| London Town Guide |
Richmond District
Richmond is the area of outer London that is situated on the banks of the River Thames between Kew and Twickenham.
Originally the area was called Shene after a hamlet that was situated here. But then in the 16th century Henry VII (1485-1509) built a manor house here and named it Rychemonde after his estate in Yorkshire.
The area was rural for much of its history, with the manor house at the heart of the district. Royal connections ensured that Richmond was a favourite residential area for many of London's wealthier family and so for many years the district has had an air of exclusivity.
By the 18th century the district had expanded greatly, but nevertheless it was still essentially a rural village several miles from London. Then as the expansion of London reached the district in the late 19th century development of Richmond took off, soon transforming it to a commuter town.
Nevertheless Richmond is one of the more open and leafier districts of outer London. To this day it retains a very rural feel with the massive Richmond Park ensuring plenty of greenery. This park is over 2,400 acres making it the biggest urban park in Britain.
This green, rural feel to the district has ensured that Richmond is still one of the most exclusive residential districts of London to this day. With plenty of riverside pubs and parkland to explore Richmond is a lovely part of London to visit on a day out.
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