London Guide
Richmond
Richmond, upstream from Kew, basked for centuries in the glow of royal patronage, with Plantagenet kings and Tudor monarchs frequenting the riverside palace of Shene, as Richmond Palace was then called. In the eighteenth century Richmond enjoyed a brief life as a spa, attracting successful artists, actors and writers like Pope, Gainsborough, Garrick and Reynolds. Richmond is still a wealthy district, with two theatres and highbrow pretensions. To appreciate its attractions fully, walk along the riverside to the nearby stately homes of Ham House and Marble Hill, and pay a visit to Richmond Park, still wild and replete with deer.