This area guide to Richmond offers a brief overview of the district, including its local shops, attractions, properties, schools, history, council tax and public transport links.

Richmond Overview

Richmond is a beautiful district like no other in London. Filled full of rich history and culture, the area has long attracted some of the most famous and wealthiest residents in Britain.

One of a number of towns in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in outer southwest London, Richmond is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Central London. With its vast green open spaces and the River Thames, which runs through the heart of the borough, Richmond offers local residents an escape from the city.

Thanks to a vast array of pastimes and wonderful attractions, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this green and leafy town.

The main postcode in Richmond is TW9.

Richmond Shopping

There is a rich variety of shopping facilities on Richmond High Street. Richmond is bursting with an excellent mix of shops including designer stores, boutiques, well known high street brands, antique shops and supermarkets. Many of the shopping streets in Richmond have retained their historic village charm.

Richmond Attractions

Richmond'€™s old cobbled lanes and alleyways are filled with fascinating attractions. The town offers a wide selection of social and recreational facilities. With Royal parks, museums, galleries, theatres, among a whole host of other attractions, there is lots to do in Richmond.

The river, which runs through the heart of the area, and Hampton Court Palace and maze, the oldest Tudor palace in England, are incredible places to visit.

Additionally, there are plenty of delightful public open green areas in and around Richmond, including Richmond Park, Old Deer Park, Terrace Gardens and Kew Gardens. Richmond has more green space than any other London borough.

Richmond is also home to several art galleries and theatres, many fairs and festivals, a film studio and television centre.

Richmond Food and Drink

Richmond is renowned for its fine riverside pubs, remote cafes and its top-class restaurants, particularly in the town centre where there is a variety of international foods available, from French cuisine to traditional Japanese sushi.

In addition to the traditional high street supermarkets, there is a farmers market which takes place at Heron Square, near Richmond Bridge, on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm, where there are fresh meats, fruit, vegetables, honey, cakes and pastries, and lots more delicious foods available to buy. The market is a relatively short walk from Richmond station.

Richmond History

Formerly part of Shene until around 500 years ago, Richmond has long been a popular place of residence with many royals, dating back to King Henry I in 1100. King Henry VII had a palace built in Richmond in 1501, which he named Richmond Palace.

Richmond Park, today one of the most popular public parks in London, was initially enclosed by King Charles I as a hunting park.

Over the years, a number of commercial establishments and homes were built in the area, many designed to accommodate people working for or visiting the Palace. By the eighteenth century many of these homes were used to house diplomats, minor nobility and lodging house keepers.

Richmond Property Market

Richmond is one of the most sought after addresses in London. The area offers some magnificent houses, from grand Georgian terraces in Richmond Hill and surrounding Richmond Green to Victorian villas and small cottages. Semi-detached houses are most commonly found in this area, popular with families with children.

Flats, conversions and purpose-built€“ are in much shorter supply. Nevertheless, there are some grand mansion blocks edging the riverbank, while a few roads back, larger Edwardian and Victorian family homes can be found.

Richmond Council Tax Rates

The annual rate of council tax varies and is dependant on the valuation band, which is determined by the value of the property and the current rates for the local council. The bands are based on how much the properties would have sold for on 1 April 1991 as determined by the Valuation Office Agency.

Richmond upon Thames:

Band Grade Value Annual Council Tax Cost
Band A Up to & including £40,000 £1,064.81
Band B £40,001 - £52,000 £1,242.27
Band C £52,001 - £68,000 £1,419.74
Band D £68,001 - £88,000 £1,597.21
Band E £88,001 - £120,000 £1,952.15
Band F £120,001 - £160,000 £2,307.08
Band G £160,001 - £320,000 £2,662.02
Band H More than £320,000 £3,194.42

Richmond Education

Richmond is awash with young families living in the area just so that they can send their children to one of the local schools“ which offer one of the highest academic standards in Britain. The schools, colleges and universities in and around Richmond are:

  • Darell
  • Holy Trinity CE
  • Kew Riverside
  • Marshgate
  • Meadlands
  • The Queen's CE
  • The Russell
  • Christ€™s School
  • Grey Court School
  • Hampton Community College
  • Orleans Park
  • Shene International School
  • Teddington School
  • Waldegrave
  • Whitton
  • King€™s House School

Places for further and adult education in the Borough are:

  • St Mary's University College, Twickenham
  • Richmond, The American International University in London
  • Richmond Adult Community College
  • Richmond upon Thames College

Richmond Hospitals

The nearest local hospital is Richmond Royal Hospital on Kew Foot Road, TW9.

Richmond Transport Links

Richmond is situated 15 miles southwest of central London, but the district's superb transport facilities means that getting into Central London is fast and efficient. London Waterloo is a 20 minute commute.

London Heathrow and Gatwick airports are both easily accessible by road, car or bus. There are many bus routes running through Richmond.

The local tube station is Richmond, served by the District line, is in Zone 4.

This area guide is intended to give a general overview of the area, whilst the information contained is believed to be accurate at the time of publication no responsibility is accepted for any errors or subsequent alterations.