Vineyard, Richmond TW10 6AQ || [https://www.catholicrichmond.org/#1/ website]|| [[File:Richmond St Elizabeth of Portugal RC Church 001.jpg|120px]]
|-
|[[Hickey's Almshouses|Chapel of St Francis, Hickey's Almshouses]]|| Church of England || Sheen Road, Richmond TW9 1XB || || [[File:Almshouses, East Sheen - geograph.org.uk - 1227748.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[St John the Divine, Richmond]] || Church of England || Kew Road, Richmond TW9 2TN || [https://richmondteamministry.org/st-john-the-divine/ website]||[[File:St John's Church, Richmond.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[St Mary Magdalene, Richmond]] || Church of England || Red Lion Street, Richmond TW9 1RE || [https://richmondteamministry.org/st-mary-magdalene/ website]||[[File: Richmond St Mary Magdalene's Church 003.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[St Matthias Church, Richmond]] || Church of England || Friars Stile Road, Richmond TW10 6PN || [https://richmondteamministry.org/st-matthias/ website]|| [[File:St Matthias Church Richmond Greater London front view.jpg|120px]]
|}

==Almshouses==
Richmond has nine groups of [[almshouses]] and a tenth is scheduled to open later in 2025.<ref name="LBRUT Doughty"/> Six are of historical interest and some were founded in the 16th century. They are all managed by The [[Richmond Charities]], which also manages [[Candler Almshouses]] and Wright's Almshouses in [[Twickenham]], Christchurch Road Almshouses in East Sheen and Colston's Almshouses and Juxon's Almshouses in Mortlake.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Location !!Number of<br>almshouses!!class=unsortable|History !!class=unsortable|Image
|-
| [[Bishop Duppa's Almshouses, Richmond|Bishop Duppa's Almshouses]]||[[The Vineyard, Richmond|The Vineyard]]||10||The original almshouses were founded in 1661 (on [[Richmond Hill, London|Richmond Hill]]) by [[Brian Duppa]], [[Bishop of Winchester]]. They were rebuilt in 1851 on the present site and are [[listed building|Grade II listed]].|||[[File:Richmond, Bishop Duppa's Almhouses.jpg|120px]]
|-
|[[Church Estate Almshouses]]||Sheen Road||10||Most of the buildings, designed by William Crawford Stow and now Grade II listed, date from 1843 but the charity that built them is known to have existed in Queen Elizabeth I's time and may have much earlier origins.||[[File: The Church Estate Almshouses, Sheen Road, Richmond- architectural detail (geograph 2316683).jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Hickey's Almshouses]]||Between Sheen Road and St Mary's Grove||50||William Hickey, who died in 1727, left the income of several properties on Richmond Hill in trust to provide pensions for six men and ten women. In 1822 the charity's funds were boosted by a major donation from Elizabeth Doughty. Twenty almshouses, designed by [[Lewis Vulliamy]], and a chapel and two gate lodge cottages, were built in 1834 and are Grade II* listed. The property, which includes another 29 buildings behind the almshouses, now consists of 49 flats and cottages, a laundry and a workshop.||[[File:Almshouses, East Sheen - geograph.org.uk - 1227748.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Houblon's Almshouses]]||Worple Way||11|||Now Grade II* listed, these were founded in 1757 by Rebecca and Susanna Houblon (who built nine almshouses). A further two almshouses were added in 1857.||[[File:HoublonsAlmshouses.jpg|120px| ]]
|-
|[[Michel's Almshouses]]||The Vineyard||17||These were founded in the 17th century by Humphrey Michel. The original ten almshouses, built in 1696, were rebuilt in 1811. Another six almshouses were added in 1858. They are Grade II listed.||[[File:Richmond, Michel's Almshouses.jpg|120px]]
|-
| [[Queen Elizabeth's Almshouses, Richmond|Queen Elizabeth's Almshouses]]|||The Vineyard||4||These were founded by Sir George Wright in 1600 (during Elizabeth I's reign) to house eight poor aged women. Known originally as the "Lower almshouses", they were built in Petersham Road, a few hundred yards south of what is now Bridge Street. By 1767, they were almost derelict. In 1767, William Turner rebuilt the almshouses on land at the top end of his estate in The Vineyard. Funds for the rebuilding were raised by public subscription. The almshouses were rebuilt again in 1857. They were damaged during the Second World War and replaced with four newly built houses in 1955.||[[File:Richmond, Queen Elizabeth's Almshouses.jpg|120px]]
|}
A seventh set of almshouses, [[Benn's Walk]] (now with five almshouses), was built in 1983.<ref name="Benn">{{Cite web |url=https://www.richmondcharities.org.uk/our-almshouses/benns-walk-almshouses |title=Benn's Walk Almshouses |publisher=[[Richmond Charities]] |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref>

An eighth set of almshouses is 10–18 Manning Place (with nine almshouses), just off [[Queen's Road, Richmond|Queen's Road]]. The property was built in 1993 and was purchased by The Richmond Charities in 2017.<ref name="Manning Place">{{Cite web |url=https://www.richmondcharities.org.uk/our-almshouses/manning-place-almshouses |title=Manning Place |publisher=[[Richmond Charities]] |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref>

A ninth set of almshouses, Elizabeth Twining Almshouses (with five almshouses) in Mitre Mews, was opened by [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester]] in April 2025.<ref name="Gloucester">{{Cite web |date=16 April 2025 |title=HRH The Duke of Gloucester unveils new almshouses in Richmond |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/news/news_april_2025/duke_of_gloucester_unveils_almshouses |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]}}</ref><ref name= "Facey">{{cite news| url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/richmond-charities-opens-almshouse-disabled-050000528.html|access-date = 5 December 2024|author= Facey, Liv|title= Richmond Charities opens new almshouse for disabled elderly residents|date = 4 December 2024|work= Sutton and Croydon Guardian|via= [[Yahoo News]]}}</ref><ref name="Twining">{{Cite web |date=13 June 2024 |title=Are you in need of housing? |url=https://www.richmondcharities.org.uk/images/site/files/2024-Richmond_Charities_leaflet_1pp.pdf |access-date=5 December 2024 |website=Richmond Charities}}</ref>

A further set of almshouses, the Elizabeth Doughty Almshouses (with 12 flats), will open on Queen's Road later in 2025.<ref name="LBRUT Doughty">{{Cite web |date=6 November 2024 |title=New almshouses on Queen's Road opening this spring |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/news/news_november_2024/queens_road_almshouses_opening |access-date=5 December 2024 |website=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]}}</ref><ref name="Headlines">{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=Richmond Charities making headlines |url=https://www.almshouses.org/news/richmond-charities-making-headlines/ |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=The Almshouse Association}}</ref>

==Local newspapers==
The ''[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]]'' has been published since 1873.<ref name="History">{{Cite news |title=History of the Richmond & Twickenham Times |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/contactus/history |access-date=8 December 2015}}</ref> The ''Twickenham & Richmond Tribune'', a weekly online newspaper, has been published since 2016.<ref name="Tribune">{{Cite news |title=Twickenham & Richmond Tribune |url=https://twickenhamtribune.com/about.html |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
For centuries, Richmond was home to the country's royal family. It also has a long list of famous residents, both past and present.
* [[List of people from Richmond upon Thames|List of current and former residents of Richmond upon Thames]]

==Film locations==
[[File:White Lodge.jpg|thumb|[[White Lodge, Richmond Park|White Lodge]] in [[Richmond Park]], home of the [[Royal Ballet School]]]]
[[File:Houses_At_Richmond_Green,_London-95369622.jpg|thumb|The south corner of [[Richmond Green]]]]
Richmond is a popular filming location. The [[village green]], divided into [[Richmond Green|The Green and Little Green]], has Georgian splendour, stately listed buildings and paved alleyways leading to the [[high street]]. It is a magnet for film crews, particularly when recreating a city square or row of townhouses of bygone years. In 2011, ''[[The Crimson Petal and the White (TV miniseries)|The Crimson Petal and the White]]'' was filmed there,<ref name="Film Richmond 2010">{{cite journal |url=http://www.richmond.gov.uk/filmrich_news_oct10_aw.pdf |author1=Lewis, Sue |author2=Hillman, Sarah |title=Richmond Stars |journal=Filmrichmond |page=2 |date=October 2010 |access-date=6 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101053/http://www.richmond.gov.uk/filmrich_news_oct10_aw.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> as was ''[[Downton Abbey]]'' in July 2014.<ref name="Film Nov 2014">{{cite journal | url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/filmrichmond_nov_2014.pdf | title=Richmond Stars |author1=Lewis Sue |author2=Hillman, Sarah | journal=Filmrichmond | date=November 2014 | access-date=13 December 2014 | page=2}}</ref> Many other films and TV shows have featured The Green or Little Green, including ''[[Agatha Christie's Poirot]]'',<ref name="Location">{{Cite web |url=https://www.visitrichmond.co.uk/outdoor-activities/richmond-green-p1581491|title=Richmond Green: Film/TV Location |website=VisitRichmond |publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> ''[[Simon Schama's Power of Art]]'' and ''[[Peter Rabbit 2]]''.<ref name="Krause">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/17536570.confirmed-peter-rabbit-2-will-be-filming-in-richmond-next-week/ |title=Peter Rabbit 2 will be filming in Richmond next week|last=Krause |first=Riley |date=29 March 2019 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref>

The [[Apple TV+]] sports comedy television series ''[[Ted Lasso (TV series)|Ted Lasso]]'' is set in Richmond. Several filming sequences take place on The Green,<ref name="Lasso">{{cite AV media |url=https://m.imdb.com/video/vi4010720793?playlistId=tt10986410&ref_=vp_rv_ap_0 |title=Ted Lasso (2020): Official trailer |date=2020}}</ref> Ted Lasso and other characters in the series are shown drinking at the Prince's Head pub (rebranded as The Crown and Anchor)<ref name="People"/><ref name="Fradgley">{{Cite news |last=Fradgley |first=Emma |date=9 July 2023 |title=Ted Lasso filming locations in south London you can visit |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/23643470.ted-lasso-filming-locations-south-london-can-visit/ |access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref> and Ted lives in number 9½ Paved Court (actually No. 11A).<ref name="People">{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/travel/ted-lasso-locations-london-richmond-real-pub-stadium-where-filmed/|title=Football Is (Real) Life! Ted Lasso's Coach Beard Reveals All the Places from the Show You Can Visit in London|author= Schmidt, Mackenzie |date=15 March 2023 |publisher =[[People.com]] |access-date=16 July 2023}}</ref>

[[Richmond Theatre (London)|Richmond Theatre]] ranks as a major film location; it has featured in ''[[The Naked Truth (1957 film)|The Naked Truth]]'' (1957),<ref name= Wilkinson>{{cite web | url=https://www.reelstreets.com/films/naked-truth-the/ | title=Naked Truth, The| work=ReelStreets | access-date=13 February 2025|author1=Wilkinson, Phil |author2=Tunstill, John }}</ref> ''[[Bugsy Malone]]'' (1976), ''[[The Krays (film)|The Krays]]'' (1990), ''[[Evita (1996 film)|Evita]]'' (1996), ''[[Bedazzled (2000 film)|Bedazzled]]'' (2000), ''[[The Hours (film)|The Hours]]'' (2002), ''[[Finding Neverland (film)|Finding Neverland]]'' (2004)<ref name="Neverland">{{cite web | url=https://www.museumofrichmond.com/pdf/Adult_Events_Sept.pdf | title=Wednesday 18th December&nbsp;– Finding Neverland | publisher=[[Museum of Richmond]] | work=Programme of Films, Talks and Events September&nbsp;– December 2013 | access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Wolfman (2010 film)|The Wolfman]]'' (2010).<ref name="2008 Film">{{cite journal | url=http://www.richmond.gov.uk/filmrichmond_summer08_hires-3.pdf | title=Richmond Stars | author1=Lewis, Sue | author2=Hillman, Sarah | journal=Filmrichmond | date=Summer 2008 | access-date=10 March 2015 | page=2 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133359/http://www.richmond.gov.uk/filmrichmond_summer08_hires-3.pdf | archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

===Richmond Park===
[[Richmond Park]] has featured in many films and TV series.
* A [[locomotive]] runs through the park and crashes into a tree in the film ''[[The Titfield Thunderbolt]]'' (1955).<ref name="Screen"/>
* As Chas Devlin in the 1968 film ''[[Performance (film)|Performance]]'', [[James Fox]] crosses Richmond Park in a [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce car]].<ref name="Screen"/><ref name="GrayFilm"/>
* The park was the backdrop for the classic historical film ''[[Anne of the Thousand Days]]'' (1969),<ref name="GrayFilm">{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Richard |date=January 2019 |title=Lights, camera, action! |url=https://www.frp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/21c_Lights_camera_deer.pdf |access-date=31 July 2025 |website=Friends of Richmond Park}}</ref> with [[Richard Burton]] and [[Geneviève Bujold]], which looks back to Richmond Park in the 16th century. The film tells the story of King Henry VIII's courtship of Anne Boleyn and their brief marriage.
* An Indian [[dust storm]] was filmed in the park for the film ''[[Heat and Dust]]'' (1983).<ref name="GrayFilm"/><ref name="Screen">{{cite book | publisher=[[Museum of Richmond]] | author1=Barber, Sue|author2=Heath, Phillippa|editor= Boyes, Valerie | title=Richmond on Screen: Feature Films Shot in the Borough | year=2009 | pages=27}}</ref>
* The [[Royal Ballet School]] in Richmond Park featured in the film ''[[Billy Elliot]]'' (2000).<ref name="Screen"/><ref name="Lydall">{{cite news | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/billy-elliot-v-the-badgers-7086734.html | title=Billy Elliot v the badgers | work=[[Evening Standard]] | date=3 February 2005 | access-date=18 October 2013 | author=Lydall, Ross | location=London}}</ref>
* In 2010, director [[Guy Ritchie]] filmed parts of ''[[Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows]]'' (2011) in the park with [[Robert Downey Jr.]] and [[Jude Law]].<ref name="Holmes">{{cite news | url= https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/8459315.richmond-park-transformed-into-gypsy-camp-as-sherlock-holmes-sequel-starring-robert-downey-jr-as-sherlock-and-jude-law-as-dr-watson-is-filmed/| title=Richmond Park transformed into gypsy camp as Sherlock Holmes sequel starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock and Jude Law as Dr Watson is filmed | work= [[Richmond and Twickenham Times]]|date=18 October 2010 | access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref>
* Some of the scenes from ''[[Into the Woods (film)|Into the Woods]]'' (2014), the [[Disney]] fantasy film featuring [[Meryl Streep]],<ref name="Vincent">{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/10339166/Meryl-Streep-in-Into-The-Woods-first-look.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/10339166/Meryl-Streep-in-Into-The-Woods-first-look.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Meryl Streep in Into The Woods: first look | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=27 September 2013 | access-date=13 February 2014 | author=Vincent, Alice}}{{cbignore}}</ref> were filmed in the park.<ref name="Meryl Streep">{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03qflhm | title=Meryl Streep; Oscar Isaac; Sundance festival; National Trust film locations | publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]] | work=[[The Film Programme]] | date=26 January 2014|access-date = 11 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="Magical">{{cite news | title=Streep praises 'magical' park | work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] | date=7 February 2014 }}</ref>

As well as a location for films, Richmond Park is regularly featured in television programmes, corporate videos and fashion shoots. It has made an appearance on ''[[Blue Peter]]'', ''[[Inside Out (2002 TV programme)|Inside Out]]'' (the BBC regional current affairs programme) and BBC ''[[Springwatch]]''.<ref name="GrayFilm"/> In 2014 it was featured in a video commissioned by [[Richmond Park#The Hearsum Collection|The Hearsum Collection]]<ref name="Hearsum video">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/hqzgc7b_Ky8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304013150/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqzgc7b_Ky8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqzgc7b_Ky8 | title=The Heritage Pavilion Video | publisher=[[YouTube]] | date=11 November 2004 | access-date=3 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and in 2017 in a television film featuring and narrated by [[David Attenborough]], which was produced by the [[Richmond Park#Friends of Richmond Park|Friends of Richmond Park]].<ref name="Rutter">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/15247479.sir-david-attenboroughs-new-film-about-richmond-park-asks-its-millions-of-visitors-to-tread-lightly/ |title=Sir David Attenborough's new film about Richmond Park asks its millions of visitors to tread lightly |last=Rutter |first=Calum |date=26 April 2017 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|London}}
* [[List of people from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames#People in Richmond town and Richmond Park|List of people in Richmond town and Richmond Park]]
* [[Richmond Park]]
* [[Richmond Green]]
* [[Richmond Palace]]
* [[Richmond Bridge, London]]
* [[Museum of Richmond]]
* [[Old Deer Park]]
* [[Old Deer Park cricket ground]]
* [[Royal Star and Garter Home, Richmond]]
* [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
* [[Richmond Hill, London]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [[John Cloake|Cloake, John]] (1990). ''Richmond's Great Monastery: The Charterhouse of Jesus of Bethlehem of Shene''. London: [[Richmond, London#Societies|Richmond Local History Society]]. {{ISBN|0-9508198-6-7}}.
* Cloake, John (1991). ''Richmond Past: A Visual History of Richmond, Kew, Petersham and Ham''. London: Historical Publications. {{ISBN|0-948667-14-1}}. Recounts the history of the Richmond area&nbsp;– including [[Kew]], [[Petersham, London|Petersham]] and [[Ham, London|Ham]]&nbsp;– from 1501 and is illustrated with drawings, paintings and photographs.
* {{Cite book|author= Cloake, John| edition= second|date= 1993|title= The Growth of Richmond|location= London |publisher=Richmond Local History Society|isbn=978-0-9508198-0-8}}
* Cloake, John (1995). ''The Palaces and Parks of Richmond and Kew, vol. I: The Palaces of Shene and Richmond''. [[Chichester]]: [[The History Press|Phillimore & Co Ltd]]. {{ISBN|978-0-850339-76-5}}. {{OCLC|940979634}}.
* Cloake, John (1996). ''The Palaces and Parks of Richmond and Kew, vol. II: Richmond Lodge and the Kew Palaces''. Chichester: Phillimore & Co Ltd. {{ISBN|978-1-860770-23-4}}. {{OCLC|36045530}}. OL 8627654M.
* Cloake, John (2001). ''Cottages and Common Fields of Richmond and Kew''. Chichester: Phillimore & Co Ltd. {{ISBN|978-1-8607719-5-8}}.
* Cloake, John (2001). ''Richmond Palace: Its History and Its Plan''. London: Richmond Local History Society. {{ISBN|978-0-9522099-6-6}}.
* {{Cite book|author= Dunbar, Janet| edition= second|date= 1979|title= A Prospect of Richmond|publisher= London: [[Michael Joseph (publisher)|Michael Joseph]]|isbn=0-7181-1789-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Fowler |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Fowler |year=2015 |title=Richmond at War 1939–1945 |location=London |publisher=Richmond Local History Society |isbn=978-0-9550717-8-2}}
* {{Cite book |title=Poverty and Philanthropy in Victorian Richmond |first=Simon |last=Fowler |location=London |publisher=Richmond Local History Society |year=2017 |isbn= 978-1-9123140-0-3}}
* {{Cite book |title=The Streets of Richmond and Kew |author= Members of the Richmond Local History Society |location=London |publisher=Richmond Local History Society |year=2022 |edition = fourth|isbn= 978-1-9123140-3-4}}
* {{Cite book|author1= Robinson, Derek |author2=Fowler, Simon |edition= second|date= 2020|title=Old Palace Lane: Medieval to Modern Richmond|location= London |publisher=Richmond Local History Society and [[Museum of Richmond]]|isbn=978-1-9123140-2-7}}
* {{Cite book |publisher = [[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell & Co.]] |location = London |title = Greater London |author = Walford, Edward |date = 1883 |oclc = 3009761 |chapter= Richmond |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/greaterlondonnar02walf#page/330/mode/1up |author-link = Edward Walford }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|London Borough of Richmond upon Thames}}
{{Commons category|Richmond, London}}
{{Wikivoyage|London/Richmond-Kew}}
* [https://www.richmondsociety.org.uk/ The Richmond Society]
* [https://richmondhistory.org.uk/ Richmond Local History Society]
* {{cite web|url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/libraries/branch_libraries/local_studies_collection/local_history_timelines/royal_richmond_timeline|title= Royal Richmond timeline: 900 years of royal associations with Richmond upon Thames|date = 1 April 2020|work= [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] Local Studies Library}}
* {{Cite EB1911|short=x|wstitle=Richmond (Surrey)|display=Richmond (Surrey)}}

{{LB Richmond}}
{{London Districts}}
{{Capital Ring Walking Route | locale=Richmond | back=[[Wimbledon Park]] | forward=[[Osterley|Osterley Lock]] | A=6 | B=7 }}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Richmond, London| ]]
[[Category:1100s establishments in England]]
[[Category:1501 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of London on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:Major centres of London]]