Richmond Things to Do

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The Richmond Riverside Plane Tree is the tallest of its kind in London and can be seen as you walk past Buucleuch Park by the river, and is designated as the great tree of London. There are many plane trees in Richmond Park including one with an 8.2m girth.

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As you stroll along the Thames towards the Richmond Bridge you will see Buucleuch Gardens on the right. Buucleuch House was the home of the Duke of Buucleuch and there was a subterranian entrance to the gardens. The house is no longer there but the brick structure was built where the house stood, a good place to stop and rest while admiring the Thames.

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Petersham Common Woods clings to the side of the hill just after the Star and Garter at the top of Richmond Hill and although not big, you can take a shortcut through them to reach Petersham Road. The woods surround the Star and Garter and most of the trees are oak, but it is nice to walk underneath the trees while the ground is covered in leaves. The meadow by the Thames can be seen from the woods.

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Most of the traffic exits the park at Richmond Gate to reach the town and on the left you will see the old gate house, but there is a newer one next door. There are 6 gates around the park, Roehampton, Kingston, Robin Hood, Ham Gate Pond, and Sheen Gate. There are several ponds, parking areas and countless walking paths where you can easily spend a half day walking around.

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Richmond Royal Park is the largest of the 8 Royal parks and is the biggest enclosed space in London. It is also a National Nature Reserve and home to the Isabella Plantation, Pembroke Lodge and herds of fallow deer. There are rolling hills, woodland gardens, grasslands and old trees with lots of wildlife. The association with Royalty goes back to the 13th century when it was known as the Manor of Sheen under Edward. Henry VII changed the name to its present name in the late 15th century when he built a palace there. The movie Anne of a Thousand Days gives a accurate account of the park.

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At the top of Richmond Hill before entering Richmond Park there is a Cattle Fountain which was donated by the Royal Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. If you did not go over and take a look at it you probably would not realise what it is as there are flower beds in the trough. It is rather a nice cylindrical fountain basin with metal arched outlets. On the arches are 4 octagonal lanterns, 4 iron dragons, an iron band with an inscription and a coronet on top.

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The house was completed in 1772 and sits on Richmond Hill near Nightingale Lane, and was commissioned by Joshua Reynolds who lived there until he died in 1792. Mr and Mrs William Burn lived in the house in the early 1820's and fostered many orphans there. During the Victorian and Edwardian years the house was altered and extended, but in the late 40's it was purchased for a home for the nurses working at the Star and Garter.

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From Terrace Gardens on Richmond Hill there is a rather impressive building which is the Petersham Hotel. Also you can see this from the Petersham Road. The hotel was built in the 1860's and looked impressive with its tower, high sloping roofs and many balconies in Italian Gothic style. Inside there is a magnificent Portland stone staircase which is supposed to be the tallest unsupported stone staircase in the country. there are magnificent paintings on the ceiling too.