Richmond

Richmond is a southwestern suburb of London, lying 15 miles southwest of central London. It is well known for its large number of parks, nature reserves, village greens and tourist attractions such as Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and Twickenham rugby stadium. For hundreds of years, it has been a favorite retreat for Royalty, the rich and the famous. In recent years the area has become very popular with professionals. Most residents have jobs in finance, information technology and other business activities and so earnings tend to be higher than the regional and national averages, and many residents enjoy a very high standard of living. With such an abundance of green and open space, Richmond is one of the healthiest places in the country and residents live longer and suffer from far fewer major diseases than elsewhere. Grand buildings and green spaces make up much of Richmond’s character, with large Georgian houses and independent boutiques, cafes and restaurants in plentiful supply. It’s often easy to forget you’re still in London!

The founding and naming of Richmond followed the Tudor building of Richmond Palace early in the 16th century. During this era the town was particularly associated with Elizabeth I. The development of Richmond as a London suburb then began with the opening of the railway station in 1846. It has formed part of Greater London since 1965.

Richmond has excellent transport links and one can find themselves in central London in less than 30 minutes. Richmond Station is served by the District Line and also has links to the London Overground and National Rail services, connecting it with Reading, Windsor, and Wimbledon. The area is also well served by buses that go to Hammersmith, Clapham, Ealing, Kingston, Twickenham, and many other locations. Moreover, Richmond's main road, the A316, runs between Chiswick and the M3 motorway and the town centre sits on the A307 which links southwest London with northwest Surrey. The fact that 30% of Richmond households do not have a car (as opposed to the national average of 24%) is testament to the area’s excellent transport facilities.

The area has an array of high quality amenities. With beautiful Royal parks and historic houses, theatres, museums and galleries rich with exhibits and a town centre bursting with shops and restaurants, Richmond is said to rival anywhere in London. Richmond has established itself as an up-market shopping destination with over 200 shops. Its compact centre has approximately 50,000m2 of retail floor-space, which is largely focused on George Street, The Quadrant and Hill Street. George Street is lined with many exclusive boutiques as well as two London famous chocolatiers: The House of Chocolate and William Curley’s award-winning chocolate shop. Richmond also has many fine dining facilities. The most upscale of Richmond's restaurants is located at The Bingham Hotel and was awarded its first Michelin star in 2010. Fish Works specialises in fish dishes with a traditional wet fish counter that allows fish to be chosen and cooked to order and the Boat at Richmond Bridge is a high-quality restaurant located on a boat which docks next to Richmond Bridge.

Richmond is perhaps most famous for its abundance of greenery, courtesy of Richmond Park, Bushey Park, and the Green. A third of the borough is covered by green and open space. This is five times more than any other borough in London. Richmond Park is one of only two remaining ancient woodland parks in London (the other being Epping Forest), and the huge abundance of open space offers visitors the chance to horse ride, cycle and observe the wildlife, which often includes deer. The park consists of wild heath and woodland that covers 2.360 acres, which makes it London’s largest royal park. At the heart of the town is Richmond Green. Together with the Little Green, a small supplementary green, the Green stretches over is 12 acres. On summer weekends and public holidays the Green attracts many residents and visitors. It has a long history and has hosted sporting events since the sixteenth century.

One is unlikely to find themselves short of things to do in Richmond. As well as Hampton Court and Kew Gardens being in close vicinity, there are also many museums and theatres in the area. For instance, the Museum of Richmond celebrates the rich heritage of Richmond, with colourful displays that span from mediaeval times to the present day. There are also two prominent theatres: the Richmond Theatre and the Orange Tree Theatre. The Victorian Richmond Theatre has a weekly schedule of plays and musicals, usually given by professional touring companies, and pre-West End shows can occasionally be seen on its premises. The Orange Tree Theatre frequently presents new productions and 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.

Richmond is a relatively large borough and there is therefore a plethora of different residential opportunities. Sheen, Petersham, and Whitton are considered to be the borough’s finest areas. With its luscious greenery, wonderful amenities, and high standard of living it is no wonder that many people have been opting for a life in Richmond and its surrounding areas rather than central London. Boundless open areas in which deer roam freely is not readily available elsewhere in the capital. Its small number of residents, charming town centre, high quality properties, and its adjacency to central London indicates why Richmond has become such a desirable residential location and perfect for family, child and professional alike.

Because Richmond is such a large and diverse borough, property prices vary greatly. For those wishing to rent, a two bedroom apartment in this area ranges in price from £600 per week to £900 per Prices of properties available for sale ranges from £300,000 to £800,000 for small properties while larger properties can fetch up to £15m.